Abu Dhabi, 9th Aug. 2010 (WAM) -- Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development has set the 26th of October 2010 as the deadline for accepting entries of the prestiguous Al Burda Awards, instituted to commemorate life of the venerable Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
The Ministry endeavors to make Al Burda Award as a leading and distinctive contest on the Islamic world level to celebrate the memory of the Prophet's Birthday each year, and to honour the winners in diverse contests in the motif of the Prophet's Birthday and his redolent memoirs.
Al Burda Contest is a poetry contest open to poets from UAE and abroad in Nabaty poetry and classic poetry in pure language commending the Prophet (PBUH) and his memoirs, in addition to Arab calligraphy Contest with its traditional and modern categories and an Islamic Illumination (Zakhrafa) Contest on the international level. The award covers the areas of Arabic poetry - Eloquent and "Nabaty" or Nabatean style, and Arabic calligraphy both traditional and modern styles, in addition to classic decoration. The Al Burda Awards also foster a strong sense of identity and pride in Islamic heritage. Additionally, the award also honours individuals and institutions who serve the cause of Islam in the world, for their outstanding achievements and innovations. The Awards attract participation from across the world. The Eloquent and Nabaty poetry entries must consist of a minimum of thirty verses and must not exceed fifty verses. The entries should not have been awarded anywhere else, either internationally or within the UAE. In the Arab Calligraphy category, Al Busayri, "the blessed Burda poem" has to be written with 167 verses in both types of traditional styles. The Decoration Category is open to all regardless of age. Computer can be used in the design stage only. The Award aims to appraise the personality of the Prophet (PBUH) and his rich memoirs at the day of the Prophet's Birthday through: creating spirit of competition between participants and encouraging the spirit of creation in making more effort and time to read the memoirs of the Prophet (PBUH), honouring distinctive and creative poets, calligraphers and plastic artists from all over the Islamic world, praising the civilized image of the UAE and its care to uphold the teachings of the true religion to serve the people of the Islamic world, confirming the Islamic values and highlighting their role in the life and recognizing officials and bodies who distinctively have served Islam in the world and individuals who offer distinguished achievements and creations.
Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
