Quran Award to set up centre to boost research in Quranic science

The Dubai International Holy Quran Award yesterday announced the establishment of a Quranic Research Centre, bringing up the number of its branches to eight since its inception in 1998.

The centre will prepare studies and research in Quranic sciences, publish books, specialised periodicals and bulletins and other publications related to the Holy Quran, said Ibrahim Bu Melha, Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Justice Department, Dubai Attorney-General and Chairman of the award organising committee.

"The centre will also support research and researchers in Quranic sciences, publish the copies of the Holy Quran and Quranic sciences through advanced media.

"It will also translate the Holy Quran and its sciences into several foreign languages, preserve manuscripts, Quranic studies and old copies of the Holy Quran.

"The centre will also be tasked to organise and sponsor exhibition and educational programmes about the Holy Quran and participation in these exhibitions and programmes. It will cooperate with centres concerned on Quranic studies, organise seminars and symposia on the holy Quran and participate therein and organise and sponsor contests and grant awards related to Quranic studies.

"The centre has two sections, the study and publishing and the programme and activities section.

"It will have an advisory body and an administrative body. The advisory body will include a number of scholars and specialists in Quranic studies. It will give its advice to the centre and meet twice a year at least.

"The administrative body includes chairman of the centre, heads of the bodies and a number of specialists and staff of the award.

"The surprise scheme declared by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, for UAE nationals who memorise the Holy Quran was unveiled yesterday. Those who learn the entire book will receive Dh20,000 and those who recite five chapters will get Dh5,000.

"This serves as an incentive for prospective national competitors in the Dubai International Holy Quran Award and the local competition, " said Bu Melha.

"Those who memorise the entire Holy Quran will vie for the grand prize of Dh250,000 in the competition but are guaranteed Dh20,000 just for learning the entire book.

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

"The programme is open to all nationals. They must 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 competitions and must not have won any of the three first places in the local competition.

"Applications will be accepted on a date to be announced later by the organising committee, " Bu Melha said. He announced that the local competition will have a fourth category for the UAE nationals who memorise five chapters of the Holy Quran.

"The top three winners will receive Dh5,000, Dh4,000 and Dh3,000 respectively. Dh1,000 will be granted to all remaining contestants in this section.

"Initially it will have three categories which are open to UAE nationals of all ages, expatriate women of any age and expatriate men up to 21 - one for those who have fully memorised the Holy Quran, another for those who have managed two-thirds of it and a third category for those who have completed one-third. The top three winners are selected in each category.

"The first three winners in the entire Holy Quran category receive cash prizes of Dh30,000, Dh25,000 and Dh20,000, respectively. The first three winners of the 20-chapter category receive Dh20,000, Dh15,000 and Dh10,000, respectively, while the top three winners in the 10-chapter category get Dh10,000, Dh7,500 and Dh5,000, respectively. There are six winners in each category (three men and three women)," he said.

Bu Melha said a seventh category will be introduced to the international competition next week. Dubai International Holy Quran Award was established in 1998 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed to stress upon the virtues of the Holy Quran and to honour those who memorise and cherish it.

"Sheikh Mohammed wanted to bring forth the cultural and religious facets of Dubai, known for its trade and economic activities," he said. Every year around 120 invitations for applications are sent to Muslim and non-Muslim countries around the world.

Contestants have to be under the age of 21.

The competition is currently open only to males. The candidates should be from an Islamic community, have permanent residence in a country and be fully conversant in Tajweed rules.