Mahmood Shahat Anwar, also spelled Mahmoud Shahat Anwar or Muhammad Anwar Shahat, is an esteemed Egyptian Quran reciter born on September 10, 1984 in Kafr el-Wazir, Dakahlia Governorate. He memorized the Qur’an by age twelve under his father’s guidance and studied Tajwīd in his early youth. He earned recognition after winning multiple national and international tilāwah competitions.
He became a leading voice on Egyptian and global Qur’anic platforms, joining Egypt Radio in 1979 following formal Tajwīd and recitation training. Known as “Qāri’ al-ʿĀlam al-Awwal” (“the world’s premier reciter”), he has led recitation events worldwide—including in France, Comoros, and across North Africa and the Gulf.
Mahmood Shahat’s recitation style is marked by powerful, emotionally resonant voice quality, clear Tajwīd, and balanced pacing in the Hafs ‘an ‘Asim riwāyah. His recordings of long surahs like Yā-Sīn, Al-A‘lā, Al-An‘ām, and Al-Mu’minūn are preserved in top-tier Qur’anic audio collections and continue to inspire listeners seeking solemn and spiritually moving murattal recitation.
South Africa