A night filled with spiritual activities
KUALA LUMPUR: The #MerdekaQuranHour programme, to be held at Dataran Merdeka, will be filled with spiritual and soulcleansing activities.
Activities lined up for the Aug 31 programme include the “Gema Wahyu”, where local and international qari (male Quran reciters) will recite the Quran and its translation to give an in-depth understanding on the values of the holy book.
Gema Wahyu module adviser, Ustaz Tarmizi Abdul Rahman, said the night would be infused with “taranum” recitals (melodic recitals of Quranic verses) by International Tilawah Al Quran champion Ustaz Amir Rahman, and the winner of the Kelantan Tilawah Al Quran competition, Muhammad Qayyim Nizar Sarimi, who is visually-impaired.
“An international qari from Singapore, Ustaz Muhammad Zahil Zakaria, will also showcase his talent in taranum. The public can gain an insight from experiences by local celebrities on their journey to be closer with Quran,” he said.
Tarmizi said local celebrities attending the programme include Ameng Spring, Shamsul Ghau Ghau, Raqib Majid and Johan A’saari.
Ameng, whose real name is Wan Aminuddin Wan Ismail, said he would be glad to share his experience in learning the Quran while he was in prison.
“During my time behind bars, I felt an emptiness in my heart and I was yearning to find something that would make me feel whole.
“That was when I found companionship in the Quran.
“I learnt to read Arabic in the classes that they offered in prison. Now, I have completed reading the Quran many times,” he said, adding that he had became a more positive person since being released from prison.
Ameng was imprisoned in 2011 and released last year for drug possession.
Tarmizi also said at least 5,000 people are expected to attend the programme during the night. Meanwhile, Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation said, up till now, 28 countries have pledged their support for #WorldQuranHour.
These include Palestine, Turkey, United Kingdom, France, Holland, South Africa, Morocco, Australia, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, United States, Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand.
The Education Ministry said #WorldQuranHour would also be held at 12 of its offices abroad, namely in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, the United States, Jordan, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), China and Vietnam.