Saudi Arabia, 7 Ramadan, March 29, 2023
Thanks to his melodious Quranic hymns and recitations that inspire reflection on the meanings and verses, the Syrian contestant, Mohammed Al-Jalab, was able to reach the Otr Elkalam competition, one of the initiatives of the General Entertainment Authority. Recently, Al-Jalab lived among the rubble of earthquakes that struck his town, which prompted him to take the Quran as a haven to overcome these difficulties and reach his dream of participating in the largest international competition for Quran recitation and adhan.
Al-Jalab completed memorizing the Holy Quran before the age of 15 and obtained a certificate in the Quran. He also studied Tajwid and intonation and mastered the employment of maqamat (music structures) in clarifying the meanings of the Quran.
During today’s episode of Otr Elkalam, Al-Jalab competed in the Quran recitation track against his Moroccan rival, Zakaria Al-Zirik, who managed to qualify for the next stage of the competition.
In the Adhan track, the Syrian contestant Ahmed Darwish, who specializes in electronic production and publishing, competed against his Lebanese rival Raheef Al-Hajj, a teacher of maqamat and vocal performances and founder of a specialized academy of vocals. Al-Hajj qualified for the next stage of the competition thanks to his distinguished performance, diversification of the maqamat, and his balance between the vocal transitions that dazzled the members of the jury.
Otr Elkalam, which is broadcast daily during Ramadan on MBC and the Shahid digital platform, sheds light on the distinguished voices in reciting the Holy Quran and raising adhan. It also contributes to increasing the knowledge of the participants and viewers through the Jury’s notes on Tajwid, recitations, and maqamat.