Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Honors Quranic Legend Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary as 2026 International Quranic Personality
In a profound tribute to Quranic scholarship and enduring legacy, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has officially designated the late Egyptian scholar Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary as the 2026 International Quranic Personality. This prestigious announcement was made as part of the 28th edition of the globally renowned Dubai International Holy Quran Award, which stands as one of the world's most respected Quran competitions. The honor transcends mere recognition of a voice, celebrating instead a lifetime of dedicated service to preserving, perfecting, and propagating the sacred art of Quranic recitation. Decades after his passing, Sheikh Al-Hussary's monumental influence continues to profoundly shape how millions of Muslims worldwide recite, learn, and connect with the Holy Qur'an.
The Prestigious Dubai International Holy Quran Award
Founded in 1997 under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Dubai International Holy Quran Award was established with a clear and noble mission: to promote the memorization of the Quran, celebrate unparalleled excellence in recitation, and honor distinguished individuals who have made significant, lasting contributions to the service of the Qur'an. Over nearly three transformative decades, this award has evolved into a premier global Islamic platform, attracting thousands of participants, scholars, and enthusiasts from every corner of the globe. The 2026 edition marks its 28th anniversary, steadfastly continuing its core mission to strengthen Quranic culture while innovatively adapting to modern methods of outreach and fostering broader, more inclusive participation across diverse communities.
The award encompasses multiple competitive and honorary categories, with the International Quranic Personality standing as one of its highest and most revered distinctions. This esteemed title is exclusively reserved for individuals whose scholarly contributions, educational efforts, or recitational mastery have demonstrably created a lasting, positive impact on Quranic scholarship, memorization, recitation, or Islamic education on a global scale.
Who Was Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary?
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary was born in Egypt in 1917 and ascended to become one of the most venerated and influential Quran reciters of the entire 20th century. He committed the entire Qur'an to memory at a remarkably young age and subsequently pursued advanced studies in Quranic sciences at the prestigious Al-Azhar institutions. His distinctive recitation style became globally celebrated for its exceptional clarity, meticulous precision, and unwavering, strict adherence to the complex rules of tajweed (the proper pronunciation and articulation of Quranic Arabic).
Sheikh Al-Hussary holds the historic and unparalleled distinction of being the very first reciter to ever record the complete Qur'an in a measured, deliberate murattal style. These groundbreaking, high-fidelity recordings established a new, universal gold standard for accurate Quranic recitation and remain extensively utilized in Islamic schools, mosques, universities, and private homes across the world to this day. His methodical, pedagogical approach made the Qur'an significantly more accessible for structured, systematic learning, particularly benefiting non-Arabic speakers striving to achieve correct pronunciation and authentic articulation.
Beyond his iconic audio recordings, Sheikh Al-Hussary also played a pivotal, instrumental role in major Quran printing and textual preservation initiatives. He contributed expertise to critical projects that ensured the standardized, error-free text of the Qur'an and facilitated its widespread, accurate global distribution. Consequently, his profound legacy is now deeply and permanently embedded within the very fabric of modern Quranic education systems worldwide.
The Significance for the Global Muslim Community
Designating Sheikh Al-Hussary as the 2026 International Quranic Personality extends far beyond symbolic or ceremonial recognition. It powerfully reaffirms the paramount importance of precision, authenticity, and disciplined, rigorous scholarship in the sacred practice of Quranic recitation. In our contemporary era, characterized by rapid digital content proliferation and diverse, sometimes unverified interpretations, honoring a figure renowned for his strict, uncompromising adherence to tajweed principles reinforces the foundational, non-negotiable tenets of Quranic preservation and transmission.
This recognition also serves as a vital bridge connecting generations of Muslims. Countless contemporary reciters, Quran teachers, and Islamic scholars were directly or indirectly trained using Al-Hussary's authoritative recordings. By celebrating his enduring legacy, the award reminds the entire Muslim world that the profound beauty and spiritual power of Quranic recitation must always be firmly rooted in technical correctness, deep knowledge, and scholarly integrity.
For Islam globally, this high honor underscores the timeless, enduring value of dedicated service to the Qur'an. It sends a clear, resonant message that safeguarding the sacred text, preserving its recitation standards with utmost fidelity, and transmitting it accurately to future generations remain among the highest, most noble forms of contribution to the Islamic faith and its global community.
Future Outlook and Lasting Impact
Through the ongoing work of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, Dubai continues to strategically position itself as a leading global hub for Quranic excellence, scholarship, and intercultural Islamic dialogue. By selecting Sheikh Al-Hussary for this honor, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has not only paid tribute to a legendary, foundational reciter but has also brilliantly spotlighted the timeless, collective responsibility of preserving the Qur'an with unwavering accuracy, profound devotion, and scholarly rigor.
The iconic voice of Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary may belong to the previous century, but its transformative influence, pedagogical clarity, and spiritual resonance continue to echo powerfully across mosques, classrooms, Islamic centers, and households in every nation, ensuring his legacy endures for generations to come.
