History of Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary in Timeline

Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary, or Al-Hussary, was a renowned Egyptian Qāriʾ celebrated for his precise Qur'an recitation. He memorized the entire Qur'an by age 8 and began public recitations at 12. In 1944, he won Egypt Radio's Qur'an Recitation competition. Al-Hussary, along with Al-Minshawy, Abdul Basit, and Mustafa Ismail, forms a quartet considered the most influential modern reciters, significantly impacting the Islamic world.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

September 1917: Birth of Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary

In September 1917, Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary was born. He later became a renowned Egyptian qāriʾ known for his accurate recitation of the Qur'an.

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February 1944: First appearance on Egypt's official Qur'an radio station

On 16 February 1944, Al-Hussary made his first appearance on Egypt's official Qur'an radio station as a reciter after moving to Cairo.

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

On 7 August 1948, al-Hussary was nominated mu'adhin of the Sidi Hamza Mosque and later, a muqriʾ at the same mosque.

1955: Appointed to the Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo

In 1955, Al-Hussary was appointed to the Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, where he remained in-service for 29 years until his death.

1957: Awarded the title Shaykh al-Maqāriʾ

In 1957, Al-Azhar awarded Al-Hussary the title Shaykh al-Maqāriʾ and he was appointed to the board of Islamic research on Hadith and the Qur'an at Al-Azhar.

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 present in the al-Azhar libraries.

1960: Traveled to Pakistan and India

In 1960, Al-Hussary traveled to Pakistan and India, the first Egyptian qāriʾ to do so, to recite at a conference in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru and Gamal Abdul Nasir.

1961: Recorded Ḥafs ʿan ʿĀṣim style of recitation

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

1964: Recorded Warsh ʿan Nāfiʾ style of recitation

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

1967: Recipient of the Egyptian Medal of Honour and 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, from the Egyptian president Gamal 'Abd Al-Nasir. The same year, he was elected the President of the Islamic World League of Qur'an Reciters.

1968: Recorded Qālān ʿan Nāfiʾ and ad-Dūrī ʿan Abi ʿAmr styles and al-Muṣḥaf al-Muʿallim

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

1976: Participated 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

In November 1980, Al-Hussary died of liver failure during a trip to Kuwait. His last public recitals were at the Kaaba in Mecca and Masjid al Nabawi in Medina.

November 1980: Death of Mahmoud Khalil al-Hussary

In November 1980, Al-Hussary died. He was widely acclaimed for his accurate recitation of the Qur'an.

1980: Al-Hussary left a third of his wealth to build a mosque

In 1980, Al-Hussary left a third of his wealth to build a mosque on Al-Ajuzah Street in Cairo. He also left expenses for the mosque in Tanta, three Islamic institutes and a Qur'an memorization center.

October 2005: Inauguration of Al-Hosary Mosque in 6th of October City

In October 2005, the Al-Hosary Mosque, the largest mosque in 6th of October City, was inaugurated in Al-Hussary's honour by the "Shaykh al-Hussary Society".