75 female memorisers set for Quran contest
dubai — Up to 75 full Quran female memorisers from all over the world are sitting for the second edition of Sheikha Fatima International Holy Quran Competition, which started on Sunday.
Examinations of the global competition, which runs from November 12 to 24, are being held in two shifts — in the morning from 10am to 1pm, and the evening from 6.30pm to 9pm — at the Cultural and Scientific Association in Al Mamzar area.
The competition is being held under the auspicious sponsorship of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Dr Prof. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Jarallah, president of the arbitration committee, said 75 contestants of different recitation schools — Hafs, Warsh and Qaloon — from around the world are participating in the competition.
“The arbitration committee judges the competitors’ performance using the latest technological devices, and the top ten and best voices will be announced in the concluding ceremony.”
Behind this contestant, is her husband
While most contestants talk about the role parents and siblings played in their road to the Quran memorisation competition, it was a slightly different story for Nigerian contestant Zainab Ali.
Zainab’s key supporter in her Quran memorisation efforts is her husband, also a full Quran memoriser. “I started memorising the Quran at the age of 14 at my father’s house, and completed the memorisation two years later,” Zainab said.
Although her father encouraged her to work towards this honour, Zainab only perfected
A committee judges the competitors’ performance using the latest technological devices, and the top ten, best voices will be announced in the concluding ceremony.” Prof. Abdullah Al Jarallah, president of the arbitration committee
her memorisation and recitation after getting married. “My husband, who came first in an international Quran competition in Saudi Arabia in 2013, was always at hand to help me.”
Having excelled in a local competition back home, she was then nominated for the upcoming competition in Dubai. “I am so happy, honoured and dignified to get acquainted with so many full Quran memorisers from all over the world,” Zainab said.
Another contestant, Bibi Hajira is UAE resident, but represents Pakistan in the competition. “It is the best ever international competition for full Quran memorisers,” Hajira said. Her father was also a great help in her Quran memorisation journey.
Noura Muhammad Ahmad, from the US, said she started memorising at age 13. “I completed two years later at a local mosque,” she said. Excelling at many local and international competitions, Noura was nominated for the Dubai contest.
Alaa Jameel from the Maldives started memorising at just 8 years, and completed five years later at a Quran study centre.
The first day of the competition saw the participation of six contestants from Nigeria, Pakistan, USA, Maldives, Norway, and Chad. The second day will have seven memorisers from Myanmar, Egypt, South Africa, UK, Benin, Iraq, and Sri Lanka. ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com