Deputy Governor of Makkah inaugurates the King Salman Quran Award qualifiers (27)
In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's profound respect for the Holy Quran, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, inaugurated the preliminary rounds of the local King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran for boys and girls, in its 27th session. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Governorate headquarters in Jeddah, in the presence of Dr. Salem Al-Khamri, Director General of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance branch in the region.
Leadership and unwavering commitment
During the launch, the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region affirmed that the great attention the wise leadership – may God support them – pays to the Holy Quran and the care of its memorizers is not a recent development, but rather a firmly established approach upon which this blessed country has been founded since its establishment. His Highness pointed out that this competition embodies the status of the Holy Quran in the hearts of the Kingdom's citizens and supports memorization programs that aim to encourage younger generations to engage with the Book of God, reciting, memorizing, and reflecting upon it, thus contributing to the consolidation of tolerant Islamic values in their conduct and daily lives.
The competition has a long history and international standing
The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran holds special significance as one of the most prominent Quranic competitions at both the local and regional levels. This year's competition is a continuation of a long tradition of service to the Holy Quran, with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance consistently organizing it annually according to the highest standards of accuracy and transparency. This competition serves as a vital feeder system for international competitions, qualifying winners to represent the Kingdom in global Quranic events, thus reinforcing the Kingdom's leading role as a center for Muslims and a guardian of the Quran and Sunnah.
Competition categories and criteria
His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal was briefed on a detailed visual presentation outlining the competition's stages and judging mechanisms. This year's competition is distinguished by its diverse categories, encompassing all levels of memorization, thus allowing a greater number of participants to compete. The competition includes six main categories:
- The first branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran with the seven canonical readings from the paths of Al-Shatibiyyah and Al-Taysir “narration and understanding”.
- The second branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran along with an explanation of its vocabulary.
- Third branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran with good performance and proper recitation.
- The fourth branch: Memorizing twenty consecutive parts with good performance and intonation.
- Fifth branch: Memorizing ten consecutive parts with good performance and intonation.
- Branch Six: Memorizing five consecutive parts with good performance and intonation.
Million-dollar prizes and community impact
The preliminary rounds, currently being held in various regions of the Kingdom, including the Makkah region, aim to identify outstanding contestants to qualify for the national finals. This competition serves as a significant incentive for young men and women, with a total prize pool of seven million Saudi Riyals awarded to winners across all categories. This substantial sum reflects the high esteem in which those who memorize the Holy Quran are held and directly contributes to strengthening religious and moral values among young people, protecting them from harmful ideologies by connecting them to the primary source of Islamic law.
