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Nigerian wins Dubai International Holy Quran Award

Sulaiman Abdulkarim Isah, the Nigerian contestant, won the top position in the international Quran completion category of the Award, apart from the Dh250,000 prize money.

Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, attended the concluding ceremony of the 18th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award on Friday night.

The event which took place at the Cultural and Scientific Association, Mamzar saw the presence of a number of Shaikhs, ministers, senior officials, and dignitaries.

Sulaiman Abdulkarim Isah, the Nigerian contestant, won the top position in the international Quran completion category of the Award, apart from the Dh250,000 prize money pushing Saudi Omar Hussain Baeisa and Yemeni Mohammed Khaled Yaseen to the second and third spots.

While Baeisa won Dh200,000, Yaseen bagged Dh150,000. The other top eight winners are Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhamri, Qatar; Abdul Rahman Alshuwaie, Kuwait; Mohammad Amdadulla Tajul Islam, Bangladesh; Anis Ali Al Fadel, Libya; Salem El Emjad, Mauritania; Mohammed Arif, USA; and Abdulrahman Abdulla Hasan, Bahrain.

They were gifted Dh65,000 to Dh35,000 – Dh5,000 less against each lower position. “The Mauritian and American contestants, having got the same marks, were ranked eighth and second eighth.”

Contestants, who scored 80 per cent and above, were rewarded with Dh30,000 each, while those whose performance was estimated at 70 to 79 per cent, received Dh25,000 each. Participants, with scores less than 70 per cent got Dh20,000 each.

Three of the best 15 contestants with most tuneful voices initiated the ceremony with some verses from the Holy Quran, followed by speeches of the Chairman of the award organizing committee Ibrahim bu Melha, and Head of the arbitration committee Shaikh Sameeh Ahmed Athamneh.

Three documentaries were then displayed on the award’s 18-year history, an outstanding Quran memoriser, and Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb Sheikh Al Azhar who won Dh1 million the Islamic Personality of the year Award. Finally the jury members and top ten winners were honoured.

Bu Melha said the Award, which started with two sections in 1997, branched out to 12 categories this year and saw the participation of 160 countries over its 18-year history.

“This is basically due to the incessant support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com