Two girls share Quran contest first prize; 9-year-old shines

Henni Zohra, Algeria

Nine-year-old Zaquia Abubacar from Mozambique and 21-year-old Henni Zohra from Algeria shared the first prize at the first Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Holy Quran Competition.
Both full Quran memorisers take home Dh250,000 each, while Qatari competitor Amna Abdulrahiem Tahhan was awarded Dh150,000 for third place, said Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and head of the Award Organising Committee.
"Sundas Abdul Aziz from Afghanistan got Dh65,000 for ranking fourth while Asmaa Adra from Norway came fifth and won Dh60,000; Dh55,000 was given to Amna Ateeq Sultan Aldhaheri from the UAE for coming sixth," Bu Melha said.
Seventh place winner, Haneen Abdul Qayyum (Pakistan) took home Dh50,000, Fatouma Moussa (Niger) won Dh45,000 in eighth place, and Rafiya Hassan (Bangladesh) got Dh40,000 in ninth. Hananeh (Iran) and Amina Jaafaru (Nigeria) won Dh35,000 for sharing the tenth position.
Up to 72 contestants participated in the first edition of the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Int'l Holy Quran Competition. "As many as 1,570 full Quran memorisers from 122 countries have participated in DIHQA over its 20 editions, which were judged by 124 competent arbitrators and scholars from across the world," said Bu Melha.
Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, honoured Shaikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE nad Ruler of Dubai, with the Distinguished Quran Personality Award late on Friday.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com