Ahmad honours Quran contest winners

Dubai: The winners of the 19th Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) were honoured on Wednesday night by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Event Management Corporation.

Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Al Harthi walked away with Dh250,000 for securing first place, while first runner up Hamza Al Habashy, from the US, won Dh200,000 and Mohammad Zakariya, from Bangladesh, received Dh150,000 for coming in third.

Shaikh Ahmad also handed over the Islamic Personality of the Year Award to Shaikh Riyadh Bin Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who received it on behalf of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Shaikha Fatima expressed her deep gratitude at being chosen for the prestigious award.

In a message broadcast during the award ceremony she said: “I express my deep gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum [Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai], patron of the award, and the organisers for choosing me as the Islamic personality for the 19th edition of the award.”

Hailing the sustained efforts of DIHQA for almost two decades, she said: “Holding such an event in the UAE reflects the country’s keenness to embrace the message of Islam, Quran and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The award has been a pioneer in the field and a platform for people from around the world to communicate a message of love and tolerance through various programmes.”

She added: “I am very happy to have the honour of receiving such a prestigious award. Awarding me today is clear evidence of the position of women in Islam and it encourages me to carry on with more humanitarian and charitable works.”

Shaikha Fatima is a pioneer in humanitarian activities, with millions from the around the world benefiting from her charitable activities.

The award is presented every year to leading Islamic personalities or institutions. Among previous recipients of the Islamic Personality of the Year Award are Shaikh Abdul Rahman Sudais, Grand Imam of Al Haram Mosque in Makkah; Yousuf Estes, US-based Islamic preacher, Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi, Chairman of the International Union for Muslim Scholars; as well as King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex, which distributes millions of copies of the Quran across the world.

Speaking to Gulf News after receiving the Quran Award, Al Harthi said he dedicated the honour to his parents.

“I am here today due to the support and encouragement from my parents and I thank Almighty Allah for all the blessings,” said the 18 year old from the city of Taif.

Al Harthi, who has won several competitions in his country, is aspiring to become an imam of the Holy Mosque in Makkah.