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Three fail to make mark
 in Dubai Quran contest

All the memorisers need to pass the primary evaluation to be eligible for participation in the final tests which started on Wednesday night at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

“Contestants of Albania, Barbados and Bulgaria were disapproved and can not participate in the competition,” head of Competitions Unit of the Award, Ahmed Sager Al Suwaidi, told Khaleej Times. He said, “Two other contestants are to arrive soon.”

Participants have to answer three to four questions before a three-member judging committee. “Should a contestant fail to answer a question, he is given three chances,” he said.

The minor panel can decide the level of all contestants. “It is one of its responsibilities to categorise memorisers into grades A, B, C and D in view of their initial performance,” Suwaidi said.

Further, the pre-test panel has another job; it lays down the daily schedule of the contest. “For example it gives priority to the good and the younger memorisers.” It also tries to pick a participant from every continent for balance.

Successful contestants then sit for the final tests at two shifts — 1:30pm and 10:30pm. Suwaidi said day one of the contest saw very stiff competition.

“The seven contestants representing Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Lebanon, Philippines, Qatar, Chad and Bosnia perfored very well. The Saudi memoriser also enchanted the audience on day three.”

Though the number of participants this year is less by six compared to last session, the award is far beyond other international contests. “A maximum of 50 full-Quran memorisers may only participate in similar awards; this is an advantage to the Dubai award,” he said.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Saudi contestant Ammar Bugis – who is of Indonesian origin, attracted the audience on Thursday night with his strong memorisation and tuneful recitation.

Bugis’ 5-year journey with the Holy Quran started at the Ashur Bukhari Masjid in Makkah, when he was seven. “My father used to urge me to follow the same steps of my brother and learn the Quran, which I finished at the age of 12.”

Topping all contestants in two major local awards, grade-11 Bugis was nominated for the Dubai award which is his first international competition. “Not only it is an honour but also a big challenge the Dubai award,” he said, adding that he used to memorise one and a half pages, and revise five to 15 Juzaa (parts) per day.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.comcom

• UAE