UAE | Heritage and Culture
Quran award's youngest entrant charms audience
The Dubai International Holy Quran Award's youngest contender, 11-year-old Australian Abdullah Al Zahabi, delighted the audience on Friday evening as he won hearts with his intonation of the Quran.
- By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 8, 2006
Dubai: The Dubai International Holy Quran Award's youngest contender, 11-year-old Australian Abdullah Al Zahabi, delighted the audience on Friday evening as he won hearts with his intonation of the Quran.
Brett Young, Third Secretary of the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, praised Abdullah's performance at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The young contender is Moroccan by birth.
"Abdullah has made Australians proud of him. I am envious of his skills and impressive performance. He is talented and courageous because participating in such an event is difficult and requires hard work."
The senior Australian diplomat said the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) was an interesting and important event and a "good combination between the East and the West."
He said he did not believe there was a religious gap between the East and the West citing "the active Muslim community and how Islam is an important part of Australia."
"Muslims in Australia are devoted to their religion and practise it," he said.
Friday evening witnessed sharp competition among the seven contenders who represented the UAE, Australia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Holland and Niger.
Egyptian Consul General Ebrahim Hafez who attended the event said: "The DIHQA has become such an international pilgrimage for tens of young Muslims who come to intone Allah's book besides the scholars who deliver valuable and constructive seminars about Islam and the Quran."
"The DIHQA helps introduce and promote Islam and its thought and culture to others," added Hafez.
Ikbarou Mohammad, Acting First Consular at the Mauritanian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said: "The DIHQA develops annually and has become a landmark foundation in the Islamic nation that's longed for by millions of Muslims."
Yousuf Al Mutawa, First Attorney General in the Dubai Public Prosecution, said the DIHQA was a unique event that guided Muslims.
He called for more cooperation and coordination between the DIHQA and similar contests in the Islamic world "to benefit the young generations and serve Allah's Book."
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