Qatar National Library Announces Winners of Athan Contest

Press release

Published June 27th, 2018 - 10:39 GMT

First place was won by Mahmoud Majdy Al Domery, second place by Mohammad Hilal Sayeed, and third place by Mohammad Ali Al Abrash.

Qatar National Library (QNL) has announced the winners of its online Athan (call to prayer) contest, organized as part of the library’s Ramadan activities.

The contest saw competitors recite the Athan and share their recordings online with QNL staff, with more than 140 entries being received, including three from children and two from outside Qatar.

“The Athan contest is important in fostering the talents of community members and encouraging them to use the facilities at the library, such as the recording studio at our innovation stations,” said Ahmed Naddaf, Information Services Librarian at QNL.

“In order to reach the final stages of the competition, participants’ voices were filtered by voice experts and then voted on by library staff, ensuring both the professional and spiritual nature of the winners’ voices. As part of our drive to promote community engagement, we will use the recording of the first-place winner to announce the prayer times in our library building.”

First place was won by Mahmoud Majdy Al Domery, teacher of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language at the Sherborne Qatar; second place by Mohammad Hilal Sayeed, Imam at Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs; and third place by Mohammad Ali Al Abrash, currently a postgraduate student at Qatar University in Islamic Studies.

Commenting on the contest, the winners said that Athan is of great importance in Islam, as it is a call to enter the mosque and a gateway into Islam. They expressed their delight that QNL organized such a unique contest that appreciates and credits the muezzins (reciters of Athan) of the community, and their hope that more competitions like this will be held in the future, both in Qatar and throughout the Arab world.

Background Information

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library acts as a steward of Qatar’s national heritage by collecting, preserving and making available the country’s recorded history. In its role as a research library with a preeminent heritage library, the Library fosters and promotes greater global insight into the history and culture of the Gulf region. As a public library, we provide equal access for all of Qatar's residents to an environment that supports creativity, independent decision-making, and cultural development. Through all our functions, we provide leadership to the country’s library and cultural heritage sector.