Dubai: He cannot read or write. Yet he has memorised the entire Quran and can recite it in as many ways as anyone can think of.
Mohammad Hamdi Al Biblawi is an Egyptian with special needs. He is 33-years-old but has the intelligence level of a four to five-year-old.
Though he is unable to carry out everyday acts such as getting dressed without help, he possesses a special gift when it comes to reciting the Quran.
He memorised the entire Quran at the age of 17 by listening to reciters on the television, computer and radio, Al Biblawi seamlessly imitates the recitation styles of world-famous shaikhs like Abdul Basit Abdul Samad, Mohammad Seddiqi Al Minshawi, Mohammad Mahmoud Al Tablawi and many others.
However, he has his own unique style which is as compelling as that of the masters.
In Dubai as a special guest of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), Al Biblawi gave a thorough presentation of his marvellous skills at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce on the third day of the competition.
His soulful renditions of verses from Surah Baqarah, Surah A’ala and Surah Al Mulk left the audience swooning and the experts singing his praises.
Shaikh Sherzade Abdur Rahman, one of Dubai’s most popular reciters of the Quran and Imam and Khateeb of Masjid Hassan in Al Twar, who introduced Al Biblawi on stage, couldn’t stop beaming after listening to the melody.
“His tajweed [intonation and pronunciation of the Quran] is perfect, he is perfect with voice rules, he is excellent in all the ranges of voice as well as he knows all the fine details of the Quran,” he said, referring to Al Biblawi’s recitation.
He says his talent is especially amazing since he cannot read or write and he hasn’t learned from anyone or received any formal training.
“People have to specialise and train hard to learn these finer details of the Quran recitation, but in Al Biblawi’s case, Allah has gifted him this special ability to remember even minute details about the Quran. He can distinguish between all similar verses that appear at various places in the Quran, and he also remembers the number of Sajda [the points in the Quran where prostration is required]. This from the man who cannot come back home if he goes out alone,” he added.
The eldest of four siblings, Al Biblawi controls his breath and voice better than most professionals and can recite several verses with perfect intonation in a single breath.
Meanwhile, competition at the Dubai International Holy Quran Award is hotting up with several contestants staking claim to the top honours.
With Bangladeshi Ainul Arefin and Jordanian Abdur Rahman Mahmoud Fares giving judges little to choose from on the first day, the second day was stormed by visually-impaired Iraqi teenager Samer Al Kubaisi. The 19-year-old from Iraq’s Al Anbar province, who memorised the Quran in just six months, mesmerised the audience with his flowing rendition.
However, the best performance by far on day three came from 17-year-old Iranian Mohammad Jawad Kazem, whose masterful recitation left the audience asking for more.
DIHQA is held every year under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It includes a series of lectures that precedes the competition as well as the Islamic Personality of the Year Award.
The Quran recitation competition, the primary attraction of DIHQA, started this year on July 27 and will run until August 6, while the 16th session of DIHQA will culminate on August 8 with a grand ceremony.
