Quran contest: Moroccan contestant wins ‘Most beautiful recitation’
DUBAI — Imane Ezouatni, who represents Morocco in the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Int’l Holy Quran Competition, held between November 6 to 18, won the Most Beautiful Recitation Contest at the event.
Shaikh Sherzad Abdurrahman Taher, member of the organising committee, told Khaleej Times that the performance of the top ten was top notch. “However, the Moroccan contestant managed to score the highest score with her proficiency, command of recitation and tuneful voice.”
With the Most Beautiful Recitation contest concluded on Thursday morning, the curtains came down on the first edition of the global competition held at the Cultural and Scientific Association, Al Mamzar. The other top two contestants with the best voices were Henni Zohra from Algeria, who came second, followed by Hananeh Mostafa Khalafi from Iran, who ranked third.
“The remaining most tuneful 7 memorisers included Amna Ateeq Sultan Aldhaheri (UAE), Raghiye Beyah (Mauritania), Farihah Binti Zulkifili (Malaysia), Rafiya Hassan Jenat (Bangladesh), Shaima Shaker Sayed (Bahrain), and Fatemah Alajmi (Kuwait).”
Shaikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid, chairman of Dubai International Marine Club, honoured the most tuneful memorisers in the presence of senior officials, dignitaries, businessmen, contestants and a large audience.
The Dh7.5 million competition, a major branch of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), was held under the sponsorship of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and head of the Award Organising Committee, said there is nothing ever in the world better than serving the Holy Quran and encouraging young generations to memorise it. “This contest actually reflects the exemplary vision of the UAE’s prudent leadership, and how keen they are to serve this nation and protect its religion.”