The Peninsula 

Doha, May 3: A Qatari woman has invented a board game to increase children's knowledge of Islam and to provide an alternative to toys and games that she blames for harming children's morals.

The game, which is called Ka'abati (My Makkah), is in Arabic and costs QR300.

Nora Mohamed Al Naama, the inventor, talking to Al Sharq, said she took three years to put together her invention. "I started working on the game after I heard Dr.Yusuf Al Qaradawi saying that there was a need for such toys and games and when my sister's daughter, who was 12 years old, came to me one day seeking some information about Islam."

The game has two kinds of cards with questions and answers related to Islam and can be played by two players, she said.

Nora added that her sources of information were Islamic encyclopaedias, the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and Qatar's Ministry of Education's books.

Asked if she received any assistance in her efforts, Nora replied in the negative. She wanted to make the game herself, step by step, and to avoid confusion in the work.

"I tried to get financial help from local sources but no worthwhile support was available. The only offer I found was from a GCC woman but after thinking I refused that because I wanted to make it a 100 per cent Qatari achievement."

Asked about the total cost of creating the game, she said it was big but her physical efforts were bigger, noting that she met with lots of difficulties while working on the game.

She added that she has sought help from various institutions to bring out the game in other languages since it is useful for all Muslims, but so far she has received no offers of help.