Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Int’l Holy Quran Competition booming worldwide Full Quran female memorisers are honoured

Dubai – UAE 

Sallam Sallam

Seven more contestants sat final tests of the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Holy Quran Competition, 3rd edition, running at the Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association from 4 to 16 November

The third day of the competition saw the presence of H.E Ibrahim Mohamed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and Head of DIHQA Organising Committee, and Dr. Hamad bin Al Sheikh Al Shaibani, Director General of the department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai

Also present were members of the DIHQA Organizing Committee, a number of officials, contestants and their assistants, businessmen, sponsors, some students from the Bilal Bin Rabah Quran Study Center in Dubai, and a large audience

The first three days of the competition witnessed a stiff competition from all the participants who mesmerized the audience and arbitration committee with their exceptional performance and tuneful recitation

Lucrative Prizes Await Top Winners

While lucrative prizes await top winners, the one who manages to rank first will receive Dh250,000, as compared to Dh200,000 for the second, and Dh150,000 for the third

Up to Dh65,000 will be given to the winner of the fourth position in comparison to Dh60,000 for the fifth, Dh55,000 for the sixth, Dh50,000 for the seventh, Dh45,000 for the eighth, Dh40,000 for the ninth, Dh35,000 for the tenth.

Those who rank eleventh and below but manage to score 80% will receive Dh30,000 each, while those who score 70% to 79% will be presented with Dh25,000, and those who score 69% or less will go home with Dh20,000 each

Dr. Al Shaibani hails DIHQA international success

Dr. Hamad bin Al Sheikh Al Shaibani, Director General of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai, expressed his pride of the remarkable international success of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) year after year, and over the last 22 years

“These Quran competitions reflect the tireless effort being exerted to encourage Quran memorization and community engagement, yet with an unlimited and generous sponsorship and support from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai”

Dr. Shaibani paid tributes to the organising committee of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, led by H.E Ibrahim Mohamed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and Head of DIHQA Organising Committee, and all members involved for this dazzling story of success

“This is apart from the exceptional extensive coverage of all the activities of the 14-branch Award that produces competent Quran memorisers out of these competitions which are being held round the year”

The Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai is one of the key strategic partners of the organising committee of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, he underlined

“The Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Holy Quran Competition is one of the most important Quran competitions in the world that encourages young people to memorise the holy Quran in full”

Dr. Shaibani supplicated Almighty Allah to protect the UAE, and keep its security, glory and stability under the prudent leadership of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Members of the Supreme Council the Rulers of the UAE, may Allah protect them

The third day of the competition is to see seven more contestants. These include Khansaa Hussein Ahmed, Kenya, Khaoula Azouz, Algeria, Patimat Magomedova, Daghstan, Sajeda Mahd Ali Awadi, Jordan, Rahma Bamuwaayira Kasoma, Uganda, Zainab Natha Mohamed Naleem, Sri Lanka, and Hawa Mohamed Wais, Djibouti

Seven more contestants appeared in public on Wednesday. These included Nusaiba Sultana Ilma, Bangladesh, Aminata Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso, Mariam Uwimana, Burundi, Noura Ahmed Elbassyouni H.E Ibrahim, Egypt, Israa M.M. Salah, Palestine, Chan Myae Thu, Myanmar, and Sanata Traore, Cote Divoire

All participants expressed their happiness to participate in this global competition, and meet with this big number of full Quran female memorisers from around the globe

Contestants are so happy to participate in the competition

In an interview with some competitors, 17-year-old Hawa Mohamed Wais, who represents Djibouti in the competition, said was so happy to chip in this prestigious completion. “I started memorising the Quran at the age of 10 and finished five years later when she was 15”

“I then spent two more years in intensive review of each and every verse and chapter I memorised to tighten my memorization and my perfect recitation”

Hawa’s father, who is an imam of the mosque of her village, is the key word in her journey with the holy Quran. “He used to encourage me to complete this holy journey, and have this ultimate honour”

However, Hawa was the most determined one among her 10 brothers and sister. “I am the only one in my family who made it, and memorised the Quran in full”

This was possibly because Hawa did not go to school until she finished memorising the Quran. “I also learnt by heart several classic books on the Quran explanation, Arabic language, and jurisprudence”

Though Hawa shined in so many local completions, this is her first international participation. “This competition is amazing in perfect organization, and fair arbitration”

Memorising the Quran is so easy, but one needs to be fully determined, she said. “Al Nisaa or ‘Women’ chapter was the most difficult for me to learn by heart, but I did it, and even memorised some big chapters like ‘Al Aaraf’ in one day,” she said, thanking the organising committee for their dedication

Khaoula Azouz, Algeria, started memorising the Quran at 11, and finished in 1.5 years. “I participated in two international Quran competitions before in Algeria and Jordan.”

The student of medicine added that the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Holy Quran Competition is the biggest ever award for Quran for her, though. “I feel home indeed in the UAE due to the warm reception and kind treatment we are all receiving here.”

Khaoula advises all young people, be they male or female, to join Quran memorisation sessions. “In such sessions or centres, one can learn as due, and get motivated even more from other fellows.”

But, one should always keep in mind that Quran memorisation is only for getting God’s pleasure and reward, and not for worldly pleasures, she noted. “That’s why I was so calm at the stage today (Tuesday) because I believe that everything is in God’s hand, and the competition is only a means to an end and not an end in itself.”

The holy Quran was the main reason behind Khaoula’s academic excellence. “It has sharpened my memory, and thus I never skipped any Quran memorisation session whether during college examinations or not as some did, and that was a blessing for me.”

With the help of the Quran, Khaoula managed to rank first and finish her secondary school certificate with honours. “I would advise everybody not to waste their time, and start from this very moment to have this honour and secret for eternal happiness in life and the Hereafter.” 

Sajeda Mahd Ali Awadi, Jordan, is also a student of medicine. She was over thrilled to be part of this competition. “I started memorising Quran at the age of 13, and finished in one year when I was 14”

“My mother and teachers have encouraged me to learn it by heart, and I managed to seize advanced positions in so many local Quran competitions, but the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Holy Quran Competition is my first international participation,” she said, hoping to return home with the big prize

Fully determined to finish memorising the Quran in one year, Sajeda used to learn the Quran by heart everywhere; while taking a bus or a taxi when going to college or back home, and even during break time between lectures

“I would like to thank the organising committee of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award for organising this wonderful competition which has given me this precious chance to meet this big number of full Quran female memorisers from around the world”

And as is the case every day, the morning and evening sessions of the competition concluded with the distribution of cash and in-kind prizes to the audience as per a raffle draw