Minister U T Khader’s daughter Hawwa Naseema to represent India at Dubai Int’l Quran Contest

Dubai/Mangaluru, Oct 31: Hawwa Naseema, the only daughter of Karnataka Minister for Urban Development and Housing, will be representing India in the 3rd edition of the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Holy Quran Competition to be held from November 4 to 16 as part of Dubai International Holy Quran Award (Dihqa).

The 13-year-old girl, who aspires to become an Islamic scholar, has the distinction of being one of the few girls in coastal Karnataka to memorize the entire Quran. It is learnt that she is the only India girl to be selected for the contest.  She is expected to fly to Dubai from Bengaluru’s Kemegowda International Airport on November 3 along with her father.

So far, over 70 countries and foreign communities from around the world have confirmed participation in the global competition annually held under the auspicious sponsorship of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Ibrahim Mohamed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and Head of Dihqa Organising Committee said that this year the number of participants has gone up in view of the sweeping success of the last two editions of the international competition which witnessed a huge participation from full Quran female memorizers worldwide.

As was the case in the last two years, all competitors need to first clear initial qualifying tests to take the stage in public, he added.

The organizing committee, following a special nationwide contest earlier announced on the internet, has picked up a brilliant female memorizer to represent the UAE in the competition, Bu Melha stated.

The competition is a part of substantial efforts of UAE to serve the religion and support and encourage female Muslims to recite and memorise the holy verses. The competition has become an annual event which attracts female participants from all over the world.