Dubai Int'l Quran Contest to Kick off Tonight
While the cultural program of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) ended on Friday, the main competition will start tonight with eight competitors.
Ibrahim Bu Melha, chairman of the organizing committee of the DIHQA, told Khaleej Times that the first batch of contestants from Ethiopia, Benin, Iraq, the Netherlands, Nepal, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will sit for final tests.
"While 87 Quran contestants have affirmed participation in the award, only 60 have arrived so far," Bu Melha said. Of those, 50 have so far cleared the initial qualifying tests, a necessary procedure to ensure that all participants who appear in public are eligible in terms of memorization and recitation.
Bu Melha said a panel of three arbitrators, including Dr Salem Al Dubi, Sheikh Sulaiman Al Ahdal, and Sheikh Taher Al Asuiti, each examined competitors.
"Participants need to clear many questions in each third of the Quran in two shifts, in the morning and evening, at the Flora Park Hotel Apartments Dubai where all contestants are residing".
Up to 28 memorizers sit for initial tests on a daily basis. "So far, not a single contestant has been disqualified. Seven out of a total of 80 contestants — from Zambia, Benin, Belgium, Fiji, Norway, Grenada and Mauritius — were disqualified during initial tests for poor performance last year".
Bu Melha, who is also an Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, said while some competitors are still expected to arrive, the main contest is between participants from two countries. “Those are from Japan and Serbia.”
The Quran competition, which will start at 10.30pm at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will see three visually-impaired contestants this time.
"The youngest contestant so far is nine. He is from Serbia while Pakistan, which has always been very keen to participate in the competition from the first edition, has not yet sent its memorizer."
The first winner will get Dh250,000, the second Dh200,000 and the third Dh150,000. The person who comes fourth will get Dh65,000 and those coming in the next six positions will get Dh5,000 less than the person above him. The rest of the participants will get Dh30,000 each.
