Four Moroccans Honored at Sheikh Hamad Translation Award in Doha

Wednesday 11 December 2024 - 15:00

Four Moroccan translators were celebrated at the 10th edition of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, which took place on Tuesday in Doha. The prestigious event recognizes excellence in translation and highlights the vital role translation plays in fostering global understanding through linguistic and cultural exchange.

Elias Amharar earned third place in the Arabic-to-French category for his translation of Nukat Al Mahsoul Fi Elm Al Osoul by Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi. In the French-to-Arabic category, Al Hussein Banu Hashim secured second place for his translation of L’Empire Khattabi by Chaim Perelman, while Mohammed Ait Hanna also achieved second place for translating The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas into Arabic.

Abdul Wahid Al Alami was awarded an encouragement prize for his French-to-Arabic translation of The Prophet of Islam by Muhammad Hamidullah. The Moroccan winners expressed immense pride in their achievements during the ceremony. They emphasized that their success reflects Morocco’s strong linguistic culture and the openness of its translators to engaging with various global traditions and languages.

This year’s competition attracted participants from 35 countries, including 17 Arab nations. French and English were the main languages in the unique book category, while other languages, such as Balochi, Tatar, Hungarian, and Yoruba, were categorized as secondary languages.

Established in 2015, the Sheikh Hamad Award honors exceptional translations and aims to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation among peoples and nations. Its mission is to promote merit, creativity, and the values of diversity, pluralism, and openness. The award also aims to spotlight Arab culture, as well as works of literature, art, and science, including Islamic books.

The Sheikh Hamad Translation Award continues to serve as a key platform for recognizing the transformative power of translation in connecting cultures and fostering mutual understanding across the globe.