The Dubai International Holy Quran Award selects the late reader Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary as the international Qur’anic figure for its 28th session.
Dubai, February 25 / WAM / The Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award announced the selection of the late reciter Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husari, may God have mercy on him, as the international Qur’anic figure within its 28th session for the year (1447 AH – 2026 AD), in appreciation and loyalty to his immortal Qur’anic scholarly career that left a clear impact in the fields of Qur’anic giving at the level of the Islamic world, and his prominent contributions to the science of Tajweed and the contemporary Qur’anic school, where it will be held. He will be honored during the ceremony held by the award next March 2 to honor the winners of the most beautiful Qur’anic voice for the year 2026.
This honor comes in appreciation of the lofty status of Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Hussari, may God have mercy on him, his abundant knowledge and his immortal pioneering role in serving the Book of God Almighty, as Sheikh Al-Hussari was a lofty Qur’anic stature and one of the icons of recitation in the modern era. He was distinguished by his accuracy of performance and purity of recitation, and contributed to establishing solid scientific rules in the provisions of Tajweed.
The International Qur’anic Personality Award branch, valued at one million dollars, is considered one of the branches of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, in addition to the Most Beautiful Qur’anic Voice of the Year 2026 in the male branch, valued at one million dollars, and in the female branch, valued at one million dollars.
His Excellency Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director General of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, confirmed that the selection of the late reciter Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al Hosari as the Qur’anic Personality of the Year in the twenty-eighth session comes as an embodiment of the vision of the wise leadership in honoring scholars who have left an indelible mark in the service of the Book of God, indicating that this merit is an expression of loyalty to a process of giving that extended for decades, during which the late formulated a unique school of recitation and mastery, and established a scientific curriculum. Rasin’s knowledge of the rules of Tajweed has benefited generations from all over the world.
His Excellency Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi said: “The Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award, through the International Qur’anic Personality Branch, continues to fulfill its lofty cultural mission, to be a beacon for honoring the lofty Qur’anic figures who dedicated their lives to serving the Book of God, thus immortalizing the exploits of the pioneers who laid firm foundations for spreading the Book of God, and instilled its noble values in the consciences of generations. We ask God Almighty to bless the late reader Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil.” Al-Husri, may God have mercy on him, as a reward for what he gave to Islam and Muslims.
Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Husri was the first to record the recited Qur’an according to the rules of Tajweed as an approved radio recording, which contributed to the spread of his recitation in the east and west of the earth, so that his Qur’anic school became a beacon to be emulated among readers and students of knowledge.
The late reciter Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husri, may God have mercy on him, is the sheikh of all Egyptian reciters, and the former head of the Committee for Correcting the Qur’an. He was born on September 17, 1917, in the village of Shubra Al-Namla, one of the villages of the Gharbia Governorate in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and died on November 24, 1980.
Sheikh Al-Husri memorized the Holy Qur’an when he was only 8 years old, and he learned the ten recitations at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. In 1957 AD he was appointed inspector of Egyptian reciters, and in 1958 AD he was appointed agent for the sheikh of Egyptian reciters. In 1959 he was appointed reviewer and proofreader of the Qur’an by decision of the sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and in 1961 AD he was appointed by a presidential decision as sheikh of all Egyptian reciters. Next, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Qur’an Review and Correction Committee at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and then its Chairman.
Al-Husri was president of the International Union of Holy Qur’an Readers. He was the first to recite the Qur’an at the United Nations in 1977, the first to recite the Qur’an at the Royal Palace in London in 1978, and the first reciter to recite the Qur’an in the White House and the hall of the US Congress, where he was received by US President Jimmy Carter.
Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husri, may God have mercy on him, had the greatest role in establishing the first radio broadcast of the Holy Quran in the world, and in the audio collection of the Holy Quran. His voice was the first voice broadcast over the Holy Quran Radio on March 25, 1964.
May God have mercy on him, he was the first to record the Qur’an with the narration of Hafs on the authority of Asim, in 1961, the first to record the Qur’an with the narration of Warsh on the authority of Nafi’ in 1964, the first to record the Qur’an with the narration of Qalun and the narration of Al-Duri on the authority of Abu Amr Al-Basri, in the year 1968, the first to record the taught Qur’an (teaching method) in 1969, and the first to recite the Qur’an in the manner of the interpreted Qur’an in 1975.
He left a valuable legacy of writings, most of which were about the Qur’an and its sciences, the most prominent of which are: “Rules for Reciting the Holy Qur’an,” “The Ten Recitations from Shatibiyyah and Durrah,” “The Milestones for the Guide to Knowing Pauses and Beginnings,” “The Best Impact on the History of the Fourteen Reciters,” “With the Holy Qur’an,” and “The New Approach to the Science of Tajweed.”
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