About us
A tradition
of excellence
Since 2015, the competition has given North America's students of the Qur'an a stage worthy of the Book they carry.
Our story
For more than a decade, the competition has been a home for Qur'anic excellence in North America, upholding the highest standards of precision and mastery in the words of Allah.
What began in Minnesota in 2015 with a few dozen competitors now draws more than a thousand students a year from across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and in 2027 from Europe and South America as well. Guided by the words Every letter. Every heart., we want recitation to be a journey of iḥsān, and the Qur'an to shape every path our competitors take.
الإمام الشاطبي
Our namesake
Imam al-Shāṭibī
Abū Muḥammad al-Qāsim ibn Fīrruh al-Shāṭibī (538 to 590 AH, 1144 to 1194 CE) was born in Shāṭibah, today's Xàtiva in al-Andalus, and spent his later life teaching in Cairo.
Though blind, he became one of the great masters of the Qur'anic readings. His poem Ḥirz al-Amānī wa Wajh al-Tahānī, known simply as the Shāṭibiyyah, set out the seven canonical readings in verse, and students of the Qur'an still memorize it today.
The competition carries his name as a promise: precision in every letter, and sincerity in every heart.
Mission
To uphold the highest standards of Qur'anic recitation and inspire excellence through a platform rooted in precision, reverence and authentic Islamic values.
Vision
A leading and timeless Qur'an competition that bridges generations through a refined, meaningful and spiritually enriching experience.
Purpose
To strengthen the connection between hearts and the Qur'an while celebrating the beauty, discipline and legacy of recitation.
Our values
- Excellence (iḥsān)
- Reverence
- Authenticity
- Devotion
- Prestige
- Elevation
- Timelessness
- Spirituality
Growth
From a few dozen to over a thousand.
Approximate competitors each season.
- 2015 ~75
- 2018 ~350
- 2021 ~500
- 2024 800+
- 2025 ~900
- 2026 ~1,100
Our identity
A mark rooted in tradition, made for today.
The logomark
The name al-Shāṭibī in Thuluth, often called the king of Arabic calligraphy, reshaped as a contemporary mark.
The supporting mark
Drawn from the letter shīn, an open muṣḥaf on its stand and the arch of a mihrab. The arch frames the photos across this site.
The seal
The formal expression of the competition, used on certificates and official documents.
The competition's name, logos and seal may not be used without our written permission. Ask for permission
Run by volunteers
Judges, scholars, teachers and a volunteer team make every season possible.
Our office is at Karmel Mall, 2910 Pillsbury Ave, Suite 401, Minneapolis, MN 55408. We would love to hear your feedback, and we are always looking for people who can serve.