Shahat Muhammad Anwar

Shaykh al-Qari
El-Shahat Muhammad Anwar
الشحات محمد أنور
Born(1950-07-01)July 1, 1950
Kafr el-Wazir, Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt
DiedJanuary 13, 2008(2008-01-13) (aged 57)
Kafr el-Wazir, Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt
Board member of
Syndicate of Quran Reciters in Egypt
Children9; including Mahmoud and Anwar
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni

El-Shahat Muhammad Anwar (1 July 1950 – 13 January 2008) was an Egyptian qāri (Quran reciter). He was among the prominent Egyptian reciters of his generation and was known for his melodic recitation style. El-Shahat was approved as a reciter for Egyptian Radio in 1979 and performed at religious events in Egypt and abroad. He served as secretary-general of the Egyptian Syndicate of Quran reciters until his death. He was also known by the nickname Amīr al-Nagham (Prince of Melodies).

Early life and education

El-Shahat Muhammad Anwar was born on 1 July 1950 in the village of Kafr el-Wazir, in Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. His father died approximately three months after his birth, and he was subsequently raised under his maternal uncle, Helmy Mustafa, who supervised his upbringing and Quranic education.

El-Shahat memorised the Quran at the age of eight under his uncle's guidance. He then studied the rules of Quranic recitation (tajwid) under Ali Sayed el-Faragi. His recitation skills at a young age earned him the nickname al-Sheikh al-Saghir (the Little Sheikh) among his peers and the residents of his village.

Career

Egyptian Radio

El-Shahat's reputation as a Quran reciter grew during his youth, and he began receiving invitations to recite at religious gatherings across Egypt. He first applied to join Egyptian Radio in 1976. Following an audition, the examination committee recommended that he receive further training in melodic variation before being reconsidered. He then studied maqamat (Arabic melodic modes) for approximately two years.

El-Shahat appeared before the radio's examination committee again in 1979 and was approved as a Quran reciter. On 16 December 1979, he recited during a live dawn broadcast on Quran Radio, introducing his recitation to a wider audience.

He subsequently recorded the Quran in the murattal style, a form of measured recitation. The recitation was approved by the Islamic Research Academy at Al-Azhar.

Syndicate

In the early 1980s, el-Shahat participated in the establishment of the Egyptian Syndicate of Memorizers and Reciters of the Noble Quran, alongside reciters including Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad and Mahmud Ali al-Banna. He served on its first board of directors and later became its secretary-general, a position he held until his death.[citation needed]

Public appearances and competitions

In 1994, el-Shahat recited the Quran at a Mawlid celebration in Alexandria. The event was attended by Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. He also participated in Laylat al-Qadr celebrations attended by Hosni Mubarak in 1997 and 2001.

In 2003, he co-established an international Quran memorisation competition in Port Said. The 7th edition of competition, held in 2024, was named after him in recognition of his contributions to Quranic recitation.

He also established Al-Taqwa Mosque in his home village of Kafr el-Wazir.

Recitation style

El-Shahat's recitation was characterised by the use of different maqamat and variations in vocal delivery. Although, he studied melodic techniques as part of his training but he reportedly maintained that Quran recitation should be distinguished from music. He reportedly also emphasised the importance of taqwa (God-consciousness) in recitation.

His recitations have been described as having included both melancholic and relatively uplifting melodic passages. his approach was sometime contrasted with that of earlier Egyptian reciters such as whose recitations were often associated with mostly melancholic style.

International travels

El-Shahat performed in several countries through invitations and assignments from Egyptians Ministry of Endowments. In 1980, he travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj pilgrimage. He also participated in Ramadan programmes and religious gatherings in Lebanon and Iran.

His international engagements included visits to United Kingdom, United States, Argentina, Spain, Austria, France, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Maldives, Comoros, Zaire, and Cameroon, as well as countries in the Gulf region and elsewhere in Asia. He also recited at Islamic centres in London and Los Angeles.

In 2001, el-Shahat won first place in King Faisal International competition, in which he competed against Quran reciters from across the Islamic world.

Personal life

El-Shahat had nine children, comprising of three sons and six daughters. Two of his sons Anwar and Mahmoud memorised the Quran and became reciters. His son Mahmoud el-Shahat Anwar subsequently gained recognition for his Quran recitation.

El-Shahat Muhammad's son, Mahmoud el-Shahat Anwar in Iran in 2015

Death and legacy

El-Shahat Muhammad Anwar died on 13 January 2008 in Kafr el-Wazir, aged 57.

He left behind numerous audio and video recordings of his recitations, which continue to be circulated among Quran listeners. His son Mahmoud el-Shahat Anwar has also continued the family's involvement in Quran recitation.

In December 2025, the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments dedicated the 32nd edition of its International Holy Quran Competition to el-Shahat. The event was held in Egypt's New Administrative Capital and included participants from several countries.

