Quran award winner bags cash prize of Dh250,000

Dubai — After 20 days of valuable lectures and relentless examinations, the organising committee of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) announced the names of the top ten Quran memorisers of the 19th edition. The event — which took place at the Cultural and Scientific Association, Al Mamzar, on Tuesday night — saw the presence of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, among a number of ministers, senior officials, and dignitaries. Faisal Mohammed Alharthi of Saudi Arabia (17) won the top position at the international Quran competition and was awarded Dh250,000 in prize money, while 14-year-old American Hamzah Elhabashy and the 12-year-old Mohammed Jakareya of Bangladesh bagged the second and third spots respectively. While Elhabashy won Dh200,000, Jakareya bagged Dh150,000. Shaikh Ahmed honoured the winner of this year's Holy Quran recitation award Faisal Mohammed Alharthi. The other seven winners are Abdurrokhim Syamsuri (Indonesia), Mohammed Alhabeeb (Libya), Abd-Almageed Mugahed (Yemen), El Fateh Mufaddal (Sudan), Sangare Kalid (Cote Divoire), Hasan Samoh (Thailand), and Abdalrahman Ashraf (Egypt).  They were gifted Dh65,000 to Dh35,000 with Dh5,000 less against each lower position. Contestants who scored 80 per cent and above received Dh30,000 each, while those whose performance was rated between 70 and 79 per cent received Dh25,000 each. Participants, with scores less than 70 per cent got Dh20,000 each. Three of the top 12 contestants with most tuneful voices initiated the ceremony with some verses from the Holy Quran, followed by speeches of the chairman of the award organising committee Ibrahim Bu Melha, and Head of the arbitration committee Shaikh Mohammed Al Zoubi, Syria. Islamic Personality of the year Three documentaries were shown on Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak who won the Dh1 million Islamic Personality of the Year Award; the history of the 19-year award; and on an outstanding Quran memoriser. Finally, the jury members and top ten winners were honoured. Shaikh Dhiyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received the award on behalf of Shaikha Fatima from Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed. Bu Melha said the award, which started with two sections in 1997, has branched out to 12 categories in 2014 and saw the participation of 160 countries. “It has also seen the first-of-its-kind electronic arbitration system.” This is due to the incessant support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, he underlined. Bu Melha, who is also Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, said the ceremony this year coincides with the 11th death anniversary of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. “The award has launched a new branch for female Quran memorisers in pursuance of the directives of Shaikh Mohammed,” he added. Head of the jury panel Shaikh Mohammed Al Zoubi, Syria, said the competition this year saw 72 contestants selected from an initial list of 83. Top ten Quran memorisers > 1  Faisal Mohammed Alharthi — Saudi Arabia > 2  Hamzah Elhabashy – USA > 3  Mohammad Jakareya - Bangladesh > 4  Abdurrokhim Syamsuri – Indonesia > 5  Mohammed Alhabeeb – Libya > 6  Abd-Almageed Mugahed – Yemen > 7  El Fateh Mufaddal – Sudan > 8  Sangare Kalid - Cote Divoire > 9  Hasan Samoh – Thailand > 10  Abdalrahman Ashraf - Egypt -Khaleej Times