By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
DOHA, 12 September 2026 Three Somali students have secured the first, second, and third positions in the international Rofaqa category for orphans, part of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Holy Qur’an Competition held in Doha, Qatar.
The competition was jointly organized by Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Qatar Charity. A total of 389 orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity, aged between 12 and 20, took part in the competition.
According to the Qatar News Agency, 278 contestants from 20 countries advanced to the preliminary rounds, while 30 contestants from eight countries reached the final rounds held in Doha.
The participants competed in three Qur’an memorization categories: the first category involved memorizing the entire Holy Qur’an; the second involved memorizing the last 20 Juz’; and the third involved memorizing the last 10 Juz’.
The final stage of the competition was held from September 2 to 3, 2026, while the results and winners were officially announced on Sept. 10, according to the Qatar News Agency.
All three top positions were won by Somali contestants.
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Abdiqani Abdulqadir Sheikh secured first place, while Abdirahman Qasim Mohamed came in second. Abdirahman Ahmed Mahmoud took third place.
All three contestants represented Somalia in the competition, delivering a historic achievement for the country.
The Chairman of Qatar Charity’s Somalia office, Abdifatah Adam Macallim, said Somalis have long been known for their dedication to memorizing and studying the Qur’an.
“Somalis have long been known as people who carry and preserve the Qur’an,” said Macallim.
The Banadir Regional administration also congratulated the Somali students on their extraordinary achievement.
The performance once again highlights the important role of Qur’an memorization within Somali society.