Bruneian Tops Quran Memorisation Contest
By Husin Ismail

Bandar Seri Begawan - Abd Azim Abd Halim, 14, has become Brunei's first winner at the 14th international Quranic memorisation, competition in Cairo, Egypt, defeating nine others from non Arabic speaking countries.

"Abd Azim received his prize from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Centre last Thursday and is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow," the principal of the Institute Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Quran (memorisation) school, Rajid Mohd Salleh, told The Brunei Times here yesterday.

He said Abd Azim was one of two students sent by Brunei to participate in the 4th and 5th categories of the competition. Category 4 is for participants from any country memorising 10 chapters of the Quran while category 5 was for participants from non Arab-speaking nations memorising six chapters.

"Ten countries sent participants for the 5th category and Abd Azim won the competition" he said.

He said the participants were judged on their memorisation of the holy book, the quality of their recitation in accordance with the Tajweed - rules of Quranic recitation which dictate what letters should be emphasised, slurred or silent - and the quality of their voices. The judges chose part of the Quran at random, recited the beginning and then told the young contestants to continue the verse by memory.

Defeating the runner-up from Maldives, Abd Azim earned around US$2,000 and receiveda certificate, Rajid said.

Abd Azim also has the honour of reciting the Quran in front of thousands of Muslims at the AlHussain mosque in Cairo. The contest, Rajid said, had been recognised as one of the most prestigious Quran recitation and memorisation contests in the world.

The participants were officially nominated by either their respective countries or by Islamic centers to which they are associated. Abd Azim is now in his second year in the Institute Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolldah.

He was selected by his tutors to participate for the selection organised by the Religious Affairs Department.

"When Abd Azim got through on the initial selection, he was then fully monitored by one of the religious tutors in the tahfiz school for the further preparations prior to. the competition," said Rajid.

"Our school has been involved in such world class competitions since they were introduced to the country and this is the first time we become the champion," he added.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with