Young Voices of Faith: Celebrating the Derby Quran Prize 2024

The Arabiya School in Derby, UK, organised the annual Derby Quran Award 2024, with the participation of 11 mosques and madrasas.

Dozens of participants from the East Midlands region, including Derby, Nottingham, and Burton, competed in four age categories from 5 to 18 years old. They competed for prizes worth up to £500 for the top positions, along with valuable awards for all participants.

The event was attended by local dignitaries, mosque imams, and community leaders. The ceremony included segments showcasing Quran reading skills, with an impactful and unconventional introduction about the Quran, its miracles, and its virtues.

Several reciters beautifully read selected verses from the Quran as well.

Talented Six-Year-Old Hosted the Event

The highlight of the event was six-year-old Fares Jamous, a talented Arabic speaker who confidently hosted and managed all segments of the ceremony with skill and poise.

One of the Arabiya School teachers in Derby described him as the “undisputed star of the event,” while another teacher praised his beautiful performance.

The participants competed for the top three positions in three rounds. The first round began during Ramadan 2024, and the judging panel evaluated the contestants’ memorisation, ranging from memorising a single portion of the Quran to complete memorisation, based on age categories.

The assessment also considered Tajweed (recitation rules) and overall performance.

Mohammed Kif, a 15-year-old, secured first place. He stood out for flawlessly memorising the entire Quran without any mistakes, both in memorisation and Tajweed during the assessments.

The judging panel consisted of 11 experts, including Quran memorisers and Tajweed specialists, who meticulously followed specific criteria.

Derby Quran Prize 2024

Dr Ayman Diab, the director of the Bayan Institute for Quran Memorisation in several European countries, expressed his delight at participating in the event. He praised the professionalism of the organisation, judging, and performance, comparing it to international competitions. He hoped that future editions of the competition would include participants from all over the UK and beyond.

Dr Mohammed Al-Shahri, a parent of one of the top-ranking students, commended the event, saying, “The most beautiful aspect of this ceremony is reaping the fruits of what we planted in the hearts and minds of our children—the love for the Quran and the desire to master its noble verses. It was an honourable event in terms of organisation, presentation, and variety of segments.”