Prelim tests of Quran contest concluded

A contestant recites the Holy Quran during the initial test of the Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Quran Contest.

The initial tests (preliminary rounds) of the 17th edition of the Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Quran Contest, a major category of the 13-branch Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), have been concluded.
The eight-day qualifying examinations started in Al Ain city, followed by Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi, according to a top official.
Ibrahim Bu Melha, Head of DIHQA Organising Committee and Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, said the contest, named after the wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai - saw a stiff competition.
"The annual contest saw the participation of Quran memorisers from the Quran study centres of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment, Maktoum Quran memorisation centres, along with school and university students," he said.
The final examinations will be held from Saturday (January 30) to Tuesday (February 9), he added. "The concluding ceremony for male contestants will be held on February 16 while top female winners will be honoured on February 17."
Participants in the first category, be they Emiratis or residents, need to memorise the Quran in full (30 parts) whereas applicants for the second and third branches have to learn 20 and ten parts in turn, he explained.
"Residents up to 10 years old may compete in 5-part category while Emiratis up to 10-years-old may participate in the 3-part category."
Full Quran memorisers, who should have participated in a previous edition of the same contest, may compete in the 7th category dedicated for Qiraat (Rewayas) or art of recitation - including schools of Warsh, Qaloon, and Al Duri. "Residents up to 21 years of age, who memorise the Quran in full, may also participate in this category while female contestants have no age limit."
Bu Melha said Emiratis, be they men of women, of any age can compete in any of the award's nine categories, except the 6th one which is only open for those memorisers who are up to 10 years old, and the recently opened two sections for new Muslims and special needs Quran memorisers."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE