The 27th King Salman Quran Award qualifiers kick off with the participation of 129 contestants
His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, inaugurated the final qualifying rounds of the local competition for the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Award for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Quran for boys and girls in its 27th session in Riyadh. This major Quranic event is organized and directly supervised by the Ministry, with the Narcissus Hotel hosting the elite competitions that qualified for the final stages.
An extension of the Kingdom's mission to serve the Quran and Sunnah
This competition holds special significance as it reflects the deeply rooted Islamic identity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and highlights the pioneering role of its wise leadership in caring for the Holy Quran. In his opening remarks, His Excellency Minister Al-Sheikh emphasized that this award is not merely a fleeting competition, but rather the embodiment of a national project founded on the principles of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He further noted that the competition's continuation for twenty-seven years is conclusive proof of the sound approach, generous support, and ongoing attention it receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Crown Prince (may God protect them).
Fair competition and widespread participation from the nation's youth
This year's competition witnessed unprecedented participation, reflecting the deep connection of the Kingdom's youth to the Holy Quran. More than 3,600 contestants from across the Kingdom's various regions and provinces participated in the preliminary rounds. These stages resulted in the qualification of 129 contestants (a carefully selected elite) who reached the final rounds in Riyadh. His Excellency the Minister explained that this honorable competition is a positive indicator of the profound impact the award has on young people, motivating them to dedicate their time to memorizing and reflecting upon the word of God.
Competition categories and precise judging criteria
The award is distinguished by its comprehensiveness and the diversity of its branches to suit different levels of memorization and mastery, as participants compete in six main branches:
- The first branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran with the seven canonical readings (narration and understanding) from the Shatibiyyah method, with good performance and intonation.
- The second branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran with good performance, proper recitation, and interpretation 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.
To ensure the highest standards of fairness and transparency, the Ministry was keen to select an arbitration committee that includes an elite group of senior male and female arbitrators with expertise in Quranic knowledge and specialization, to evaluate the contestants according to precise criteria that highlight the most proficient and distinguished.
Million-dollar prizes and generous support for the people of the Quran
In recognition of the Quran memorizers' efforts, the Ministry has allocated substantial cash prizes for the winners of this competition, totaling seven million Saudi Riyals. In addition, incentive awards totaling 645,000 Riyals have been designated for participants who qualified for the finals but did not achieve top rankings. These incentives underscore the state's commitment to those who memorize the Quran and encourage the younger generation to continue their journey of memorization and recitation.
The social and cultural impact of the competition
The importance of the King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran extends beyond mere competition, encompassing profound social and educational dimensions. It contributes to strengthening moderate Islamic values, safeguarding the minds of young people, and connecting them to the primary source of Islamic law. Furthermore, the gathering of contestants from across the Kingdom in one place fosters national unity and creates a stimulating, faith-based environment conducive to the exchange of expertise in Quranic sciences, making this competition a beacon of cultural enlightenment that reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving Islam and Muslims.
