Kuala lumpur: Malaysia claimed both the men’s and women’s titles in the Tilawah (recitation) categories at the 65th International Al-Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly (MTHQA) tonight. Aiman Ridhwan Mohamad Ramlan won the men’s qari (male reciter) title with a score of 97.01 percent, edging out Indonesia’s Ahmad Azroi Hasibuan (95.13 percent) and Turkey’s Muhammed Yahya Yildizhan (93.88 percent), who placed second and third respectively.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the qariah (female reciter) category, Wan Sofea Aini Wan Mohd Zahidi took first place with 95.88 percent, ahead of Morocco’s Fatima Zahra Assafar (89.38 percent) and Indonesia’s Nur Rahmiyatin Adhya (87.59 percent). Prizes were presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the closing ceremony at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. Also present were Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, and Imam of the Al-Nabawi Mosque in Madinah Sheikh Dr Salah Muhammad Al-Budair.

In the men’s memorisation category, Germany’s Usamah Barghouth topped the field with 98.25 percent, followed by Syria’s Mohammad Abdullah Masasati (98.01 percent) and India’s Mohammad Jamil Farhat (97.25 percent). Syria’s Tasneem Arian Omar won the women’s memorisation category with 97.5 percent, with Malaysia’s Putri Auni Khadijah second (96.75 percent) and Libya’s Najway Ali Zaydan Alkourbu third (95.51 percent).

Champions in both Tilawah and Memorisation categories received RM40,000 in cash, jewellery sponsored by the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM), additional prizes and certificates of appreciation. The week-long event, held from Aug 2 to 9 under the theme ‘Membangun Ummah MADANI’ (Developing a MADANI Ummah), featured 71 contestants from 49 countries.