Daniel Lim
A ceremony was held to award the winners of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition at the Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque in Belait District yesterday.
The Imarah Division of the Mosque Affairs Department, together with the Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque Takmir Committee, organised the event as part of the 38th National Day celebration and to foster a deeper love for Al-Quran recitation.
Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh was the guest of honour.
The two-day event saw the participation of 31 male and female readers from mosque, surau, and religious halls nationwide, all above the ages of 40.
Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abdul Manaf emerged the victor in the male category, followed by Haji Sudirman bin Haji Metussin and Haji Junaidi bin Haji Sabtu; while the female category saw Hajah Norzirwatul Fadillah binti Hajah Puteh clinching the top spot, followed by Husna binti Basuri and Hajah Amidah binti Ghafar.
Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque Head Imam Akup bin Haji Lamat said, “The event serves to instil a love for and understanding of Al-Quran, and allows participants to hone their skills in reciting verses of Al-Quran properly, in line the Sultanate’s vision of being a Zikir nation.”
Jury panel chairman Haji Haslan bin Haji Shahbudin explained that the judges assessed participants based on four criteria: melody (25 per cent), Tajweed (35 per cent), Fasahah (20 per cent), and voice at 20 per cent.”
