Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al Thani with officials and winners during the ceremony.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has honoured the winners of the inaugural global “Rufaqa” Orphans’ Branch of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition, bringing together Quranic excellence and humanitarian care for orphans from 20 countries.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al Thani honoured the top winners during the closing ceremony held yesterday.
The event was attended by officials from the Sheikh Jassim Quran Competition, media professionals and those interested in Quranic affairs.
The Rufaqa branch is the first global category within the Sheikh Jassim Quran Competition dedicated to orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity. It targeted participants aged 12 to 20, combining care for orphans with Quran memorisation and providing a platform to identify and nurture promising Quranic talents.
The inaugural edition attracted 389 orphan participants, of whom 278 from 20 countries qualified for the preliminary rounds. The final stage brought together 30 contestants from eight countries, competing in three categories: memorisation of the entire Quran, 20 parts and 10 parts.
Speaking at the ceremony, Jassim Abdullah Al Ali, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition, said the Rufaqa branch represented a distinctive category that brings together service to the Holy Quran and care for a group deserving of support and attention.
He said the initiative reflected a successful partnership between the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, through the Sheikh Jassim Quran Competition, and Qatar Charity, aimed at empowering orphans, nurturing their Quranic talents and strengthening their connection with the Holy Quran.
Al Ali stressed that caring for orphans goes beyond meeting their basic needs to include developing their abilities, building their personalities, discovering their talents and empowering them to shape their futures with confidence and hope.
The ceremony included the honouring of members of the judging panel and Quran teachers who contributed to the success of the competition, followed by the crowning of the top three winners in each category.
In the 10-part category, Mohamed Tafsir Amed Jallow of The Gambia won first place and QR7,000, followed by Najm Al Thaqib Chowdhury of Bangladesh with QR5,000, while Rehadul Islam Mohamed Zahir of Bangladesh took third place and QR3,000.
In the 20-part category, Mohamed Qamar Al Zaman of Bangladesh secured first place and QR10,000. Syrian contestant Hammam Mamoun Ziada came second with QR8,000, while Mohammedi Ghoumtibou Nana of Burkina Faso finished third with QR7,000.
In the full Quran memorisation category, Abdulghani Abdulqader Sheikh won first place and QR15,000. Abdulrahman Qasim Mohamed took second place and QR12,000, while Abdulrahman Ahmed Mahmoud came third and received QR10,000.
