Today's Edition
SARA ALAZAABI (ABU DHABI)
In conjunction with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (AWQAF), the Abrahamic Family House (AFH) is currently hosting the second edition of the "Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb Quran Memorisation Competition," which is now in its final rounds.
The closing ceremony of the final rounds is scheduled for the first week of Ramadan 2025.
The competition, which targets citizens and residents who memorise the holy Quran, consists of five categories for men and women from the UAE.
The competition is designed to foster reflection on the Quran's meanings, its interpretation, along with mastering its recitation.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Mahmoud Nagah, Imam of the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque at the AFH, clarified that, in conformity with the AFH's mission, the mosque organises programmes akin to the "Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb Quran Memorisation Competition" to endorse peaceful coexistence and tolerance.
The competition seeks to inspire community members to embrace Islam's message of mercy, love, and tolerance, coupled with acceptance.
"This year's edition, which is the second edition of the competition, sees a large number of participants from all corners of the United Arab Emirates. Last year, the competition was limited to the Abu Dhabi Emirate, but this year, it has expanded to include participants, both male and female, from all seven Emirates. Moreover, the awards for this year are more substantial than those of last year," he added.
Dr. Nagah mentioned that the competition has gone through multiple stages and currently has more than 150 male and female participants. The categories of the competition take into account memorisation of the entire Quran, as well as 20 parts, 10 parts, five parts, and one part.
For the final stage, the participants passed through several tests and examinations until they were selected to participate in the final round, under the supervision of the AWQAF committee and judges.
Citizens may participate at any age, and residents are restricted to a maximum age of 22 years for the entire Quran memorisation category.
This year's competition features an increase in female participants, drawing attention to their proficiency in memorising the entire Quran.
"The most impressive thing about this year's competition is that we have a great number of female participants who participate in the memorisation of the entire Quran. Many of them returned from last year, having advanced to memorising larger portions of the Quran," said Dr. Nagah.
On the selection process, he remarked: "We laid down some criteria that should be applicable to any participant who wants to take part in this competition. For those who won last year, they are required to move to a higher category or level and not compete in the same one again."
The mosque has seen a significant increase in participation from various nationalities, which in turn accentuates its cultural diversity and achievements.
In the context of how this competition aligns with the values of the AFH, Dr. Nagah explained: "The AFH is based first and foremost on the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and acceptance of the other, which is actually deeply rooted in the Quran. This is the essence of Islam, which is based on mercy, love, tolerance, and acceptance of the other."
He further stressed the importance of being an embodiment of the Quran's message in daily life.
"This competition promotes and reinforces the young generation's adherence to the Quran, to the values of the Quran. So, we want to follow, to imitate the role example and the model example of the Prophet of applying all the values of Islam into our real life," Dr. Nagah added.
"This competition promotes and strengthens the younger generation's commitment to the Quran and its values. Our goal is for them to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad and apply the values of Islam in their lives," he added, spotlighting the competition's impact on youth.
Dr. Nagah noted that the goal of such competitions is to help youth adhere to the values of the Quran, teaching them its teachings and instructions.
Exposure to these values deeply influences their behaviour along with shaping how they interact with others, both fellow Muslims and non-Muslims.
This, in turn, fosters a culture of peaceful coexistence, love, mercy, and tolerance within society.
Participants are held accountable for good recitation, application of Quran tajweed rules, and performance, which combine into a comprehensive evaluation.
