Bayt Al-Hikma Celebrates the National Day of the Holy Qur’an

2026-01-20

Bayt Al-Hikma Celebrates the National Day of the Holy Qur’an
Under the patronage of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bayt Al-Hikma, Professor Dr. Qahtan Na‘ma Hassan Al-Khafaji, Bayt Al-Hikma – the Department of Islamic Studies and the Public Relations Unit – in cooperation with the Al-Kafif Qur’anic Cultural Foundation, organized a ceremony on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, to mark the National Day of the Holy Qur’an. 
This occasion was approved by the Council of Ministers last year, designating the twenty-seventh of Rajab each year as a National Day of the Holy Qur’an.
The ceremony, chaired by Assistant Professor Dr. Marwan Sabah Yassin from the College of Arts at the Iraqi University and moderated by Ms. Aseel Alaa Al-Din Kamel, commenced with a recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an. The program then continued with a speech by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bayt Al-Hikma, in which he highlighted the pivotal role of the Holy Qur’an in shaping the way of life, instilling human and moral values, and strengthening the spirit of tolerance and social unity, as it represents the first constitution known to humanity. 
He also emphasized the contemporary human need to draw closer to the guidance of the Qur’an, referring to the concept of the “daily Qur’anic portion” and the lessons and mercy it embodies for humankind, stressing the importance of commemorating this occasion for the profound meanings it holds in the conscience of Iraqi society.
The ceremony included a lecture delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Wissam Majid Hassan, President of the Al-Kafif Qur’anic Foundation, entitled “The Iraqi Recitation of the Holy Qur’an: Between Reality and Aspiration.” In his lecture, he reviewed the historical dimensions of Qur’anic recitations throughout the ages and pointed to the distinctive characteristics of Iraqi-style Qur’anic recitation. He called for supporting developmental projects, preserving this authentic heritage, and raising awareness of the methods adopted by reciters in official gatherings. He also urged a coordinated media and promotional effort among relevant institutions to enhance the international standing of Iraqi recitation and to develop strategies to address existing gaps, concluding his talk with a comparative study between the Iraqi and Egyptian schools of Qur’anic recitation.
The ceremony was interspersed with various Qur’anic recitations presented by the reciters Mr. Hamza Maz‘al Al-Mousawi and Mr. Ahmed Al-Hamadani, who performed according to both the Iraqi and Egyptian styles, employing the main maqamat (melodic modes) and diverse vocal registers. These recitations were accompanied by comments and interventions from the session chair.