Al Azhar University will tonight be bestowed with the Dubai International Holy Quran Awards' Islamic Personality of the Year.
The award is in recognition of the university's role in emphasising tolerance of Islam.
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, will honour tonight Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, President of Al Azhar University, who will receive Dh1 million during the award presentation.
Sheikhs, special guests, members of the diplomatic corps, ministers and other prominent personalities are expected to attend the awards ceremony at the Dubai Convention Centre at 8.30pm.
Sheikh Mohammed, the Award's founder and patron, will also give awards to winners in the Dubai International Holy Qur'an contest.
The award, which has a fund of Dh8 million and features 60 contestants from Arab and Islamic countries and communities, concluded on Thursday.
The winner will receive Dh250,000, followed by Dh150,000 for second place and Dh100,000 for third.
Winners from fourth to tenth positions will receive Dh60,000, Dh55,000, Dh50,000, Dh45,000, Dh40,000, Dh35,000 and Dh30,000.
Winners below the tenth position will be rewarded according to their assessment as follows: Those who get above 80 per cent marks will be rewarded Dh30,000 each, from 70 to 79 per cent Dh25,000 and below 70 per cent Dh20,000 each.
This year's ceremony will be held under the theme "Tolerance of Islam" with three contestants reciting verses showing this value in Islam. Every year around 120 invitations for applications are sent to Muslim and non-Muslim countries worldwide.
In Muslim nations, the invitations are sent to the Islamic Affairs Ministry, otherwise they are sent to key Muslim organisations in each country.
Contestants have to be younger than 21. The competition is currently open only to males. The candidates should be from an Islamic community, have permanent residency in a country and be fully conversant in Tajweed rules - the correct method of reciting the Holy Quran, including pronunciation and tone of voice.
The contest covers all expenses for candidates, including travel and accommodation. A panel is set up, questions formulated and each contestant evaluated. This year eight contestants were sent back because their memorisation and recitation were not up to the mark.
Gulf News
