Qatar Participated in European Qur'an Competition
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs represented Qatar at the 32nd European international event in Zagreb.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Islam
Qatar sent a delegation to the 32nd European international competition for the Holy Qu'ran held in Zagreb, Croatia. The event saw participation from various international representatives focused on Quranic memorization.
Why it matters
The mission supports Qatar's ongoing 2025-2030 strategy and aligns with the broader goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Participation highlights the nation's efforts to promote Islamic education and cultural engagement on an international stage.
The competition held in Zagreb represents the 32nd annual iteration of this international event. Qatari participation is facilitated by the Sheikh Jassim bin Muhammad bin Thani Noble Qur'an Competition.
The players
Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs
This is the Qatari government body responsible for overseeing Islamic affairs and promoting the country's national strategy.
Salman Khidr Al Atwi
He served as the head of the Qatari delegation attending the international competition in Croatia.
Ibrahim Mohammed Hashem Al Mashhadani
He competed as the official representative for Qatar in the Holy Qu'ran memorization category.
Mohamed Ahmed Abdulrahim Al Harem
He acted as a member of the judging panel responsible for evaluating contestants during the three-day event.
The details
Salman Khidr Al Atwi led the Qatari delegation, which included Ibrahim Mohammed Hashem Al Mashhadani competing in the memorization category. Mohamed Ahmed Abdulrahim Al Harem served as a member of the competition's official judging panel.
Timeline
The competition took place from September 24 to September 26, 2026.
Culture Shift
This international presence reflects a growing trend of nations investing in cultural diplomacy to project their values globally. It marks a departure from purely domestic religious programming toward broader integration with global Islamic scholarly communities.
The delegation's focus on memorization and judging reflects the practical efforts Qatar is making to uphold standards in Islamic studies. For participants and observers, this event highlights the rigorous academic requirements involved in professional Qur'anic competitions.
The takeaway
This event demonstrates the importance of international memorization competitions in maintaining scholarly standards within the global Islamic community. Such engagements serve as a benchmark for national programs that aim to refine participants' skills for future international events.
Further reading
For more context on international religious events and cultural initiatives, visit the Islam section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Qatar News Agency.
