Bahrain declare Quran-reading contest winners

Manama : Winners of the second annual Salman Al Farsi Quran-Reading competition were announced yesterday.

The Quran-reading contest for non-Arabs was held in April with the attendance of over 400 participants from a dozen different nationalities. 

The competition, which has gained popularity among the expat diaspora, was held under the patronage of the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa at the Dar Al Arqum Quranic Studies Centre for non-Arabs. Judges selected winners for different age groups as well as for a number of different categories. 

A total of 410 participants from all age groups took part in the event, representing 12 nationalities, including French, Russian, Indian and many others. In addition, 36 Quran learning centres from across the country also participated. It was free and open to all non-Arabic speakers. The winners will receive prizes ranging from BD250 to BD80 in various categories. 

A total of 31 prizes worth BD5,350 will be given away, in various categories, including the youngest and oldest reciters. Winners will be honoured in a grand ceremony to be held on May 28 at the Gulf Air Club in Salmabad.

First place winners from various age groups and categories are Hamna Yacoob Essa, Noorain Naseer Iqbal M. Iqbal Ali Mohammad, Haseena Hamid Hamid Khan Abdulsalam Qureshi, Safiya Syed, Zainab Sarfraz Hussain, Yasmeen Sarfaraz Hussain, Fatima Nusrat Nusrat Ullah Nimat Ullah Karim, Mohammad Muzaffar Khan, Mohammad Fazal Halim, Muhammad Adam Khan, Ihsan Usman, and Mohammad Ibrahim.