JEDDAH — Humeirah Masood Kazi and Furqan Mohammed Vasi Ahmed won the gold position, Maryam Jaffar and Adil Abdul Rasheed got the silver while Khatija Ehtesham Ali and Nadeem Noorisha bagged the bronze position in the Qur'an recitation competition for Indian students of age 10 to 14 residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Consolation prizes were given to Aamina Mustafa and Mohammed Ahsan Ali at the event, organized on Friday by the Indian Pilgrims Welfare Forum (IPWF) to encourage and boost the ambitions of young generation and inspring them to bring out their best in Qur'an recitation. IPWF works under the patronage of the Consulate General of India and is involved in welfare activities for Indian Haj pilgrims in particular and the Indian community at large. The competition was conducted live online via Zoom virtual conference. The Consul General Of India, Jeddah and IPWF's Vice Patron Md. Noor Rahman Shiekh graced the event as the chief guest. The HOC, Consul Haj and Director IPWF, Y. Sabir was the guest of honor at the event lead by the ever-exuberant IPWF president Ayyub Hakeem. A large number of Indian dignitaries and media personnel also joined this live event. Judges panel included prominent hafiz and one of the best qaris, Hafiz Ismail Yahya Bilal. He is well educated in Qirat from Umm Al Qura University, Makkah and currently persuing Masters. He also holds many honors and accolades from various international competitions and appreciations from Imaams of Haramain. The other judge, Hafiz Abdullah A.Mateen Usmani, first position winner in the Jeddah Qur'an competition 2018. It is noteworthy that Hafiz Usmani set a record for being the youngest Indian to get the first position which was held under the patronage of Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal Bin Majed. Hafiz Farhan Abdur Rab, an engineer by profession and current treasurer at IPWF, was the third judge. Chief Guest Noor Rahman Sheikh appreciated the social work of the IPWF for Indian community and praised the brilliant performance of the contestants. "It gives us great pleasure seeing that all participants, judges and jury members are Indians. The recitation by the children was fantabulous," he said congratulating the winners and participants. He further said President Ayyub Hakeem and his IPWF team deserves appreciation for their relentless efforts for this noble cause. Consul Haj Y. Sabir appreciated the IPWF team for organizing the virtual competition. It was really amazing, he said, to see that 111 students registered to participate in the contest. He appreciated the hard work of children and efforts of parents for preparing their children. Hakeem welcomed all and said the competition received overwhelming response from Indian community locally and internationally in a short time since its launch was just couple of days earlier. Forty contestants made it to the semifinals, and 15 students reached the grande finale. Two young children were given consolation prizes for their enthusiastic recitation. Hakeem also appreciated his IPWF team members for their unwavering support in preparation of this event. Syed Nasir Khursheed anchored the program and interspersed the event with entertaining with beautiful Urdu couplets. Farhan Abdur Rab and Abdul Rahman Poyakkara conducted the contest flawlessly. Farhan concluded the event with a vote of thanks and beautiful and touching supplication to the Almighty.
