Manama: Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, hosted a ceremony at the Isa Cultural Centre to honour the winners of the 29th edition of the Bahrain Holy Quran Grand Prize.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Director General of the Office of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim, was present at the event to distribute certificates and awards to 87 female winners. Additionally, awards were given for the eldest and youngest participants, the Dawood's Flute prize, and the best Quran centre prize. Eight supporting organisations and 15 female members of the judging panels were also recognised for their contributions.
This year's competition saw participation from 4,242 individuals, comprising 1,598 males and 2,644 females, across various categories. These categories included Holy Quran memorization for students of Quranic centres, the Bayan Prize for school students, the Ajran Prize for people with special needs, the Ghufran Prize for inmates of the Reform and Rehabilitation Centre, the Ridhwan Prize for the general public, the Salman Al Farsi Prize for non-Arabic speakers, and recitation and good performance categories. Individual accolades were awarded to the eldest and youngest contestants, the Dawood's Flute prize, and the best Quran centre prize.
The Bahrain Holy Quran Grand Prize, initiated in 1996 during the reign of the late His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, stands as a prominent religious competition in the Kingdom. It seeks to encourage memorisation and accurate recitation of the Quran, while fostering educational and spiritual connection with Islamic teachings. The event is organised in cooperation with several ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Development, and Ministry of Education.