The 27th edition of the King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran has begun
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, inaugurated today in Riyadh the final rounds of the local competition for the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Prize for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Quran for boys and girls, in its twenty-seventh session. This stage witnesses the competition of 129 male and female contestants from various regions of the Kingdom, who qualified for this decisive stage after preliminary rounds in which thousands participated.
Historical background and importance of the competition
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is one of the most prominent Quranic competitions at the national level, embodying the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to the Holy Quran and its encouragement of younger generations to memorize and reflect upon its meanings. Since its founding, the Kingdom has been guided by the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, and this competition is a continuation of this great legacy. For 27 years, the award has contributed to the graduation of generations of Quran memorizers who represent the Kingdom in international forums, reinforcing its position as the heart of the Islamic world and a leading center for serving the Quran and its sciences. This dedication is complemented by other monumental projects, such as the King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran, which serves millions of Muslims worldwide.
Widespread local and regional impact
The competition's impact extends beyond the religious sphere to encompass social and cultural dimensions. Locally, it fosters a positive competitive environment among the nation's youth, motivating them to invest their time in beneficial pursuits and strengthening their connection to their Islamic and Arab identity. In his opening remarks, His Excellency Minister Al-Sheikh explained that the overwhelming participation in the preliminary rounds, with over 3,600 contestants, is clear evidence of the competition's profound impact on the hearts of the nation's young people. Regionally and internationally, the competition's success reflects the Kingdom's leading role in organizing major Islamic events and sets a commendable example in its dedication to the Holy Quran and its people.
Details of the prizes and competition categories
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, as the organizing body, has allocated substantial cash prizes for the winners, totaling seven million riyals, in addition to incentive awards of up to 645,000 riyals. This generous support underscores the wise leadership's appreciation for those who memorize the Holy Quran. Participants compete in six diverse categories, including memorizing the entire Quran with proper recitation (Tajweed) and interpretation of vocabulary, memorizing the entire Quran with the seven canonical readings (Qira'at), and other categories covering memorization of twenty, ten, and five parts (Juz'), thus allowing participation for various age groups and levels of memorization. To ensure fairness and transparency, a select group of male and female judges specializing in Quranic sciences and readings were chosen to oversee the evaluation of the contestants.
