Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt’s "Dawlat al-Tilawah" reaffirms nation's global leadership in Quranic recitation
The State of Recitation, known in Arabic as “Dawlat al-Tilawah,” is widely regarded as the most prestigious and largest-scale television competition in the world dedicated to discovering and nurturing young Egyptian talents in the art of Quranic recitation (Tilawah) and Tajweed, which is the mastery of the rules of recitation.
The program was launched under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf in collaboration with the United Media Services Company and is supervised by Dr. Osama al-Azhari, the Minister of Awqaf.
Egypt’s First Lady, Mrs. Entisar El-Sisi, publicly praised the program on her social media accounts, writing: “I am following ‘Dawlat al-Tilawah’ now with great happiness and passion. I am proud of my children and Egypt’s distinguished young reciters.”
The Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism also commended the show, describing it as an elevated model for confronting extremism through the gateway of beauty, while highlighting how it promotes refined taste, spiritual purification, and deep appreciation of the Quranic message.
The total prize fund reaches 3.5 million Egyptian pounds. The first-place winner in each branch—Tilawah and Tajweed—receives one million pounds, along with the opportunity to professionally record the entire Mushaf (the full Quran) in their voice, have that recording broadcast nationwide on the Egypt Quran Kareem channel, and enjoy the honor of leading Taraweeh prayers at the historic Al-Hussein Mosque during the upcoming Ramadan. Second-place winners in each branch receive 500,000 pounds, and third-place winners receive 250,000 pounds.
The competition is judged by some of the most respected figures in the field. The panel includes Sheikh Hassan Abdel-Nabi, Deputy Head of the Al-Azhar Mushaf Review Committee; Dr. Taha Abdel-Wahab, an expert in maqamat and vocal performance; the renowned Islamic preacher Mostafa Hosny; and the world-famous reciter Sheikh Taha Al-Nu‘mani. Their participation gives the program immense credibility and artistic authority.
The show airs every Thursday and Friday at 9:00 PM Egypt time and can be watched on Al-Hayah TV, CBC, Al-Nas channel, and the Watch It digital platform.
The Ministry of Awqaf has emphasized that Egypt remains the historic cradle and global reference point for the art of Quranic recitation. The overwhelming public engagement with the program is seen not merely as viewership but as a heartfelt national embrace of Egypt’s unique legacy in serving the Quran—a legacy that has influenced generations worldwide with its beauty, precision, and spiritual depth.
In short, “Dawlat al-Tilawah” is far more than a talent competition. It is a national celebration of Egypt’s enduring leadership in the art of Quranic recitation and a powerful platform for discovering the country’s brightest young voices in service of the Holy Quran.