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Mohammed gives away Quran awards

DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai yesterday night attended the concluding ceremony of the 11th Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA).

On the occasion, Shaikh Mohammed presented the ‘Islamic Personality of the Year’ prize of Dh1 million to Shaikh Mohammed Ali Al Sabooni, in addition to distributing prizes to the winners of the International Quran Memorisation and Recitation Competition in which 85 contestants took part this year.

The first prize of Dh250,000 in the international competition was presented to Mohammed Fuzlur Rabbi from Bangladesh, the second prize of Dh200,000 was given to Abdullah Mohammed Abdullah from Yemen, and the third prize of Dh150,000 went to Mohammed Al Sheriff Idris from Libya. The fourth prize of Dh65,000 was won by Si Thu Aung from Myanmar, while Belal Ahmed Mohammed received Dh60,000 for the fifth position. Ijjaz Mughdam from South Africa was placed sixth and received a prize money of Dh55,000.

Shaikh Mohammed also presented the winner of the seventh prize, Sawari Ahmed Ali from Burkina Faso, with Dh50,000; Ali Al Adawi from Nigeria who was placed eighth collected Dh45,000; ninth prize winner Ahmed Ali Al Marzouqi received Dh40,000; and 10^th prize winner, Mohammed Al Razzi Al Mulaih from Mauritania, received Dh35,000.

Shaikh Mohammed also presented certificates and cash prizes to the other participants at the competition. Contestants who scored grades above 80 were rewarded Dh25,000 each, while every participant received Dh20,000 each.

Addressing the gathering at the Dubai International Convention Centre, Ibrahim bu Melha, head of the organising committee of DIHQA, said: “DIHQA activities aim at linking the society with Islamic culture, and encouraging people to learn the Holy Quran and follow its teachings.”

The event was attended by prominent local dignitaries, officials, scholars and guests.

Mohammed Ali Al Sabooni, who received the Islamic Personality of the Year award for 2007, thanked Shaikh Mohammed and the DIHQA organising committee for bestowing the honour on those who have devoted their lives in serving Islam and Muslim nations. In his speech, Al Sabooni said: “The Holy Quran is the ‘great miracle’ revealed to the last of all prophets and messengers, Mohammed (pbuh).”