References

  1. ↑ Arabic: الشحات محمد أنور; pronounced as Ash-Shahāt Muhammad Anwar
  2. ↑ Arabic: أمير النغم
  3. ↑ The Egyptian media reports refers to the competition as the King Faisal International Competition, although it may have been the King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorizing, Reciting, and Interpreting the Holy Quran. The exact identity of the competition remains unclear.
  1. 1 2 3 4 Abd el-Hadi, Shema' (1 July 2026). "وزارة الأوقاف تُحيي ذكرى ميلاد القارئ الشيخ الشحات محمد أنور.. أحد أعلام دولة التلاوة المصرية" [The Ministry of Awqaf commemorates the birth anniversary of reciter Sheikh El-Shahat Mohamed Anwar: one of the prominent figures of the Egyptian school of Quranic recitation.]. بوابة الأهرام (in Arabic). Al-Ahram. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Anz, Mustafa (13 January 2023). "في ذكرى رحيل «أمير النغم».. محطات في حياة الشيخ الشحات محمد أنور" [On the Anniversary of the Passing of the "Prince of Melody": Milestones in the Life of Sheikh El-Shahat Mohamed Anwar]. الوطن (in Arabic). El Watan. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  3. 1 2 Mursi, Hasan (2 January 2026). ""دولة التلاوة" يكرم الشيخ الشحات محمد أنور ويستعرض رحلته مع القرآن | مصراوي". مصراوي.كوم (in Arabic). Masrawy. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Abdel Rahim, Mohamed Sabri (13 January 2026). "الذكرى الـ18 على رحيل أمير النغم الشيخ الشحات أنور |عبقري دولة التلاوة". صدى البلد (in Arabic). el Balad. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nadi, Ahmed (6 December 2025). "المسابقة العالمية للقرآن تحمل اسمه.. 10 معلومات عن القارئ الراحل الشحات محمد أنور" [The International Quran Competition Bears His Name: 10 Facts About the Late Reciter El-Shahat Mohamed Anwar]. المصري اليوم (in Arabic). Al-Masry Al-Youm. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  6. ↑ Ergenekon, Ahmet (11 August 2012). "KARİ'LERİN HAYATLARI [Güzel Kur'ân Okuyan Meşhurlar]" [THE LIVES OF THE QĀRĪS [Renowned Reciters of the Qur’ān]]. YENİ ASYA - Gerçekten haber verir (in Turkish). Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Abdel Rahman, Ali (13 January 2021). "13 عاما على رحيل أمير النغم الشيخ الشحات محمد أنور.. صور". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). Youm7. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  8. ↑ el-Mut'ani, Khaled (12 July 2014). "حـوار القارئ حلمى الجمل لـ «الأهرام»: الصوت الجميل.. منحة ربانية". gate.ahram.org.eg. Al-Ahram. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 El-Bihiri, Ahmed (13 January 2025). "الصفحة الرسمية لوزارة الأوقاف تحيي ذكرى وفاته.. فمن هو القارئ الشيخ الشحات أنور؟" [The official page of the Ministry of Awqaf commemorates the anniversary of his passing—so who was the reciter Sheikh Al-Shahat Anwar?]. المصري اليوم (in Arabic). Al-Masry Al-Youm. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  10. ↑ Abd el-Hadi, Ayman (2 February 2024). "تكريم أقرب الأصوات محاكاة للشيخ الشحات محمد أنور في العالم بمسابقة بورسعيد الدولية" [Honoring the voice that most closely emulates Sheikh El-Shahat Mohamed Anwar at the Port Said International Competition]. القاهرة 24 (in Arabic). Cairo24. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  11. ↑ "The 32nd edition of the International Holy Quran Competition". sis.gov.eg. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  12. 1 2 Ubaid, Yousry (10 May 2021). "مشايخ وحكايات .. الشيخ الشحات محمد أنور.. أمير النغم القرآنى". المصري اليوم (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Innovative Recitation Style of Shahat Muhammad Anwar". International Quran News Agency (IQNA). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  14. ↑ "Shahat Muhammad Anwar; A Qari Who Became a Quran Master in Childhood". International Quran News Agency (IQNA). Tehran. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 Abd el-Hadi, Shema' (1 December 2025). ""أمير النغم".. المسابقة العالمية للقرآن الكريم الـ٣٢ تحمل اسم الشيخ الشحات محمد أنور.. تعرف عليه" ["Prince of Melody": The 32nd International Quran Recitation Competition is named in honor of Sheikh El-Shahat Mohamed Anwar, learn more about him.]. Al-Ahram. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  16. ↑ Mujahid, Sabhi (10 January 2026). ""الأعلى للشؤون الإسلامية" يوثّق مسيرة الشيخ الشحات أنور في فيلم وثائقي". rosaelyoussef.com. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  17. ↑ Egypt, Daily News (6 December 2025). "Egypt launches 32nd International Quran Competition with participants from over 70 countries". Dailynewsegypt. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  18. ↑ "Qatar Participates in 32nd International Holy Quran Competition in Egypt". qna.org.qa. Doha, Qatar: Qatar News Agency. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2026.