Islam’s universal message can now be appreciated by even more people thanks to radio station Quran Kareem, which has added English and Urdu translations as part of its busy Ramadan programming schedule.
English listeners can now tune in to the station – which can be found at 88.2FM, and is owned by Abu Dhabi Media, publisher of The National – each night from 11pm to midnight, during which the first 15 minutes will be dedicated to translated fatwas (religious edicts), followed by a 45-minute recitation from the Quran, with English translations after each verse.
An Urdu translation of Quran passages is also broadcast daily during the hour leading up to the Asr prayer.
The English-language Ramadan programme, produced in conjunction with the General Authority of Affairs and Endowment (Awqaf), has been running for more than two years.
“It has been one of the most important and successful trials we have done,” says station manager Abdul Rahman Al Tenajji. “It has been very well appreciated because also we are capturing a diverse listenership, it’s not just those from western backgrounds but also plenty of people from Asian backgrounds are listening because they also use the English language.”
Al Tenajji describes the holy month as the busiest time of the year, which gives the station the chance to stand out from the pack. “We are proud because there has been continuos growth to the station,” he says. “Over the last six or seven years we have seen the ratings from the station rise to such an extent that it is now well known in the UAE.
“During Ramadan, however, we do excel to such an extent that we are listened to more than some of the English-language radio stations. It is a very important time for us and we put in a lot of energy to deliver programmes that appeal to all sections of the community.”
While 85 per cent of the station’s schedule is dedicated to recitations from the Quran, it also broadcasts six daily live programmes and nine pre-recorded shows.
Al Tenajji says they play a vital role in building Muslims’ understanding of their faith.
“The religion is not only the Quran and prayer – it touches on all aspects of life in terms of how we conduct ourselves, understand the world around and relate to others,” he says.
“These programmes discuss these various aspects to show that the faith is involved in everything that we do.
He says that, especially during Ramadan, listeners tune in for a spot of reflection and a break from the pop music that otherwise dominates the air waves.
“We do have various kinds of listeners,” he says. “There are those that are more conservative and listen daily, and there are others who listen in because they want to earn some good spiritual deeds instead of tuning to their usual pop station.
“What also helps is that many of our programmes are live and our presenters are in direct contact with the listeners.”
Al Tenajji says he is open to the idea making an English-language programme a permanent part of the station’s programming.
“These programmes are done under the guidance and cooperation of Awqaf,” he says. “If they decide to undertake such a programme with us then we are more than ready to take on this project.”
• Tune in to Quran Kareem on 88.2FM in Abu Dhabi. Visit www.adradio.ae/qurankareem for more details
