ABU DHABI, 29 March 2008 — People from across the world have responded overwhelmingly to a call to enter the second session of the Al-Mahabba Awards Festival set up in honor of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), organizers said yesterday.
More than 200 entries from 28 countries on five continents have so far been received, prompting the organizers to hold the festival in Abu Dhabi from April 24 to 26.
Sheikh Mohammed ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, is supporting the event, with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan as the festival’s honorary president.
Al-Mahabba Festival was established to inspire Muslims to express their deep love of the Prophet (pbuh) through art. Organizers hope that in so doing, people would be able to live their lives with greater meaning and help convey Islam’s message of love and peace to the world.
Dr. Abdul Hakim Murad, chairman of the Judging Committee, has received the entries, which have been distributed for evaluation.
The Al-Mahabba Awards is an annual event to encourage, promote and honor works about the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions in the form of advertising, movies, television programs, books, photographs and visual arts (painting).
Egypt’s Hamada Hilal is participating in the awards with his song “Muhammad our Prophet,” and the Australian Brotherhood band has submitted an entry entitled “Light Upon Light.”
In the television category, Amr Khaled is participating with his programs “On the Pace of Al-Habib,” produced by Iqraa channel, and “On the Pace of the Prophet,” produced by MBC.
In the photography category, Saudi Princess Reem Al-Faisal and British photographer Peter Sanders are participating, while the “Event of the Year” category has an entry from a non-Muslim Danish youth entitled “Sorry Muhammad.”
All in all, 28 countries are represented in this year’s awards, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Afghanistan, Iran, Britain, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Turkey, Greece, the United States, Canada, Australia and Malaysia.
Last year’s winners include UAE’s Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan as the “Personality of Year” in honor of his efforts in founding the “Alpordah Award.”
Sheikh Mohammed Saeed Ramadan Al-Bouti and the late Mustafa Al-Aqqad were on top of the list of last year’s winners.
The awards have been organized by a group of young men and women from the Arab and Muslim world under the supervision of a group of scientists, clerics and artists, and the support of several UAE and Saudi companies.
Supporters of the festival, which is expected to usher in a cultural and artistic renaissance among Muslims from all over the world, include Sheikh Abdullah ibn Bayah, Sheikh Al-Bouti, Habib Ali Jafri, Dr. Muhammad Abdo Yamani, Professor Abla Kahlawi, Noha Azzam, Dr. Amal Kubasi, Sheikh Hamdan Al-Mazroui, Dr. Walid Fitaihi and Yousuf Ali.
For more information, please visit www.almahabbaawards.com.
