"[3] Hassan bin Haji Azhari was born on 18 August 1928 in Syu'ib Amir,[4][5] a village near the Masjid al-Haram and adjacent to the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad in Makkah.

He studied under eminent instructors at the Masjid al-Haram, including Sheikh Yasin al-Fadani [ms],[5] in Madrasah Dar Ulum, Mecca.

[5] His dual education in Malaya and Mecca made him a foremost authority in Al-Quran teaching in Malaysia, and from the country's early years of independence until the 1990s, his contributions were highly acknowledged.

[10][9] Hassan received an invitation to judge Tilawah Al-Quran tournaments in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor at many levels, ranging from regional to state to national and worldwide, in 1950.

His recognition for his skills on a global scale led to offers to judge tournaments in Egypt in 1993 and 1994, Mecca from 1979 to 1993, and other nations including Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.

[10] In light of Hassan's unique voice, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman requested him to recite the Muslim call to prayer, known as the "azan," at Stadium Merdeka on 31 August 1957, the day of Malaysia's independence.

[11][12][5] One week before, the Minister of Education at the time, Abdul Rahman Talib, asked for his permission to lead the call to prayer as a way of thanking Allah for the country's freedom from colonial authority.

[11] Hassan was an early pioneer in Malaysian Al-Quran teaching, well known for involving kids with the Muqaddam television programme that ran on RTM for eight years beginning in 1979.

His approach to teaching started with letter identification and progressed to Qur'anic terms and student recitations, which served as a communal reference point.

[17] His worldwide reputation as one of the foremost authorities on the Qur'an is further evidenced by his appointment as Vice Chairman of the International Qurra' Association, situated in Baghdad, Iraq, in recognition of his hard work.

In addition, during the course of his 50-year career, he oversaw competitions run by notable organisations including Tenaga Nasional, Petronas, the Malaysian Armed Forces, and the Royal Malaysia Police.

By establishing precise score standards for tajwid, tarannum, fashah, and voice,[19] this law made assessments uniform and equitable across all competition levels.