Maranaw, 19, tops Qur’an reading tilt

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao — A 19-year-old Maranaw, who has been dreaming of competing abroad, was adjudged the champion of the first regional Qur’an reading contest in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the other day.

Jaber Noor, who represented Marawi City, and Suraidah Ampatuan, the champion in the female category, each received more than P50,000 in cash and a trophy from Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan.

The contest, participated in by expert Qur’an readers from across the autonomous region, was organized by the provincial government, the office of ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan and the Shariff Aguak municipal government.

Islam is the dominant religion in the ARMM, which covers Marawi City, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in Central Mindanao, and the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Noor said he is optimistic that the ARMM governor, known for his advocacy of sports and religious activities, can help him join competitions abroad.

Noor belongs to the Maranaw community, where reading of the Qur’an during special gatherings and festivities is a tradition.

The judges — foreign-trained clerics, among them "muftis" or preachers involved in missionary work in the ARMM — gave Noor a total score of 97 percent. — John Unson