Nationals invited to take test before participating in Quran competitions

The Organising Committee of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award invited UAE nationals who memorised the entire Holy Quran to take a test to prepare them for the preliminary stage of local and international Quran contests.

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, has ordered Dh20,000 for each UAE national who memorises the entire holy Quran, said Ibrahim Bu Melha, Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Justice Department, Dubai Attorney General and Chairman of the award organising committee.

"This serves as an incentive for prospective competitors in the Dubai International Holy Quran Award and the local competition. Those who memorise the entire holy Quran will vie for the grand prize of Dh250,000 but are guaranteed Dh20,000 just for learning the entire book.

"The 'Holy Quran Incentive Programme for UAE nationals' is the sixth category, including the International Holy Quran Contest, the Islamic Personality of the Year, the Local Holy Quran Contest, the Holy Quran Memorisation for Prison Inmates and the Religious Lectures Programme."

The programme is open to all nationals. They must not be conversant in Tajweed rules - the correct method for reciting the holy Quran including pronunciation and tone of voice. A contestant must pass a test with 70 per cent marks, must not take part in the international competition and must not have won any of the three first places of the local competition.

Meanwhile, Dr Aref Al Sheikh, Chairman of the award's Technical Committee, said the 'Holy Quran Incentive Programme for UAE nationals' will help nominate UAE nationals to represent the country in international Quran contests.

"Contestants will take the test at 5pm on October 1 - 2 at Hor Al Anz Library in Dubai. They must produce a copy of their passports."

On October 1, Hmoud Al i Hussain, Mohammed Abada Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed Hassan Al Hosani from Abu Dhabi, Jassim Mohammed Al Madani from Dubai, Mohammed Hassan Al Attar, Abdullah Al Sayed Emad, and Ya'qoub al Banna from Ajman, Saeed Rashid Obaid Hilal Al Ali will sit for the men's tests.

Sitting for the women's tests on the same day will be Ibtissam and Raqia Hayil Ghilan from Al Ain, Mona Mohammed Al Baloushi and Aisha and Mariam Anas Yousuf Bilal from Dubai, Shaima and Lamya Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali and Mona Hassan from Sharjah, Mariam Salem Al Abdouli and hafsa Mohammed Al Saadi from Fujairah.

On October 2, Ibrahim Jassim and Abdullah Jassim Al Mansouri, Salem Ahmed Thawban, Ahmed Hassan Al Marzouqi, Salem Ali Al Ali, Hamad No'aman Al Ali, Omran Abdullah Thawban, Khalifa Humaid Al Banna, Salem Mohammed Al Dobi, Ahmed Abdul Karim and Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Naqabi from Sharjah will take the men's tests.

Sheikha Mubarak Al Shamsi, Fatima Abdullah Al Hassani, Raja Ali, Fatima Al Nuami, Aisha Khalfan Al Shamsi, Kinah Khalfan Al Shamsi, Noora Juma Al Nuaimi, Fatima Saeed Rashid Al Shamsi, Shamsa Mubarak Al Shamsi, Mariam Ahmed Al Kutbi, will take the women's tests on that day.