Gebyar Al-Qur’an 2026 at UNU Jogja Celebrates the Qur’anic Talents of Islamic Boarding School Students Across Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), in collaboration with the Yogyakarta Special Region Provincial Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU DIY) through Jam’iyyatul Qurra wal Huffazh Nahdlatul Ulama (JQHNU), held Gebyar Al-Qur’an 2026, a Qur’anic Festival and Regional Qur’an Recitation Competition (Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an/MTQ), at the UNU Jogja campus on Sunday, October 11. The event was part of the series of activities commemorating National Santri Day 2026, observed on October 22.

The competition featured several categories, including Qur’an recitation (tilawah), memorization of 10 juz at the local JQH NU chapter level, memorization of 15 juz at the Nahdlatul Ulama Higher Education Institutions (LPTNU) level, Qur’anic interpretation (tafsir), qira’ah sab’ah mujawwad, Qur’anic calligraphy in the naskhi style, and Qur’an recitation in the tartil style.

UNU Jogja Vice Rector for Islamic Boarding School, Dr. Abdul Ghoffar, said the collaboration between UNU Jogja and JQHNU DIY was a joint initiative launched as part of the National Santri Day 2026 commemorations. He expressed hope that the event would inspire students from Islamic boarding schools who possess Qur’anic skills to further develop their abilities.

“This collaboration is not only our first joint Qur’anic competition with JQHNU DIY under PWNU DIY, but also an effort to recognize and appreciate students who have demonstrated expertise in the Qur’an,” he said.

He explained that, as a university in Yogyakarta with a mandate to advance Islamic outreach, UNU Jogja has a social and religious responsibility to keep the Qur’an alive in society. He added that the event served not only to recognize school students and santri with Qur’anic abilities but also to help identify potential talent that Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) could further nurture and develop.

“Through this initiative, we aim to bring existing potential to the forefront while building a database of talent that we can support in developing further,” he said.

He added that, as an inclusive university whose students come from diverse religious and social backgrounds, UNU Jogja needs a dedicated development scheme to help students improve their Qur’an-reading skills. Students who have not yet achieved fluency will receive tailored guidance, while those who are already proficient will be encouraged to develop their abilities further through community service and advanced competitions.

“Non-Muslim students are not included in this scheme. For Muslim students, however, we provide specialized support,” he said.

In his remarks, PWNU DIY Chair Dr. KH. Ahmad Zuhdi Muhdlor, S.H., M.Hum., expressed hope that the event would help spearhead a Qur’anic revival originating in Yogyakarta. He noted that the region has many people with expertise in the Qur’an.

“We have many Qur’anic scholars and experts. We sincerely hope this event will inspire a broader Qur’anic revival in Indonesia today, so that every young Muslim can learn to read the Qur’an. We will support JQHNU DIY if it develops additional initiatives to nurture enthusiasm for the Qur’an,” he said.

He also hoped that similar events could be extended to the wider community, allowing a deeper appreciation of the Qur’an to grow beyond educational institutions.

“We hope this initiative will reach a broader segment of society, rather than being limited to educational institutions,” he concluded.

Winners Announced Across Seven Qur’anic Competition Categories

According to the official decree issued by the Chief of the Judges’ Council on October 11, 2026, the winners in the men’s Qur’an recitation category at the local JQH NU chapter level were M Wahyu Hamami from Yogyakarta City, who took first place; Ali Masrukin from Sleman, who placed second; and Hilal Dzulkamali from Bantul, who finished third. In the women’s category, Berliana Talitha Latifah from Sleman won first place, followed by Lathifah Nurul Huda from Bantul in second place and Evelyn Rismita, also from Bantul, in third place.

In the LPTNU DIY delegation category, Fahmy Azka Adzkiya from ISQI Sunan Pandanaran won first place in men’s Qur’an recitation, followed by Ahyar Sabqi and Kemal Hidayatullah from UNU Jogja in second and third place, respectively. In the women’s category, Zahra Alya Kamila from IIQ An-Nur took first place, Umi Saidah from Universitas Alma Ata placed second, and Ani Darojatuf Lihah from UNU Jogja finished third.

In the men’s 10-juz Qur’an memorization category at the local chapter level, Atiyan Abdul from Bantul won first place, Farhan Royyani from Gunungkidul placed second, and Ilham Yusuf from Bantul finished third. In the women’s category, Hilmiyah Bahamisah, Masisea Minnatuni’mah, and Qonita Kamil, all from Gunungkidul, secured first, second, and third place, respectively.

In the men’s 15-juz Qur’an memorization category at the LPTNU level, Moch Shochiful Achsan and M Umar Al Faruq from Universitas Alma Ata won first and second place, respectively, while Muhammad Nur Alfian from ISQI Sunan Pandanaran took third place. In the women’s category, Nabila Habibatillah from IIQ An-Nur won first place, Tazkiyatun Nafsaz Zahro from ISQI Sunan Pandanaran placed second, and Awwalu Zukhrufina Al Kayis from the Sleman JQH chapter finished third.

In the men’s Qur’anic interpretation category, Zaid Hanan Saifuddin from Gunungkidul won first place, followed by Navis Arkan Almumtaza in second place and Yahya Firman Maulana in third place, both also from Gunungkidul. In the women’s category, Aisyah Hilda Aulia from Gunungkidul took first place, Wakhda Shofiyul Maula from Gunungkidul placed second, and Erysa Aura Servi Ramadani, also from Gunungkidul, finished third.

In the men’s qira’ah sab’ah mujawwad category, Muhammad Ali R from Sleman won first place, Naufal Zainul A from Sleman placed second, and Muhammad Ibnu Zaki from Gunungkidul finished third. In the women’s category, Khaizatuz Zauria from Sleman was named the winner.

In the men’s Qur’anic calligraphy (khattil Qur’an) category in the naskhi style, Fatan Akiv Hawadziq from Sleman won first place, Niko Subarkah from Kulon Progo placed second, and Ahmad Naswan Muawi from Yogyakarta City finished third. In the women’s category, Prisa Shareefa Prilia from Yogyakarta City took first place, Aisha Afifa Rafif from Bantul placed second, and Afifah Nur Hasna from Gunungkidul finished third.

In the men’s tartil Qur’an recitation category, Tristan Alastair from Sleman won first place, M Izza Adz kiya Akmal from Sleman placed second, and Chabib Raihan Dihya from Gunungkidul finished third. In the women’s category, Rasyadu Naja from Sleman took first place, Nilna Sa’adatus Sholichah from Gunungkidul placed second, and Lisa Kholifatun Setiyani from Yogyakarta City finished third.*

Reporter : Latifah