Doha:The third edition of the First of the Firsts, part of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Noble Qur'an Competition, has moved into the final stage, featuring 42 contestants from 19 countries. The competition concluded its initial phase at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, drawing significant public interest.

According to Qatar News Agency, the competition's first stage was designed to select the top 10 contestants for the finals. Participants underwent stringent evaluations on memorizing the entire Holy Quran, reciting with proper Tajweed, and understanding Quranic words. The judging criteria emphasized memorization proficiency, performance quality, and vocal excellence.

The competition, which initially drew 98 contestants from 35 countries, saw 82 participants from 33 countries in preliminary rounds. Of these, 42 advanced to the in-person stage in Doha. The final stage's results are expected on Sunday, with the top 10 contestants competing early next week and a closing ceremony planned for Thursday.