Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 1: Daughter of Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, U T Khader and Lamis couple, Hafiza Hawwa Naseema, has been chosen for the International Dubai Holy Quran Award contest being conducted in the name of Shaikha Fatima Binth Mubarak at Dubai between November 4 and 16. Hawwa will be the lone candidate to represent India in the said event.

The contest will be held at Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association, Al Mamzar, Dubai. The government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has chosen Hawwa after processes lasting six months. Hawwa is one among the 63 contestants who will be vying for the title.

The award has been instituted in the name of Shaikha Fatima Binth Mubarak, wife of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahwan, founder president of UAE. She is fondly known in UAE as the 'Mother of UAE'. The contest was started during November, 2016. Women candidates aged below 25 years who can fluently recite Holy Quran by heart participate in this contest.

The award carries cash component of 2.5 lac Dirhams (approx Rs 50 lac). The award is given by UAE government. The current contest happens to be the third edition of the award, in which candidates from about 70 countries are participating.

Hawwa Naseema was lost in the crowd when U T Khader couple had been on holy pilgrimage to Mecca a few years back. Even after exhaustive search operation, she had remained untraced. The couple then offered prayers, committing to see that their daughter would learn Holy Quran by heart if she was found. Thereafter, they found Hawwa.

Hawwa Naseema began to learn the Holy Quran by heart thereafter. She has been getting higher religious education at Madin Qland Academy, Kadalundi, Malappuram, Kerala since the last two years. She also has been teaching Holy Quran to children. She pursues worldly education as a ninth standard student of the government high school at Manjeri, Malapppuram.