WAM Dubai, 17th May 2012 (WAM) -- The National Identity Team, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), launched "Read and Elevate," program to help male and female employees become proficient in reciting, memorizing and modulating (tajweed) of the Holy Quran.

This step comes as part of the "Good Eloquence" initiative adopted by the Team in a bid to maintain the UAE's national identity by advocating the use of Arabic language, avoiding common mistakes, and raising the religious awareness and culture.

Dr. Aysha Al Busmait, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Head of the National Identity Team at RTA Administrative Support Services Sector, said, "Preservation of our national identity is a religious, national and moral duty." She added that "As Islam is one of the most important components of our national identity, the team is prompted to embed it as a core component of its programs, as the religious faith in human beings contributes to their advancement, development, and nobility, and makes them helpful and distinguished, and benefiting all people around." "The program, which is overseen by a panel of Holy Quran reciting and modulation scholars, and certified by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai, hosts the participating employees at men prayer hall, at RTA Head Office, while women prayer hall hosts the female employees. It starts daily at 07:30 am and continues up to 09:00 am. During the session, participants receive practical training on reciting a medium-sized Sura of the Holy Quran, with focus on modulation and memorization.

Scholars have chosen for the first month "Surat Al Kahf" for the first month as it is close to the hearts of Moslems, so that they get accustomed to reading it every week on a permanent basis," added Al Busmait.

"Despite being read weekly, some people make a lot of mistakes, as they have not learned it correctly from versed scholars, and that is what the team seeks to apply through practical training sessions which will contribute to avoiding such errors," commented Al Busmait.

Read '&' Elevate Program will not impact the performance of employees '&' the discharge of their job duties as it has a high degree of flexibility. Participating employees need not attend on daily basis, but according to the individual conditions of each registered employee.

Moreover, the employee is not obliged to stay in the whole session, but can meet the lecturer during that duration for reviewing the memorized portions, and verifying the implementation of Tajweed principles; then he or she can head back to duty. Employees have the opportunity to break their day with the holy Quran; which boosts their morale and prompts them to deliver their job duties out of additional religious '&' moral impetus, besides the dedication synonymous of RTA employees," continued Dr. Aysha.

The Head of RTA National Identity Team called on interested employees to head to Prayer Room (Men's/Women's Prayer Rooms) to meet lecturers and benefit from their knowledge. The Program does not require prior registration and everyone can join at anytime; but this is left for the discretion of the Memorizer, who might fix a given timing if the numbers were large.

WAM/TF