The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) today held a ceremony marking Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Destiny), and honoured the winners of the 28^th edition of the Bahrain Quran Grand Prize, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the ceremony was attended by Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the SCIA President.

Addressing the ceremony, the SCIA President extended thanks and appreciation to HM the King for his patronage of the ceremony, reflecting the royal constant interest in supporting Islamic events and activities in Bahrain, particularly holy Quran programmes and competitions.

He emphasised that the royal patronage of Islamic events and programmes supports the SCIA’s efforts to promote religious values and fundamentals, including its endeavours to serve the holy Quran, support Quranic centres and care for Quran memorisers and reciters.

He congratulated the winners of the 28^th Bahrain Quran Grand Prize, their relatives and the centres to which they belong, wishing them continued success.

Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed also paid tribute to the Interior Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Social Development for their partnership in allocating important awards within the Bahrain Quran Grand Prize, namely the “Al-Ghufran” award for inmates of the reformation and rehabilitation centres, the “Bayan” award for school students, and the “Ajran” award for people of determination.

He also expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the SCIA Secretariat-General and Quranic centres for the tremendous efforts they have exerted to ensure the success of the prestigious holy Quran prize.

At the outset of the ceremony, Hani Basheer Ali, one of the winners of the prize, recited some holy Quran verses.

Then, SCIA members, Shaikh Ibrahim bin Rashid Al Muraikhi and Shaikh Nasser bin Ahmed Al Asfoor, delivered statements on the virtue of Laylat al-Qadr and the importance of the holy Quran in the life of Muslims.

After that, the SCIA honoured the entities involved in the Bahrain Quran Grand Prize, namely the Interior Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Social Development and the jury members.

The prizes were granted to 98 male winners. The ceremony also featured the distribution of individual prizes, including the eldest contestant prize, the youngest contestant prize, the Prophet Dawood’s Flute prize, the Family Quran Prize.

Meanwhile, the “Iqra” (Read) competition clinched the Best Local Quran Competition prize, and the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Centre won the best male Quranic centre prize.

The attendees included Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Supreme Judicial Council Vice-President and Court of Cassation President; Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Board of Trustees Chairman of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, SCIA members, Yousif bin Saleh Al Saleh, Jaafari Endowments Council Chairman, Shura members, MPs, judges and ambassadors, in addition to the members of the Sunni and Jaafari endowment councils, officials and participants.

A total of 4207 contestants – 1769 males and 2438 females – took part in the categories of the 28th edition of the Bahrain Quran Grand Prize.

The categories included: The Holy Quran memorisation for students of Quranic centres, the Bayan Prize for school students, the Ajran Prize for people of determination, the Ghufran Prize for inmates the Radwan Prize for the public, and the Salman Al Farsi Prize for non-Arabic speakers’ recitation, in addition to the recitation and good performance prizes.

As to individual prizes, they included the eldest contestant prize, the youngest contestant prize, the Prophet Dawood’s Flute prize, the Family Quran Prize, the best local quran competition prize, and the best male Quranic centre prize.

BNA