Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, the closing ceremony will be held to honor the winners of the 27th King Salman bin Abdulaziz Prize for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran. The ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, will recognize a select group of the Kingdom's finest young men and women who have memorized the Holy Quran.
A rich history and a remarkable journey
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is one of the most prominent national Quranic competitions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Launched in 1417 AH (1996/1997 CE), the competition's noble aim is to encourage young people to memorize the Holy Quran, reflect upon its meanings, and master its recitation. For over two and a half decades, the award has evolved into a leading Quranic institution, attracting hundreds of memorizers annually, reflecting the profound attention the wise leadership pays to the Holy Quran and its sciences. The award has contributed to the graduation of generations of accomplished memorizers who represent the Kingdom in international Quranic events.
The importance of the award and its national impact
The award derives its significance from the fact that it not only honors those who have memorized the Quran, but also serves as a comprehensive national project dedicated to serving the Holy Quran. Locally, the competition contributes to strengthening the Islamic identity of society, instilling the values of moderation and balance advocated by the Quran, and protecting youth from extremist ideologies. It also fosters a positive competitive environment among the nation's sons and daughters, motivating them to invest their time in activities that benefit them in this life and the hereafter. This ongoing royal patronage underscores the Kingdom's leading role as the heart of the Islamic world, the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the guardian of the Holy Quran.
Details of the ceremony and honoring the winners
On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, will attend the closing ceremony honoring the male winners next Friday. The ceremony honoring the female winners will be held on Thursday evening, in the presence of the wife of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Her Royal Highness Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. The final rounds of the competition were held from the 25th to the 29th of Sha'ban, with total prizes exceeding seven million Saudi Riyals, awarded to the winners of the top positions in the six categories. These categories include memorizing the entire Holy Quran with Tajweed and the seven canonical readings, memorizing the entire Quran with an interpretation of its vocabulary, and memorizing twenty, ten, and five parts of the Quran.
Generous support and continuous care
In this context, His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, and General Supervisor of the competition, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, explained that the competition has received generous and continuous support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and diligent follow-up from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. His Excellency emphasized that the wise leadership's care for the Holy Quran is an extension of the approach of the founder of this country, King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – and that this care has transformed into a firmly established Islamic project adopted by the state, serving as a vital pillar in serving the Book of God and disseminating its tolerant values that call for mercy, moderation, and balance.
