Syamsuri Firdaus, a 2017 student from the Arabic UI Literature from Bima-NTB won the 7th International Musabaqah Hifdz al-Qur’an (MTQ) in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday (May 26, 2019).
The award for Syamsuri was handed over directly by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The surrender was witnessed by the invitation of the Turkish Ministry of Religion, the deputy consulate general of friendly countries including the Indonesian Consulate General in Istanbul represented by PF Pensosbud, Iwan Wijaya M.
Syamsuri’s participation received direct guidance from Ali Sibromalisi, Deputy Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia who accompanied him since he was in Turkey. The event organized by the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG) collaborates with the Turkish government, followed by 68 Islamic countries in the Middle East and Europe, including Egypt and Libya.
In this international competition, there are two branches, namely the MTQ and Musabaqah Hifdz al-Qur’an branches (MHQ). In this activity, Syamsuri, who won the 1st place in the National MTQ Children category, was invited directly by the mosque’s high priest Sultan Ahmed in Istanbul to recite in front of the worshipers after Asr prayer. The finalists are entitled to get Umrah tickets provided by the committee and some money as awards.
Syamsuri was born on April 11, 1999. Born as the first child, Syamsuri’s father worked as a farm laborer, and his mother worked as a brick-making coolie. Based on information, Syamsuri once won 1st place in National Child Recitation in MTQ 2012 at NTB provincial level. Then invited to take part in the national level MTQ in Maluku.
In the same year (2012), Syamsuri joined MTQ Asia in Singapore. In the event, he got the first title. Since then, his name has become known. He was even invited to recite verses from the Al Quran in the state palace.
