BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Turkish Ambassador to Brunei yesterday met with two Bruneian qari (Al-Quran reciters) who recently participated in the International Quran Memorisation and Recitation Competition in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkish Ambassador to Brunei Oguz Ates welcomed the two qari contestants, Hj Nasrul Fakhri Hj Yahya and Muhammad Najib Hj Aliakhbar to the embassy’s premise in Kg Manggis.

During the meet, Ates discussed several ways to further strengthen education cooperation between Brunei and Turkey which can help boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

Hj Nasrul Fakhri Hj Yahya, who secured a top 10 place at the International Quran Memorisation and Recitation Competition in Istanbul last month, shared his experience with the Turkish ambassador, describing his 10-day stay as “wonderful” and a good experience.

He said the competition was not easy as participants from the Middle Eastern countries have better voices to recite the Quran melodiously as they went up on stage, adding that it was his first time to secure a place in the top 10 out of 49 countries in the recitation category of the contest.

Asked how he felt, Hj Nasrul said he is glad to take part in a once-in-a-life time event.

“It was definitely different from the international contests I have participated in before,” he said, noting that the competition in Istanbul demanded him to be more well-prepared as he was only given 10 minutes to recite the Quran verse on stage.

“I made it a priority to practice daily,” adding that his mother and sister who were former national qariah participants were his biggest influence

Muhammad Najib, who also participated in the memorisation category at the competition last month, claimed a place in the top 20 out of 47 competitors.

The 21-year-old shared his experience with the Turkish ambassador, describing the international competition as “challenging”.

“The competition was nothing like the others I have participated in before,” said the qari.

“It was my first time taking part on an international level. It was quite nerve wrecking, but I am glad I achieved something out of it,” said the student who is currently studying at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University.

Also present at the get together were Hj Idris Hj Aji, the delegation’s manager and Hj Ismail Hj Sulaiman, voice coach.

The event concluded with a group photo with the Turkish ambassador.

The Brunei Times