In Focus | Ramadan
Blindness no barrier to Quran contest triumph
Guided by his father, Mohammad received his first prize and honours in the final ceremony of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award competition. His wide smile did not waver during the whole ceremony.
- By Sara Janahi Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 September 1, 2010
- Image Credit: Supplied
- Mohammad Irchad Merbai has gained a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages.
Dubai: Mohammad Irchad Merbai is the 20-year-old winner of this year's Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA).
Despite his blindness, Mohammad challenged 70 other contestants and won first place.
Guided by his father, Mohammad received his first prize and honours in the final ceremony of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award competition. His wide smile did not waver during the whole ceremony.
"This is an indescribable feeling, I was happy to know that the Algerian community in the UAE has come to cheer me and witness my honouring. I have also brought pride to my people in Algeria itself," Mohammad said.
"He is the first Algerian to become one of the three finalists, and win the first prize too. Everyone is extremely proud of him," his grinning father declared proudly during the interview with Gulf News.
The second blind contestant in this year's Holy Quran Award Competition, Mohammad challenged all the difficulties before him in order to win.
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"I have been blind since birth but I only faced the normal challenges that every Quran memoriser goes through. My blindness did not hinder my ability or desire to memorise the Quran. With the help of tapes, the Braille Quran and my Quran tutor and shaikh, the process went smoothly," Mohammad said.
Mohammad started learning the Quran from his father at a very young age. When he was around 11, he decided to further learn the Quran in the town's mosque.
"At first I learnt the Quran pretty fast, almost 23 chapters by the time I got to high school. When I started high school I had to slow down because my schooling and other circumstances interfered. I only had time to memorise the Quran during holidays. Thankfully I finished memorising the Quran completely at the age of 16."
Exceeded expectations
Mohammad has exceeded all expectations by wining first prize in the first Quran memorisation competition he enrolled in —although he has participated in Quran reciting competitions in Lebanon and other countries.
"This is the first Quran memorising competition I enrolled in, and I very happy to have won it the first time too."
Mohammad who has completed his college and gained a bachelor's degree in foreign languages, hopes to further study both his interests, religion and foreign languages.
"I can speak English, Arabic and French. And hopefully I continue studying translation and other foreign languages since it's one of my interests. I also want to continue educating myself about the Sharia and Quran. Studying both of my interests in the future is my ultimate goal for now."
Mohammad advises Muslim parents to continuously encourage their children when they want to memorise the Quran, adding that he wouldn't have achieved what he has achieved without his family's support.
"The youth need constant encouragement and support from their parents; they have to build their confidence in order to memorise the Quran.
"I also hope for our youth to abandon all their differences and what is dividing them as Muslims, and unite to become a strong Islamic nation.
Award: Al Dahab honoured
Honoured as the Islamic Personality of the Year at the Dubai International Holy Quran Award was Field Marshal Abdul Rahman Siwar Al Dahab, ex-president of Sudan.
Al Dahab, President of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Call organisation was honoured for his continuous humanitarian efforts. He is also a prominent figure in spreading the message of Islam in the African continent and elsewhere.
"I am proud to be the awarded with this honour. This prize has exceeded all my other honours and prizes when it comes to my long history in humanitarian and military activities. This honouring comes in the name of the Quran and our religion, Islam. To me personally, this will always be the best honouring I received," Al Dahab said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.
The ex-president also urged the guests and attendees at the ceremony to pray for his nation Sudan in this holy month in order to prevent the South Sudan referendum for the separation of the South from the North slated for January, 2011.
"The enemies of Sudan want to separate the south from the north, to divide a country that was built on brotherhood. Please pray with me for such a tragedy not to occur," Al Dahab said in an emotional voice.
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