Kumayl Alloo

Qāriʾ Kumayl Alloo (Arabic: كُمَيْل أَللو; Gujarati-Kutchi: કુમાયલ એલુ; Hindi: कुमैल आलू; romanized: Kumaīl Allū) is a Tanzanian-American qāriʾ (reciter of the Qur'ān) and research scholar. Distinguished by his unique and melodious styles of recitation, his achievements in numerous Qur'ān competitions have garnered both national and international acclaim.

Early Life and Education

Born in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Alloo's journey towards excellence began with a deep-rooted passion for Qur'ānic recitation and academic pursuit. He demonstrated early proficiency in the Qur'ānic arts of qira'at (recitation styles) and tajweed (rules of Qur'ānic recitation) in particular. Having moved to the United States, he continued to nurture his passion for both the Qur'ān and scientific inquiry.

Alloo graduated from the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College in 2021 as valedictorian, subsequently matriculating at Columbia University on a full, four-year scholarship. In 2023, he became the only student in his cohort at Columbia University to have been admitted into medical school as a college sophomore—two years before the traditional, pre-medical timeframe. He is currently a student-athlete at Columbia University and a researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in Manhattan, New York, with academic interests in neurodegeneration, clinical medicine, cognitive neuroscience, Islamic theology, and Arabic linguistics.

Qur'ān Recitation

Kumayl Alloo's journey as a qāriʾ is marked by numerous accolades and achievements in prestigious Qur'ān recitation competitions worldwide. His distinctive style, characterized by meticulous adherence to tajweed (rules of Qur'ānic recitation) and profound emotional expression, has captivated audiences and judges alike.

National Championships:

After having won several local and regional Qur'ān competitions in Tanzania and the States, Alloo began competing on national levels. He first gained attention by winning the National IMAM Qur'ān Competition in 2019, showcasing his command over tajweed and various qira'at. The following year, he secured another victory at the National Al-Qadr Qur'ān Competition, building on his initial success. In 2021, Alloo secured the top prize at the National IMAM Qur'ān Competition, demonstrating his consistency and dedication to perfecting his craft. His ability to convey the spiritual essence of the Qur'ān through his recitations earned him widespread acclaim and solidified his reputation in Qur'ānic recitation.

International Championships:

Alloo's success in national competitions paved the way for international recognition, culminating in his historic victory at the Global Iqra' Qur'ān Recitation Competition held in Ontario, Canada, in 2022. Co-sponsored by Canada's Organization of North American Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim Communities (NASIMCO) and the United States' Center for Islamic Learning (CIL), the competition—which debuted in 2021—had quickly grown to become one of the most popular in North America, gaining worldwide recognition for its celebration of Qur'ānic recitation excellence.

That year, over 1,000 participants from more than 50 countries competed. Alloo's recitation, however, captivated judges for its mastery of various qira'at and its heartfelt delivery of Qur'ānic verses—emotionally resonant yet faithful in adherence to recitation rules and true to the verses' intended meanings and contexts.

Alloo made history as the first Tanzanian-American to claim 1st place in this global competition.

He has since judged on numerous tarteel and hifz competitions and has been invited to teach qira'at and tajweed across North American madāris. In 2023, Columbia University's Islamic Center appointed him a Muqri' (Arabic: مُقْرِئ, lit. 'reciter') and Mu'addhin (Arabic: مُؤَذِّن, lit. 'caller'), positions he continues to maintain. He regularly recites religious texts, delivers sermons, and leads prayers for the university's Muslim community as well.

Research

In addition to his accomplishments in Qur'ānic recitation, Alloo is also a research scholar and neuroscientist, with academic interests centered mostly around neurodegeneration and behavioral neuroscience. A neuroscience researcher at Columbia University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, his most recent works have focused on brain development and deterioration in Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease—common age-related, neurodegenerative disorders.

Research Awards:

2022: WEP Research Award, Columbia University
2022: Pritzker Pucker Research Fellow, Pritzker Pucker Foundation
2022: Parkinson's Foundation Fellow, Parkinson's Foundation
2023: PF Travel Award, Parkinson's Foundation
2023: Trailblazer Scholar, Columbia University
2023: Critical Language Fellowship, AmidEast Education Abroad
2023: Global Learning Scholar, Columbia University
2023: Flexmed Scholar, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
2024: Saltzman Scholar, Columbia University
2024: Named Scholar, Columbia University

For a complete list of publications and research awards, visit Frontiers of Behavioral Neuroscience.

Personal

Alloo is fluent in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic (Classical, Modern-Standard, and Maghrebi), Urdu, Gujarati, Hindi, Swahili, and Kutchi. He is currently a research-scholar at Columbia University in New York.