DOHA – 200 new converts to Islam have jointed a Qur’an competition in Qatar, with main objective of engaging new Muslims in the society.

“The newly convert participants are expatriates hailing from 11 countries of Asia and Africa,” said Sultan Sad Al Badar, a member of the Organizing Committee of the competition, The Peninsula reported.

The announcement came as Qatar holds its 6th edition of Sheikh Jassem Bin Mohammed Bin Thani Holy Qur’an Competition.

Hosted by Abdullah Bin Zid Almahmud Cultural And Islamic Center, it has two separate categories for Muslim male and female converts.

“A separate section for new converts was added to competition to create an opportunity for them to interact and learn Holy Quran properly,” said Al Badar.

Only new converts to Islam can participate, as participants’ converting time should not exceed more than three years.

“Abdullah Bin Zid Almahmud Cultural And Islamic Center organized many programs for converts like educational and those related to learning Holy Qur’an and Arabic language to help them merge in Muslim society,” said Al Badar.

All participants will receive valuable prizes.

The Qur’an is a revelation from God, the creator of the worlds, so He is the original author.

There is only one Qur’an which is in Arabic and many translations of the holy Book is in several languages.

There could be multiple translations by different authors in the same language such as English.

The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the archangel Gabriel who used to make the Prophet memorize the Qur’an and made him revise it every year in the month of Ramadan, the fasting month.

Memorizing the Holy Qur’an is one of the most important ways to preserve Allah’s message.

The others are to publish and distribute the book, or the text on the Internet and to recite the parts that one knows to other people.