The former Arsenal player, Mohammed Ayoub Asif, succeeded in reaching the final of the international Holy Quran and call to prayer competition Otr Elkalam (Scent of Speech) after getting the votes of 9 members of the jury, while other members voted for other contestants in the Holy Quran recitation category.
Ayoub played at an early age for Arsenal in the British capital, London, in the under 15 team. He joined Arsenal at the age of 8 and continued for years playing as a right defender, before leaving the team and moving to Egypt, where he spent 10 years learning Quran recitation.
In the competition between Ayoub and his rivals, Mohammed Mujahid from Bahrain and Ahmed Al-Khalidi from Morocco, the contestants won the same number of votes until the last moment. as each contestant received 8 votes. Then, the Indonesian judge, Miftah Al-Arifeen Matari, voted for Ayoub and Mujahid, who qualified for the final with 9 votes each. Al-Khalidi, who won 8 votes only, had to leave the competition.
In the call to prayer category, the muezzin of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque in Madinah, the Saudi contestant Anas Al-Rahili, and the Turkish contestant Albijan Celik qualified for the final, while their competitor Khalil Mohammed Binshi left the competition, in which he performed wonderfully during the past rounds.
The Holy Quran and call to prayer competition is one of the most important initiatives launched by the General Entertainment Authority during Ramadan, with its content that suits the spirituality of the month, as well as its standards and provisions that enhance competitiveness.
The competition, which is the first of its kind in the world, gives viewers an informative dimension by evaluating the contestants and highlighting observations and modifications related to performance, which is beneficial for all those interested in reciting the Holy Quran and delivering the call to prayer.