The NQA, (formerly known as the South African National Qiraa’atul Qur’aan Competition), comprises a Qur’aan recital and research contest as well as a ‘Servant of the Holy Qur’aan Award’. It is a landmark initiative by the organization in an attempt to honour the efforts of students and teachers of the Holy Qur’aan. The event serves as an added encouragement for individuals to improve, and hence the aim of the NQA is to promote and maintain high levels of Qur’aanic learning and service, as well as to train and earmark successful candidates for international platforms.

Since the coming of Islam to the southern most tip of Africa, the Muslim community of South Africa has produced great teachers of the Qur’aan, many of whom has travelled extensively to other parts of the world, promoting excellent scholarship of the Qur’aan, and hence the aim of the event is to encourage and maintain high standards of Qur’aanic learning in South Africa.

The initiative, that was hailed as a huge success, has been supported by various local and international organisations which includes: The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), Islamic Unity Convention (IUC), Awqaf SA, South African National Zakah Fund (Sanzaf), Islamic Relief, Ladysmith Dawah Centre, AlBarakah Bank, Oasis Group Holdings, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Embassy of Malaysia, Consulate of Indonesia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Egypt Air, Market Toyota Athlone, E Travel, Israa travel, Shaanti Lodge, Khan's Residence, Muslim Views, African Muslim Voice, Community News, People’s Post, Ummah Newspaper, The Voice of the Cape, Radio 786, Radio Al Ansaar, Radio Islam, Channel Islam International, ITV, Video X, PC Techniques, - amongst others.

The inaugural event took place from 30 November to 3 December 2006 in Cape Town. Forty reciters from across South Africa participated in the competition which was overseen by a panel of highly qualified local and international adjudicators and officials.
This national event was a natural follow- up to the provincial Cape Town Qiraa'ah competition which was hosted in 2005.

The winners of the competitions were:

Cape Town Qiraa'atul Qur'aan Competition 2005
Position  Junior Category:                            Senior Category:
1st           Mogamad Zain Alexander                Gaarieth Williams
2nd          Ismail Ebrahim                                 Abdul Azeez Brown
3rd          Shamiel Jacobs                                 Riedwaan Essat

South African National Qiraa'atul Qur'aan Competition 2006
Position   Junior Category                            Senior Category
1st            Mogamad Zain Alexander               Abdul Azeez Brown
2nd           Mog. Ameen Abduraooft                Ebrahim Alli
3rd           Mog. Rafiq Salie                             Rajab Adams

South African National Qiraa'atul Qur'aan Competition 2007
Junior Category: 1st- Shukrie Frydie, 2nd- Yusuf Fisher, 3rd- Waseem Shaikh
Teenage Category: 1st- Rafiq Salie, 2nd- Ameen Abdoraooft, 3rd- Ismail Ebrahim
Senior Category: 1st- Adiel Brown, 2nd- Fahmie Parker, 3rd- M. Allie Davids

National Qur'aan Awards 2008
Recitation category:
Junior: 1st- Gasan Leak, 2nd- Tashreeq Abrahams, 3rd- Abdullah Francis
Teenage: 1st- Luqmaan Parker, 2nd- M. Ameen Abduraouf, 3rd- Nadeem Dawood
Senior: 1st- Gaarieth Williams, 2nd- Farouk Mohamed, 3rd- Shamiel Jacobs

Research Category:
Junior: 1st- Muhammed Sheik, 2nd- Khaled Al Haddad, 3rd- Yusrah Hendricks
Teenage: 1st- Saadiq Samodien, 2nd- Ansaar Omar, 3rd- Imtiyaaz Hendricks

Servant of the Holy Qur'aan Award- Moulana Saleem Gaibie
Pictures can be viewed on http://www.indonesia-capetown.org.za/galery40.html