Under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - his wife, Her Highness Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hathleen, honored on Thursday evening the ceremony honoring the winners of the local competition for the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an for Girls in its twenty-seventh session, which was organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in the city of Riyadh.
A long and distinguished history of serving the Holy Quran
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is one of the most prominent Quranic competitions in the Islamic world. It was launched more than two decades ago with the aim of encouraging the sons and daughters of the nation to engage with the Book of God through memorization, understanding, and contemplation. This award reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's long-standing commitment, since its founding, to the Holy Quran and its sciences, and embodies the wise leadership's dedication to nurturing a generation connected to the tolerant values of Islam and the principles of moderation and balance advocated by the true religion.
The importance of the event and its national impact
This annual ceremony holds immense religious and societal significance within the Kingdom. Locally, the competition fosters a positive competitive environment among young people, motivating them to master memorization and recitation, thus reinforcing the country's Islamic identity. The ceremony also highlights the role of Saudi women and their active contribution to the religious and cultural landscape, showcasing inspiring examples of young women who combine academic excellence with Quranic values. Investing in these young talents is an investment in the nation's future, building individuals who are proud of their faith and serve their community with awareness and insight.
The ceremony began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a visual presentation that tells the story of the award and the great support it receives from the wise leadership, and the efforts made by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in organizing and supervising it.
The Kingdom's message to the world
In a televised address, His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, and General Supervisor of the competition, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, affirmed that honoring these shining examples of the nation's daughters embodies the profound mission the Kingdom undertakes in building individuals according to the guidance of the Holy Quran. He explained that this competition, which enjoys the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them both – represents a continuation of a well-established approach to serving the Book of God and its people, and to dedicating all resources to nurturing and encouraging its memorizers.
His Excellency noted that the current session witnessed a wide turnout from various regions of the Kingdom, with more than 3,600 female contestants participating in the preliminary rounds. Of these, 129 qualified for the final stage, under a rigorous judging system supervised by specialized committees. The total prize money for the competition reached 7 million riyals, in support and encouragement of female memorizers of the Holy Quran.
Honor and appreciation
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Her Royal Highness Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain honored the winners of the top prizes in the six categories of the competition. She also presented commemorative shields to the female members of the judging panel in recognition of their efforts. His Excellency the Minister congratulated the winners on this great honor, emphasizing that this victory is a great responsibility before it is a privilege. He urged them to continue their dedication to the Holy Quran and to embody its teachings so that they may be ambassadors of the Quran within their families and communities. The ceremony was attended by a number of princesses and other dignitaries, as well as a group of women interested in Quranic studies and the mothers of the competition participants.
