Dubai/Al Ain: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan received the Islamic Personality of the Year award from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shaikh Khalifa was selected for the coveted award by the Dubai International Holy Quran award (DIHQA) in its 15th edition.
- Award testifies to global respect
- UAE President chosen as the Islamic personality of the year
- Khalifa named Humanitarian Personality of the Year
The award ceremony, which was held on Tuesday evening at Al Rawda Palace, was organised by DIHQA. Also in attendance were Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.
Shaikh Khalifa expressed his thanks to all those organising this huge international award to choose the Islamic Personality of the Year. He also valued the award’s objectives which are reciting and learning the Quran.
Shaikh Khalifa also said that he highly valued the award that reflects the keenness and care as one Islamic nation to maintain and preserve the teachings of their religion, which is the religion of peace, moderation and brotherhood among all nations.
Shaikh Mohammad also expressed his pride on choosing Shaikh Khalifa as the Islamic Personality of the Year, as he is a pioneer in charity and humanitarian work, not only for the people of the UAE, but also for needy people across the globe.
He also said that Shaikh Khalifa deserves great respect and people should be proud of him not only because of his great and wise leadership, but also because of his generosity and humanitarian efforts.
Shaikh Mohammad added that the award has truly gone to the person who deserves it the most.
Ebrahim Bu Melha, chairman of DIHQA’s organising committee, earlier said: “Shaikh Khalifa’s charitable traits are well known. He spares no efforts to bring happiness to his citizens.”
“The love and effort that he shows and exerts for his citizens spreads even further to Islamic countries,” he added. “Shaikh Khalifa, the Islamic Personality of the Year, stands as a role model for us all,” he said.
Dr Yousuf Jumma Salama, first vice-president of the Islamic High Authority in occupied Jerusalem, lauded the selection of Shaikh Khalifa as Islamic Personality of the Year.
He said Shaikh Khalifa deserves the prize because of his noble services to Islam and Muslims.
He cited services being provided by the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Charity Foundation for Somalia. He also noted the President’s support to Palestine, citing that he had set up Khalifa City in Rafah Province in the Gaza Strip and the Islamic Centre in occupied Jerusalem.
Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan won the Islamic Personality of the Year in 1999. The late Shaikh Mohammad Metwally Al Shaarawy of Egypt was the first winner of the Islamic Personality Prize. Former Sudanese President Field Marshal Abdul Rahman Swar Al Dahab was the winner last year.
Shaikh Khalifa was earlier also named winner of the Shaikh Rashid Award for the Humanitarian Personality. He had been nominated by Islamic and international charity organisations for his philanthropy without distinction as to colour, race, nationality and faith.
1m Quran copies
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered publication of one million copies of the Quran named after President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayhan.
Ebrahim Bu Melha, Chairman of the DIHQA Organising Committee, said that Shaikh Mohammad directed the printing of the Quran on the occasion of awarding Shaikh Khalifa as Islamic Personality of the Year.
The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has been tasked with printing and distributing the one million copies. -- WAM
— With inputs from WAM
