UAE- Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Quran Contest starts in Al Ain

DUBAI 9th January 2016 (WAM) - The Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) on Saturday started the long-awaited initial tests of the 17th edition of the Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Quran Contest.

The Examination Unit started the rescheduled competition which is a branch of the 13-category global competition at Al Ain city where the Quran memorisers enrolled with the Quran study centres there sat for qualifying tests.

The examinations were held at the Sohaila bin Uwaida Al Khaili Centre of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the presence of Dr Ammar Ibrahim Hassan head of the Centre.

Ibrahim Bu Melha Head of DIHQA Organising Committee and Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs said 71 Quran memorisers from Al Ain were competing in the popular nationwide contest. "These include 21 male and 50 female competitors in all sections."

Adding he said the arbitration committee for male memorisers included Sheikh Mohammed Anas Al Shehi Shaikh Abdullah Al Ansari Shaikh Kamal Taher and Shaikh Sami Daheem.

"The jury panel for female contestants included Sara Abdul Samad Asma Hassan Al Marzouqi Abeer Al Johari Razan Adnan Kholood Mohammed Mutawea and Fatima Ahmed Zul-Norain."

The DIHQA Competition Unit included Khalid Al Marzouqi for the Public Relations Unit Sami Abdul Aziz and Mahmoud Sami on behalf of the Competition Unit as well as Abdul Aziz Al Marzouqi and Noor Al Ameen of the Media Unit.

Bu Melha said the initial tests of the Contest "The Contest named after the wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai are to take one full week and slated to end on Saturday. "Top winners will be eligible for final tests which are to be held later" he said noting that valuable prizes await winners in final tests.

Meanwhile contestants from Dubai will sit for initial tests on SundayTuesday January 10-12. "Initial tests for Quran study centres in Ajman Umm Al Quwain Fujairah Sharjah Humanitarian City General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment Ministry of Education and universities will be run on Wednesday January 13."

Ras Al Khaimah contestants will set for tests on Thursday January 14 at the headquarters of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award in Al Mamzar area he underlined. "Initial tests for Abu Dhabi and the Western Region participants will be held at Al Bateen Quran Centre on Saturday January 16."

Bu Melha stated that the final tests will be run from January 30 to February 09. "The concluding ceremony for male contestants will be held on February 16 while top female winners will be honoured on February 17."

Participants in the first category be they Emiratis or residents need to memorise the Holy Quran in full (30 parts) whereas applicants for the second and third branches have to learn by heart 20 and ten parts in turn he explained. "Residents up to 10 years old may compete in 5-part category while Emiratis up to 10 year old may participate in the 3-part category."

Full Quran memorisers who should have participated in a previous edition of the same contest may compete in the 7th category dedicated for Qiraat (Rewayas) or art of recitation - spanning the schools of Warsh Qaloon and Al Duri. "Residents up to 21 years old who memorise the Quran in full may also participate in this category while female contestants have no age limit."

Bu Melha said Emiratis be they men of women of any age may however compete in any of the award seven categories except the 6th one which is only open for memorisers up to 10 years old.