An Indonesian young Quran memorizer, Musa La Ode Abu Hanafi, has won the third prize at the international Quran memorization competition, the International Musabaqah Hifzil Quran (MHQ), in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
"Musa made other nations love Indonesia," the Coordinator of Educational, Social and Cultural Functions, the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Cairo Lauti Nia Sutedja said in a press release on Friday.
Musa participated in the children category by memorizing 30 chapters of the Quran.
The 8-year-old boy participated following an invitation from the Ministry of Awqaf of Egypt.
There were 80 participants at the international competition in all categories from 60 countries, including Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Chad, Algeria, Mauritania, Yemen, Bahrain, Nigeria, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia , Ukraine and Indonesia.
Musa was the only Indonesian to participate in the competition, and was the youngest as rest all were above the age of ten.
Although he won just the third prize, Musa was a success as he had not even mastered Arabic.
He was able to recite the Quran properly, though with a slight slur, because of his age.
The chairman of the Jury, Sheikh Helmy Gamal, said Musa has great potential, although he did not win the top honor.
source : abna24
