Holy Quran Award Begins in Dubai

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  The 15 edition of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award began at the Cultural and Scientific Association in the Al Mamzar area of Dubai on Sunday.  Ahmed Al Zahid, Head of Media Unit, said over 160 countries and communities across the world have been contacted for participation in the competition, yet, only 90 have arrived in the country.  These are 12 participants more than the number of contestants who competed in the 14th session. “The rise is mostly due to the popularity the award has been gaining over the years.  “Memorisers will sit for initial tests to check on their memorisation and performance, and will then go through final tests on two shifts: the first at 1.30pm and the second at 10.30pm,” Zahid told Khaleej Times  The 12-day competition, which will end on August 18, will see the youngest-ever participant — an eight-year-old boy from Ireland.  The first batch of memorisers are Abdul Wahid Masomi (Afghanistan), Hissein Youssouf (Central Africa), Aras Ass’ad Ibrahim Bany Shamsah (Jordan), Alhassan Ezudeen (Ghana), Iskandarov Nasrullo (Kyrgyzstan), Algassimou Bah (Guinea) and Nuradinov Shamil (Russia).  “They will be tested from August 7 to 13.” Meanwhile, the five members of the judging panel who are currently hosted at the Flora hotel in Deira were briefed on the rules of the award.  The lecture programme at the Cultural and Scientific Association ended on Saturday with a lecture on the miracles of numbers in the Holy Quran by Dr Mabruk Atiya.  “However, seven other lectures, including three in Arabic, three in Malayalam and one in Bengali, will be delivered at the Dubai Renaissance Women Association and the Dubai Reform Association,” Zahid said./129