The sixth season of Tijan Annour, a programme on Al-Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC), came to an end yesterday with the winners crowned in the closing session of the event. Tijan Annour, this year received over 1,300 submissions from 54 countries.  
Doha Usaw, a 13-year-old girl from Morocco was crowned the winner of this year’s Tijan Annour or “crown of light” for her  beautiful recitation. Doha who was  a participant for the third time said: “This is a great experience.  In the past I have come so close to winning, but this year, I finally won the crown of light”.
Nine-year-old Alzubair Alghuzi, also from Morocco, won the second prize and 12-year-old Haroun Abdi from the United States won the third prize.
JCC also crowned the winners of the ‘Young Muezzin’ contest, a new feature that gave children an opportunity to compete based on their talent in calling out the “Adhan”, or call to prayer. Twelve-year-old Mahmoud Said from Egypt was awarded the first prize.
Said cited his grandfather who was a muezzin, supported him in developing his talent from a very young age. 12 year-old Mohamed al-Tijani from Sudan won the second prize, and 13-year-old Suhaib Nasir from Yemen won the third prize.
Awards were handed over to the winners by Saad al-Hudaifi, deputy executive general manager and acting director of JCC.
The finale was attended by the winners, their families and other dignitaries, including Hassan al-Dawoodi, Minister of Higher Education in Morocco and Imam Abdullah Ibn Ali Basfar, president of the Holy Qur’an Memorisation International Organisation.
Hudaifi commented that Tijan Annour aimed to instill good values in children, while promoting usage of classical Arabic among Arabic children everywhere. He said: “Over the years, Tijan Annour has built a larger audience and participant base. Both Tijan Annour and the Young Muezzin aim to encourage children to develop and showcase their talents before the entire world.”
Participants had the opportunity to interact with the panel of prestigious judges who mentored them to help develop their talents and build their confidence.
Lead judge of the panel, Dr Ayman Suwaid, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Global Body of the Holy Qur’an, praised the programme’s role in reaching children around the world.
“Tijan Annour touches children’s hearts and unites them from different corners of the globe on a unique platform. This competition provides children with the opportunity not only to develop their talents but to earn honour and recognition while doing so,” he said.