KAZAN,
June 21, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Celebrating the 1000th
anniversary of its establishment, the capital of the former Soviet
republic of Tatarstan is organizing an international contest for the
memorization and recitation of the Noble Qur'an.
"This
is the first-ever international Qur'an competition in Tatarstan,"
Ayaz Mingaleev, the deputy chairman of the Muslim Religious Board of
Tatarstan, told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, June 21.
Taking
part in the two-day contest are 60 competitors, including 25 who
memorize the Noble Qur'an by heart, from several former Soviet
republics.
"Delegations
from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirgiziya, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan and Russia are vying in the competition," Mingaleev
said.
The
jury is made up of renowned scholars from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Kuwait.
In
addition to valuable prizes, the winner will get the chance to recite
the Noble Qur'an during the opening ceremony of the Qul Sharif mosque
on June 24.
Promoting
Ties
The
competition is held under the auspices of President Mintimer Shaymiev
and the Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr Abdullah Ibn
Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki.
Among
dignitaries showing up for the gala are Sheikh Ravil Gainutdinov, the
head of the Council of Muftis of Russia and Kamil Iskhakov, Kazan
governor, as well as a number of muftis of the Russian provinces.
"The
competition is mainly organized to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of
the establishment of the capital Kazan," Mingaleev said.
"It
also aims at encouraging more Russian Muslims to memorize the Noble
Qur'an as well as promoting ties between fellow Muslims," he
added.
Tatarstan
has been organizing local Qur'an competitions every year since 2000.
In
2003, a department for the Qur'an memorization was opened in the
Russian Islamic University (RIU) Kazan.
Tatarstan
is situated in the centre of the Russian Federation on the
East-European Plain at the confluence of the two greatest rivers - the
Volga and the Kama.
Since
the early days of Islam, individual Muslims and delegations visited
the region of Volga-Bulgaria, today's Tatarstan.
By
the year 922, Islam had spread in the region and had been adopted as
an official religion.
At
the beginning of the 13th century, Volga-Bulgaria was captured by the
Mongols and forcibly included into the Golden Horde.
By
the beginning of the 15th century, the Golden Horde, which by then was
a Muslim state, had broken down into several states, the strongest of
which was Kazan Khanate.
In
1552, Kazan fell to the invading troops of Ivan the Terrible and Islam
was persecuted until the end of the 18th century.
