Dubai Quran award to launch first of its kind e-library

Dubai - The DIHQA has further issued several heritage books, which are all revised, proofread and authenticated, he added.

  The public, particularly researchers, will soon have access to valuable books and references when the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) launches the first of its kind electronic library.
The 20-year-old DIHQA, since its inception in 1997, has issued 88 books, researches, studies and encyclopedia, which come into 140 tomes, to boost and promote the culture of reading in society.
The 14-category award, worth over Dh12 million, has issued these books in series, according to Ibrahim Mohammed bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and Head of the Award Organising Committee.
"These came in series, such as those on the Quranic studies, Prophetic Sunnah, Prophetic biography, Fiqh or jurisprudence studies, Islamic culture, as well as the biography series of celebrities."
The DIHQA has further issued several heritage books, which are all revised, proofread and authenticated, he added. "These are apart from other studies and researches."
Prof Dr Mohammed Abdulrahim Sultan Alolama, head of the competitions unit, said the award has, for example, issued two books as part of the biography series of celebrities. "These feature some parts of the lives of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum."
Both books, authored by Ibrahim Mohammed bu Melha, are the first publications in this series on the leading characters who have participated, with their thoughts, wisdom and model leadership, in the foundation of the UAE, he explained.
"The introduction to both books has been written by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai."
The award books have always been a big success in international book fairs, such as those of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Medina, Doha, Cairo, Algeria, Casablanca, and many others.
He added that they are to issue over 30 new books, in more than 80 tomes, in a year or two. "The electronic library will be ready before the end of the reading year, and readers will have access to lots of valuable books, sources and references that can all be easily found and searched."
The award, in pursuance of the prudent government trends to be smart, has already started founding the electronic library to give readers access to all its publications via a smart application, Prof Alolama stated.
"This will give a big push to reading worldwide, achieve part of the reading initiative launched by our prudent leadership, and encourage competition in reading Arabic publications."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE