Dubai Holy Quran recitation winners announced

Dubai - "The 10-year-old contest, which is gaining popularity, was only limited to male kids, youngsters, youth, imams, and muezzins."

After almost one month of intensive tests, the 10th 'Most Beautiful Quran Recitation Contest', a category of the 13-branch Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), came to a close.
The concluding ceremony of the five-section contest was held at DIHQA headquarters at Al Mamzar on Tuesday night in the presence of dignitaries, contestants, parents and the public.
Prof Mohammed Abdulrahim Sultan-al-Ulama, head of the competition unit and memorisation Affairs, DIHQA, said female Quran memorisers with tuneful voices now have a chance to show their talent and try hard for next edition.
"The 10-year-old contest, which is gaining popularity, was only limited to male kids, youngsters, youth, imams, and muezzins," he said. "But, rules have changed with two newly-opened branches for female Quran memorisers."
The contest, sponsored His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is aimed to discover, encourage, sponsor, and train Quran talents and tuneful voices at the hands of proficient scholars, he pointed out.
"The contestants' performance was so stunning that it was not easy for the high caliber arbitration committee to choose the best of the best contestants with most beautiful recitation and Azan giving."
Shaikh Osama Al Safi, head of the arbitration committee, said all contestants and organisers did a good job. "We wish to listen to more beautiful voices in Quran recitation and Azan giving, though."
Meanwhile, the attendees were enchanted with the recitation of top winners, including Ahmed Al Shabrawy, who came first in Kids category; Hafeez Farookh, the top Youngster category; Najuh Omar, in the top youth category; and Moaz Assal, who secured first position in Imam's section, and Majid Anwar, who gave the most tuneful Azan.
Valuable prizes were gifted to the 15 top winners - three contestants in each category, and appreciation certificates were presented to the 48 finalists.
"The top three winners in the kids category were presented with Dh10,000, Dh7,000 and Dh5,000 while the best three in the youngsters category went home with Dh15,000, Dh10,000 and Dh7,000."
As for the youth category, winners were given Dh20,000, Dh15,000 and Dh10,000.
"The first three imams were awarded Dh30,000, Dh25,000 and Dh20,000 while the winning muezzins won Dh25,000, Dh20,000 and Dh15,000.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com