BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TWENTY-THREE participants will compete for top spots in the final round of the National Al-Quran Memorising and Understanding competition for the year 1436 Hijrah in June.

The announcement of finalists was made during the presentation of souvenirs and consolation prizes to the participants and judges of the competition’s semi-final round at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Tahfiz Al-Quran (ITQSHHB), yesterday morning.

Pg Hj Haslin Pg Hj Ali, Director MABIMS (Informal Meeting of Religious Ministries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) Centre for Al-Quran Studies and Dissemination under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) as the event chairperson, shared that the competition is aimed to cultivate the love of Al-Quran through memorising and comprehending its content among the youth.

In his opening speech, Pg Hj Haslin added that the competition attracted 206 people to compete in the preliminary round this year. A total of five categories are opened this year – category A, B, C, D and E.

The 23 finalists – five each for categories A, B, C and D while three for Category E, were selected from 48 participants who competed in the semi-finals which was held last Monday and Tuesday.

They are Dk Siti Sarah Shalehah Pg Hj Md Zin, Iman Al-Humaira Hj Erman @ Ahmad Abdussalam, Nurjeehan Solehah Najhe, Majdah Al-Zahraa Zawawi and Dk Widad Iman Pg Hj Mohd Hasimudin, for category A.

For category B, the finalists are Nur Syahirahtul Musyirah Musa, Nurirwani Hidayah Hj Chipli, Alya Najdah Dr Hj Norarfan, Bani Nurun Nasyithah Asbinin and Mohd Hafizuddin Mohd Saidin.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Sabiq Ahmad, Muhd Auni Marzuqi Hj Anuar, Abd Aziz Noor Nasran, Hjh ‘Adzimah Mukarramah Hj Salleh and Julazni Hj Zaini will compete in the finals in category C.

Category D’s finalists are Nor Asilah Hj Putting, Nor Hafizah Hj Jahari, Raihanah Hj Ali Asgar, Ak Muhd Abd Majeed Ariffin Pg Hj Md Abd Aziz and Mohd Saiful Wafi @ Aman Hj Adis.

The three finalists for Category E are Muhd Hasbul Wafi Hj Ahmad, Muhd Khairul Anuar Hj Ahmad and Irma Mohammad Hazmie Hj Matussin.

The finals are scheduled to be held on June 3 to 4.

The event yesterday was enlivened with a Nasyid performance by male students of ITQSHHB and concluded with the recital of Doa Selamat by Ustaz Md Hanafi Hj Zaini, an officer from Mosque Affairs Department.

Attending the event as the guest of honour was Hj Mohd Abdoh Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Salam, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, who later on presented souvenirs to the finalists and judges.

Also present was Dr Hjh Masnon Hj Ibrahim, Ra’es of Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPUSB), directors, senior officials and staff from MORA.

The Al-Quran memorising and understanding competition is an annual project of the ministry, organised as part of the national Islamic festivities celebrations.

The Brunei Times