Renowned Egyptian Qur’an reciter Mahmoud Shahat Anwar is on a week-long tour of Iran.
Son of the eminent Qari (reciter) Shahat Muhammad Anwar (1950-2007), Anwar arrived on Tuesday and will attend Qur’an recitation sessions in a number of cities across Iran, IQNA reported.
The sessions will be held to commemorate members of the Iranian Qur’anic delegation who died in the September 24 crush of pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia during the hajj rituals.
Hassan Danesh, Amin Bavi, Mohsen Hajihassani-Kargar, Foad Mash’ali and Saeed Saeedizadeh were among thousands of pilgrims, including 464 Iranians, who died in the tragic Mina disaster while performing the ‘Stoning the Devil’ ritual.
Anwar left for the central province of Yazd on Wednesday where he will recite verses from the Holy Qur’an in several sessions to commemorate Danesh.
He will later visit the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi to attend memorial services for Hajihassani-Kargar.
On November 3, he will visit the southwestern city of Abadan, Khuzestan Province, where Bavi will be commemorated.
Anwar memorized the whole Qur’an at the age of 12 with the help of his father and has since achieved several honors at national and international events, in memorization and recitation of the holy book.
Qari is a person who recites the Qur’an. Although it is encouraged, a reciter does not necessarily have to memorize the Qur’an, but should recite the verses with a melodious sound and as per the rules.
Earlier in May, Anwar visited Iran as the guest Qari at the 32nd International Competitions of the Holy Qur’an.
