On the occasion of the holy month of Sha’ban, the Islamic University of Babylon launched the first national team Quranic competition for students of universities, colleges, and governmental and private institutions in the central Euphrates and Baghdad governorates on Sunday. The tournament was inaugurated in the presence of the Islamic University’s president, Dr. Ammar, in an effort to encourage the diffusion of Quranic culture among students and to stem the tide of extremist ideologies.
Dr. Haider Kazem Al-Quraishi, the chairman of the Islamic University branch in the province of Babylon, said to Islamic University Media: “In the interest of the Islamic University and the aims for which it was formed, the University conducted in Babylon the first national Quranic competition for students of universities, colleges, and institutes in the provinces of the Middle Euphrates and Imam Kadhim University branch Samawa, where the initiative was extremely well welcomed with supportive comments.
“The competition will last for three days in the areas of memorizing, recitation, and interpretation,” Dr. Al-Quraishi said, adding that “after the completion of the competition, certificates of recognition will be awarded to the victors and in the presence of Quran readers at the world level, including the reader Karim Mansouri from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Dr. Al-Quraishi acknowledged and expressed his deep gratitude to the founder of the university, His Eminence Sayyid Sadr Al-Qabanji, and to the president of the university, Dr. Ammar Al-Salami, for their great efforts in establishing the competition.
Additionally, Dr. Al-Quraishi thanked the House of the Holy Qur’an at al-Hussainiya and the Institute of the Holy Qur’an in al-Abbas’s holy shrine for contributing to the competition’s success.
Mr. Mohsen Rasoul Al-Saffar, the head of the jury and director of the Noble Qur’an Division at the Islamic University, stated to University Media that “the competition, which coincided with the births of the Hashemite moons in the month of Sha’ban, was designed to strengthen the culture of the Qur’an in the hearts of university students.” He also noted that the competition will continue for three days in morning and evening sessions, with awards being given out on the final day.
At the start of the Quranic tournament, Dr. Ammar Al-Salami, President of the Islamic University, delivered a speech and blessed the attendees for the birth of the immaculate imams in the glorious month of Shaban. He also expressed gratitude for everyone who came to the tournament conducted at the Islamic University of Babylon and prayed for the Almighty to make the Qur’an the spring of everyone’s hearts. He also noted that holding events like this one is a responsibility and one of the main reasons the Islamic University was founded. It has given memorizers of the Holy Qur’an who take care of it, adhere to it, and follow its right path a free scholarship in all of its colleges and departments. He stressed the importance and necessity of universities to assume their responsibilities by holding more such competitions and festivals to enhance our religious identity in society.
In his speech, Dr. Al-Salami announced that the Islamic University would be sponsoring the Great National Competition for female university students across all of Iraq. This competition would be entirely feminist, and only women will serve on the jury committees. And that on the anniversary of the birth of Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Ridha, the victors will take part in the final qualifiers, which will be held in Iran in conjunction with the annual Al-Zahra University (peace be upon her) in Tehran (peace be upon him).