By Maryam Spahic
GOMBAK, 11 September 2016: Some 4,000 people gathered at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) for the inaugural World #QuranHour programme this morning.
Organised by Yayasan Warisan Ummah Ikhlas (YWUI), the programme was held on 9 Zulhijjah in conjunction with the day of Arafah.
President of IIUM, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, initiated the Quranic recitals by reciting Surah al-Fatihah followed by recitation of the first page of surah Al-Baqarah by the Director of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Tan Sri Othman Mustapha.
The rest of the attendees then simultaneously read a page of the Quran that was allocated to all upon registration.
According to the committees of the event, the Quran was completed within ten minutes, at least five times this morning at IIUM alone by the attendees collectively.
Also present were IIUM Rector, Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin, Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali, Director of Immigration, Datuk Sri Mustafar Ali, ambassadors and diplomats from Muslim countries and local celebrities.
The programme went live on many national television channels such as RTM1, TV3, Astro Oasis, TV Al-Hijrah and Bernama TV.
World #QuranHour, having IIUM chosen to be the prime location, was also celebrated in more than 650 hotspots within Malaysia and in 50 countries across the globe.***
Image credits to http://www.ismaweb.net/2016/09/al-quran-jadi-tumpuan-umat-islam-pada-world-quranhour/ Gallery images credit to Zakaria Mohiuddin