History of Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary in Timeline

Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary, or Al-Hussary, was a highly respected Egyptian Qāriʾ known for his precise Qur'an recitation. He memorized the entire Qur'an by age 8 and began public recitations at 12. A significant achievement was winning Egypt Radio's Qur'an Recitation competition in 1944 against 200 participants. Al-Hussary, along with Al-Minshawy, Abdul Basit, and Mustafa Ismail, forms a quadrumvirate considered the most influential and celebrated Qur'an reciters of the modern era, leaving a lasting impact on the Islamic world.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

September 1917: Birth of Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary

Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary was born in September 1917. He was an Egyptian qāriʾ known for his accurate recitation of the Qur'an.

Others born on this day/year

February 1944: Joined Egypt's official Qur'an radio station

In February 1944, Al-Hussary joined Egypt's official Qur'an radio station as a reciter.

1944: Won Egypt Radio's Qu'ran Recitation competition

In 1944, Al-Hussary won Egypt Radio's Qu'ran Recitation competition which had around 200 participants.

1945: Appointed reciter at the Ahmad al-Badawi mosque

In 1945, al-Hussary was appointed as a reciter at the Ahmad al-Badawi mosque.

August 1948: Nominated mu'adhin of the Sidi Hamza Mosque

In August 1948, al-Hussary was nominated as mu'adhin of the Sidi Hamza Mosque.

1955: Appointed to the Al-Hussein Mosque

In 1955, al-Hussary was appointed to the Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, where he remained until his death.

1957: Awarded Shaykh al-Maqāriʾ title

In 1957, Al-Azhar awarded al-Hussary the title Shaykh al-Maqāriʾ.

1960: Led the department of al-Ḥadīth bi-Jāmiʿ al-Buḥūth al-ʾIslāmiyya

In 1960, Al-Hussary led the department of al-Ḥadīth bi-Jāmiʿ al-Buḥūth al-ʾIslāmiyya for correcting Qur'anic codexes in the al-Azhar libraries.

1960: Travelled to Pakistan and India

In 1960, Al-Hussary traveled to Pakistan and India to recite at a conference.

1961: Recorded Ḥafs ʿan ʿĀṣim

In 1961, al-Hussary recorded the Qur'anic text in the style of Ḥafs ʿan ʿĀṣim.

1964: Recorded Warsh ʿan Nāfiʾ

In 1964, al-Hussary recorded the Qur'anic text in the style of Warsh ʿan Nāfiʾ.

1967: Received Egyptian Medal of Honour for Arts and Sciences and Elected President of the Islamic World League of Qur'an Reciters

In 1967, al-Hussary received the Egyptian Medal of Honour for Arts and Sciences, First Grade, and was elected the President of the Islamic World League of Qur'an Reciters.

1968: Recorded Qālān ʿan Nāfiʾ and ad-Dūrī ʿan Abi ʿAmr and recorded the Qu'ran in the style known as al-Muṣḥaf al-Muʿallim

In 1968, al-Hussary recorded the Qur'anic text in the styles of Qālān ʿan Nāfiʾ and ad-Dūrī ʿan Abi ʿAmr. In the same year, he recorded the Qu'ran in the style known as al-Muṣḥaf al-Muʿallim.

1976: Invited to participate in the World of Islam Festival in London

In 1976, al-Hussary was invited to participate in the World of Islam Festival in London.

1977: Recited the Qur'an at the United Nations

In 1977, al-Hussary recited the Qur'an at the United Nations.

1978: Recited the Qur'an at Buckingham Palace

In 1978, al-Hussary recited the Qur'an at Buckingham Palace.

November 1980: Death of Al-Hussary

Al-Hussary died of liver failure on 24 November 1980 during a trip to Kuwait.

November 1980: Death of Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary

Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary passed away in November 1980. He was a renowned Egyptian qāriʾ.

1980: Left wealth to build a mosque and support Islamic institutes

In 1980, at the time of his death, Al-Hussary left a third of his wealth to build a mosque and support Islamic institutes and a center dedicated to Qur'an memorization.