The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) came alive last weekend when Faizul Bacchus and Shameena Waheed won top honours in the 11th Annual National Qaseeda Competition.
The event was held in part to mark Eid Milad un Nabi 2013 and was hosted by the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman and the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, a press release said. It was judged by a panel comprising Dr Adil Ansari
(India), Mizannur Rahman (Bangla-desh), Al Haj Farouk Bholai and Al Haj Mahmud Ghafoer both of Suriname and Maulana Ahsanul Mangat (Pakistan).
Faizul Bacchus of the Mon Repos Masjid won the judges hearts with his rendition and walked away with the coveted first place in the senior male category of the competition. In similar style, Shameena Waheed of the ACIC did her masjid proud; walking away with first place in the female senior category, after having taken a few years off from competition. Nazeema Mohamed, also of the ACIC, won the junior titles and Muzzammil Bacchus, of the Mon Repos masjid, won the junior male category.
According to the release, Bacchus overcame stiff competition from the ACIC’s Mohamed Shahid, Reyad Razack and Omar Ghafoer who followed in second, third and fourth place respectively.
Bibi Shakila Wahab, Bibi Nazmon Khan and Fareeda Nabi won second, third and fourth places, respectively, in the senior female category and Shevon Khan, Naseeba Nabbi and Asiefa Ali won second, third and fourth places, respectively, in the junior category. Zaheer Mohamed and Wajih Mangat won second and third position in the junior male category.
The aim of the competition was to select a team to represent Guyana at the International mehfil which will be hosted at the ASJA’s Charlieville Complex in Trinidad during the Easter holidays this year.
It was convened by ACIC President Hakeem Khan and graduate of the Al Ahzar University of Egypt Shaikh Safraz Bacchus who delivered the feature remarks. Al Haj Basheer Khodabux of the Hedayatul Islam in Paramaribo Suriname led his country’s delegation at the competition. Main sponsors Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company was represented by Nicola Duggan, and the National Milling Company by Afeeze Khan.
The other sponsors were Sterling Products Limited, represented by Nafiza Balkishun, and F&BA Amin, H Mohamed General Store, DDL, Guyana Beverage Co and M Ali and Son Enterprise, the release said.
