RIYADH — The fourth episode of the Otr Elkalam show of the International Qur'an and Adhan Competition, one of the initiatives of the General Entertainment Authority, featured Saudi Mohammed Al-Sharif, who has performed in several Arab opera houses, along with Mauritanian Ag Amar, a trainer of imams and preachers in Sharjah, UAE.

The competition between the two contestants in the adhan track was intense, but the jury decided in favor of Al-Sharif after his distinguished performance, which helped him move to the next stage.

Al-Sharif, who performed previously at the Opera House of Oman and the Egyptian Opera House, was able to present an excellent performance through his melodious adhan, thanks to his superior vocal capabilities. This helped Al Sharif to eliminate his rival, who had participated in several international competitions, including the Egypt International Competition, the Algerian International Competition, and competitions in Mauritania and Qatar.

In the recitation track of the episode, Egyptian contestant Ahmed Ismail, a specialist in Arabic language and recitations, managed to eliminate his Moroccan rival, Abdelbaset Warash. Ismail performed with a pure voice and tones that were evident in his use of the maqam of Sika. His recitation touched the hearts of viewers of the show, which is broadcast daily on MBC1 and the Shahid digital platform at 4:30 p.m. Riyadh time during Ramadan.

Otr Elkalam is the world's largest Qur'an competition and the first show to combine competitions for the recitation of the Holy Qur'an and adhan (call to prayer). It offers the largest cash prizes in a Qur'an competition, which exceed SR12 million. — SG