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Holy Quran contest to undergo changes

DUBAI - The fifth cycle of the local Quran competition, organised by the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), will witness a number of changes with the addition of a new branch to the three existing ones besides the introduction of a prize for the best Quranic foundation instead of the best centre, according to Dr Aref Al Shaikh, head of the organising committee of the local contest.

The preparations for the fifth cycle, due to be held in February 2004, were discussed at a meeting held recently by the organising committee of the local competition.

The participants in the meeting discussed the mechanism of organising the new cycle and reviewed the centres which were removed from the list of participating Quran Memorisation centres while new other centres joined.

Meanwhile, a new branch for the memorisation of five chapters of the Quran, open to UAE nationals alone to encourage them to learn the holy book, was added to the categories of the entire Holy Quran, the 20 consecutive chapters and the 10 consecutive chapters.

The newly introduced prize for the best Quranic establishment will be granted on the basis of a specific criteria. The establishments that will compete in this category are the Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Project for Quran Memorisation; the Shaikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Project for Quran Memorisation; the Sharjah Foundation for Quran and Sunnah; the Ras Al Khaimah Foundation for the Holy Quran and its Sciences; Fujairah Charity Association and Dar Al Bir Association.

The organising committee has enlisted the Ministry of Education and Youth as a new centre authorised to conduct internal Quran memorisation contests to select the winners from among its schools in different educational zones.

The participants at the meeting discussed the budget allocated for the fifth cycle of the local competition. The media committee will start its preparations for promoting the competition which will be held at a suitable time taking into account the Haj season, the school examinations and the date for organising the conference on the scientific miraculous nature of the Holy Quran which is being organised by DIHQA.

Ahmed Al Zahed, media coordinator of DIHQA, said that the UAE nationals and residents of all nationalities who are not registered at any Quran memorisation centre can start the registration from now until December 26. "The contest at the level of the centres and establishments will begin from December 27 to January 7 and January 10 is the deadline for receiving the nominations from the centres," Mr Al Zahed said.