(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has seen quantum leaps over its 20-year-old shinny procession, particularly in terms of its ever developing branches and all the year round activities.
This has been affirmed by Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and Head of the Award Organising Committee, at the sideline of the 6th night of the Int''l Quran competition. "The Award, the most important worldwide, started with only two branches - the Int''l contest and Islamic Personality, in 1997, but has grown to 14 branches this year due to the auspicious sponsorship of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai." The contest reflects the UAE''s zeal to serve the Quran and its memorisers, he added. "We have honoured so many scholars, pioneers, and leaders, including the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, and the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for their exceptional services to Islam and Muslims around the world." The organising committee has also paid much attention to local contests by running the Shaikha Hind Quran contest, the most beautiful recitation contest, and national memoriser contest, he added. "Such diverse competitions have resulted in a group of elite male and female Emirati memorisers and arbitrators." The Award has also printed out thousands of books under 100 titles, including issues of 20 volumes, he elaborated. "These books have fulfilled the needs of Sunnah and Fiqh libraries, and were also presented in local and international book fairs, spanning Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, as well as Egypt, Riyadh, and Morocco''s." The organising committee has almost finished the writing process of the Shaikh Khalifa Mus''haf, but further details are to be announced later in a special press conference, Bu Melha highlighted. "The Shaikh Mohammed Manuscripts Centre, meant to be the leading hub for manuscripts in the Middle East, is also an added value to the Award numerous branches." The Award has launched an initiative of Quran recordings, he disclosed. "These are for Emirati and expatriate Quran readers known for their perfect recitation and tuneful voices," he said, noting that the ''Most beautiful reciataiton contest is a rich source for this programme. Bu Melha stated that the UAE now has a group of competent memorisers who proudly represent the country in international Quran competitions. "The diverse contests being run all the year round has also brought about efficient local and int''l arbitrators." The electronic arbitration is also a milestone in this regard, he pointed out. "A contestant picks a figure on a screen following which a number of questions directly appear on the screens of the five arbitrators who only click a set of signs against alerts or errors and these the system automatically turns into marks." The organising committee had earlier invited 140 countries and foreign communities around the world for participation in the award six months before the contest kicks off, he unveiled. "Of these, only 92 confirmed participation." Five memorisers could not make it and apologised while five others were disqualified for failing to score the minimum 70 percent required to sit final tests, he said. "The final number is 82 contestants; ten memorisers higher as compared to 72 last year." Raising the age limit from 21 to 25 has significantly attracted more Quran memorisers, Bu Melha said. "As for the Shaikha Fatima Int''l Quran Contest'', everything is settled, and the organising committee is to send the invitations due to Arab and Islamic countries and foreign communities worldwide. "The Shaikh Fatima contest''s logo, date (Nov 6-18), timing (after Maghreb Prayer), Venue (Dubai Chamber), arbitrators (all men), administrative and technical bylaw, prizes (same as male), and age limit (25) have been decided." Bu Melha said the 20th edition of the Award has been named after the late Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, God have mercy on him. "A big number of dignitaries, diplomats, and crowds of people attend the nights of the award." So far, 50 of 82 full Quran memorisers have sat for the final examinations of the 20th Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) in six nights at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "Up to 33 Umrah trips will be granted to the audience as per a raffle draw over the holy month of Ramadan. However, the time, procedures and programme shall be decided after the end of Ramadan."
Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.