The second episode of Egypt's 'State of Recitation' Quran recitation competition aired on Saturday, November 14, 2026, witnessing significant developments in the contestants' standings. Twin brothers Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein Barakat exited the competition after facing off against Yousuf Al-Sawaf. Their departure leaves eight contestants remaining in the running.
The judging panel awarded Mohamed Abdel Rahman Al-Khouli and Mohamed Reza Al-Ashri 274 points each, while Al-Hussein Barakat and Badr Abdel Hakim scored 273 points each. Abbas Al-Isawi received 272 points, Al-Hassan Barakat secured 271 points, and Yousuf Al-Sawaf obtained 270 points. Meanwhile, Nasser Al-Sayed Nasser garnered 265 points, the lowest score among the eight contestants.
Nasser Al-Sayed Nasser's elimination was met with an emotional moment when Sheikh Abdel Fattah Al-Tarouti approached him, kissed him, and escorted him off the set. However, Nasser still has a chance to re-enter the competition pending the public's vote. The contestants' rankings are determined by a combination of the judges' scores and public votes.
The competition between Yousuf Al-Sawaf and Al-Hassan Barakat intensified, but Al-Sawaf ultimately secured the highest number of votes, allowing him to continue in the program. The Barakat twins' participation in this stage of the competition has concluded. The show airs on Life, CBC, and Al-Nas channels as part of its second season, which began on Friday, November 13.
A total of 25,000 contestants from across Egypt participated in the competition, with 32 selected to compete over six rounds. The competition assesses contestants' voice quality, performance accuracy, and mastery of recitation rules. Five contestants will advance to the final round to select two winners in the Tajweed and Trtiel categories.
The winners of each category will receive one million Egyptian pounds, record the Quran with their voice, and broadcast it on the 'Egypt Quran Karim' channel. They will also have the opportunity to lead prayers during Ramadan. The public participates in determining contestants' fates through QR code voting.
The second season of 'State of Recitation' aims to discover and support distinguished Quranic recitation talents. The show's host, Ayah Abdel Rahman, revealed that contestants were evaluated based on their skills, with the public vote playing a crucial role in their progression.
Key points
- Contestants' progress is determined by both judges' scores and public votes.
- The competition offers a substantial cash prize and a chance to record and broadcast the Quran.
- A total of 25,000 contestants participated in the competition.
Reporting sources
- Sawt Al-Umma · Sawt Al-Umma
