DUBAI, 13 October 2006 — The Dubai Holy Qur’an Award has attracted contestants from countries across the globe, with many of the young participants traveling from far and wide in order to attend the prestigious event.
Apart from the usual hardships of traveling to a strange and distant land, some have had to face additional difficulties in their journey to Dubai and in memorizing the Holy Qur’an.
One example is the contestant from Iraq. With his melodious voice, Ahmed Aboud has repeatedly captivated the audience. The 13-year-old from Baghdad will strike you as a quiet boy but his arduous journey in memorizing the Qur’an and then subsequent trip to Dubai was fraught with many difficulties.
Ahmed together with his mother had to take a nightmarish journey to reach Baghdad Airport. For violence stalks those who use the road to the airport where countless people have lost their lives
After arriving at the airport, the mother and the son had to suffer a terrifying flight as insurgents regularly threaten the airport’s perimeter. Planes taking off and landing at the airport climb and descend in a spiral pattern directly over the airport in order to avoid coming within the range of small arms and missiles on the ground.
“We had to rent a special vehicle to take us to the airport. Nobody would dare travel on that road. The flight itself was really really scary. I thought the plane was falling down and we were going to die,” said Ahmed describing his trip from Baghdad while speaking to Arab News.
The flight was not the only obstacle Ahmed had to overcome. His Qur’an teacher, who was teaching him the basics of Tajweed, was gunned down by unknown assailants. “I was very sad when I heard the news of my sheikh’s death. But that is the reality of life in Iraq now,” said Ahmed.
The daily violence in Iraq has taken a toll on the schools in his country. Many have left the country while others who refuse to leave have to survive daily trauma. “Most of my friends have left Iraq and moved to other countries. While some others have lost parents or relatives to the killings that are happening. Our windows have been broken so many times from the explosions,” said Ahmed.
For Ahmed, the Holy Qur’an is a source of consolation that gives him strength to cope with all of the difficulties around him. “I feel peaceful when I read the Qur’an.”
Ahmed started memorizing the Qur’an when he was four and was tutored by his mother who is an Islamic teacher.
“My mother has memorized the whole Qur’an and she made sure that all of my younger brothers and sisters memorized the holy book. She told me that the Holy Qur’an will elevate my status in life and in the hereafter,” said the 13-year-old boy.
Coming to Dubai was like a breath of fresh air for Ahmed. Seeing people from different nationalities at the contest was inspiring for him. He said with a smile, “It was moving to see this brotherhood among different Muslims. Though we spoke many languages and came from different countries of the world, we were all united by the love of the Holy Qur’an. And Inshallah things will soon improve in Iraq.”
