RIYADH: Saa-doddin Mohammad Nadhir Asgar, the son of the late and renowned Filipino Qari Nadhir Asgar from Lanao, won the first prize of the 8th Regional Qur’an Recitation Competition, which was organized by the Philippines Embassy in Riyadh recently.
Saa-doddin, representing Jeddah in the professional category, finished second in last year’s contest. Mohammad Khalil D. Capal from Madinah took the second prize this year while third prize went to Mohammad Abdullah Asgar from Makkah.
Nadhir Asgar received SR6,000 in cash, a laptop, a copy of the translated Holy Qur’an, gift certificates, a PNB ATM Card worth PHP2,000 and assorted gifts from Bateel.
Capal received SR4,000 in cash, a laptop and also a PNB ATM card worth PHP2,000.
Asgar received SR2,000 in cash, a laptop and a PNB ATM card worth PHP2,000.
The main sponsors of this year’s competition were: Al-Suwaidi Holding Company, which donated six laptops and 17 copies of the Holy Qur’an translated to the Iranon dialect; Al-Zahran Group of Companies, which donated SR10,000 in cash; and Al-Jazeerah Shopping Center which pitched in with assorted gift items and food and beverages worth SR10,000.
Saleh Youssef H. Lubid from the Philippines International School in Buraidah won first place in the lower category followed by Anas Khan from Al-Taj International School in Riyadh.
Nurshahid H. Sappari representing Riyadh International School finished third.
Participation of various Philippines schools in the Kingdom was a new feature of this year’s contest.
This move was initiated by the Philippines Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor to encourage students in these schools to learn the Holy Qur’an.
Villamor said the event was carefully prepared to provide a venue for a timely reflection and interaction on the unique and most special gift of Islam to the mankind.
“Such a gathering is a challenge that behooves us in this crucial time in history to think, aspire for and commit ourselves to greater peace and solidarity within our own societies and in the world at large,” said the chief of mission.
