Muhammad Abu Bakr, a 10-year-old blind boy from Karachi, has brought pride to Pakistan by winning first place in an international Quran recitation competition held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The competition was organized under the “Tahfeez and Qira’at” program by Rabita Alam Islami, the World Muslim League.
Despite being visually impaired, Abu Bakr competed against talented young reciters from various Islamic countries and impressed the judges with his flawless recitation and perfect tajweed.
Abu Bakr is a student at Madrassa Dar Al-Islah Lil Tahfeez Wal Tajweed in Karachi, where he has been memorizing and perfecting his Quranic recitation under the guidance of his teacher, Qari Islahullah Sadiq. His teacher expressed immense pride in his student’s accomplishment, noting that Abu Bakr’s dedication to learning despite his visual impairment has been truly inspiring.
The young champion’s father works as a mosque caretaker in Karachi, representing the humble background from which this extraordinary talent has emerged. His father spoke emotionally about his son’s achievement, calling it a moment of national honor and expressing gratitude to Allah for blessing his son with such a gift.
The competition evaluated participants on multiple criteria including pronunciation accuracy, recitation melody, proper application of tajweed rules, and overall presentation. Abu Bakr came first while Hafiz Fazl Haleem, another young Pakistani participant, secured second place in the competition.
This achievement has been celebrated across Pakistan, with religious scholars and community leaders praising both the young champion and his teachers. Social media has been flooded with congratulatory messages, with many Pakistanis expressing pride in Abu Bakr’s accomplishment on the international stage.
Abu Bakr’s victory is particularly significant as it showcases how Islamic education institutions in Pakistan continue to nurture exceptional talent regardless of physical challenges.
