By Goth Mohamed Goth
H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo for the second time this week on Friday at the Presidential palace hosted a dinner for religious scholars and religious students who participated in this of year’s national Quran Recitation competition.
The recently concluded national Holy Quran recitation competition is the most popular religious event in the country and includes a wider programme that includes a series of lectures and Quran recitals culminating with the awards ceremony, after the winners are announced.
Sheik Mohamed Aden Mohamed, the Imam of Masjidul Ali Matan and chairman of the Qur’an competition committee said, “This year’s national Quran Recitation competition culminate with the arrival and recital programs by top Quran reciters from various regions of Somaliland.
18 contestants from each category were selected for the finals which took place at the Masjidul Ali Matan, Hargeisa. The Four winners who qualify for the finales will be honored by H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo, the patron national Quran Recitation competition.
The winners were among the 18 Contesters who participated in the competition.
Hon Mahmoud Abdi Hashi ,Minister in charge of Presidential Affairs speaking during the function said “The annual national Quran competition aims to serve the Holy Quran and provide the best care for it and encourage young and youth to read and recite Quran but also highlights the efforts of Somaliland government in caring for the Holy Quran and to reinforce our Islamic faith.
President Silanyo affirmed that the National Annual Qur’anic recitation competition was Intended and aimed at encouraging and inculcating in our children and, indeed, adults the culture of learning and memorization of the Qur’an.
The head of State congratulated the participants who were able to scale through the selection processes and representatives of their respective regions in this national event.
President Silanyo then handed the awards to the four winners of the Qur’an competition, and he was presented with a gift for his continuous support.
- Mr. Mubarak Khalif Yusuf representing Maroodi Jeh region emerged as the overall winner and walked away with a brand new Vehicle Toyata Noah and cash money for fuel.
- Mr. Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed representing Sanaag region took second place scooping the $1300 Dollars Cash, brand new Laptop plus Islamic studies text books.
- Mr. Xanafi Bahir Muhumed, in third place, took home $1000 Dollars Cash, mobile phone plus Islamic studies text books.
- Zakariye Ali Muhumed, from Sool region was in the fourth place, he took home $700 Dollars Cash and Islamic studies text books.
On the hand President Silanyo was symbolic awarded with a copy of the Holy Quran by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments and Sheik Mohamed Aden Mohamed chairman of the Qur’an competition committee as a gift for his continuous support.
