66 competitors to take part in Holy Quran contest

Sixty-six competitors have been nominated for the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, according to Ibrahim Al Hashimi, head of the award's Information committee.

The award will start with a series of lectures tomorrow and the Holy Quran Recitation Competition will be held from Ramadan 8 to 19. Invitations were sent to 118 Muslim countries and communities.

"To date, 66 countries have sent us their nominations. According to the rules each country or community can nominate only one person, a male below the age of 21. In previous years we had a number of competitors who were younger than ten, some even six," he said.

A five-member committee has been formed comprising scholars from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia and Sudan. "We have taken into consideration the committee's members must be knowledgeable in the different reading techniques, Al Hashimi said.

The competitor should be able to continue reciting from any verse read out to him from the Quran. He should apply correct reading techniques "tajweed".

The exercise will start with a week of daily lectures. Tomorrow Dr. Zaghloul El Naggar will give a lecture for men on "Scientific Facts in the Holy Quran," and Mohammed Hussain Yaqoub will give a lecture for women on "Woman, the Maker of Generations".

On Tuesday, Mohammed Hussain Yaqoub will lecture on the "Quran, and its Influence in Spiritual Reformation," for men. El Naggar's lecture, "Scientific facts in the Holy Quran," will be addressed to women. El Naggar will deliver the same lecture in English for both men and women on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Dr. Saud bu Mahfouz will lecture on "Al Aqsa - Past, Present and Future" for men. Hana Tharwat will lecture for women on "The Virtue of the Holy Month".

On Friday, Dr. Ibrahim Al Khouli will lecture on "The Modern Religious Intellectual Crises" for men, and Yasmin Al Khaiyam will lecture on the "Influence of Islam in My Life" for women.

On Saturday, Ibrahim Al Dwesh will give a lecture on "The Key" for men. For women Dr Ibrahim Al Khouli will deliver a lecture on "The Role of Muslim Women in Bringing Up the Generation". On Sunday, Ibrahim Al Dwesh will give a lecture to women on the "Virtues of Fasting."