The Grand Mufti of Albania: Saudi Arabia is a pioneer in serving the Quran and spreading moderation
The Grand Mufti of the Republic of Albania and Head of the Islamic Community, Sheikh Bujar Spahiu, praised the pivotal and leading role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in serving the Holy Quran and preserving the Prophetic Sunnah, commending the Kingdom's significant efforts to spread the values of peace, moderation, and centrism throughout the world. Sheikh Spahiu emphasized that these efforts are not a recent development, but rather an extension of the Kingdom's long-standing mission and steadfast strategy in supporting tolerant Islamic values and rejecting extremism and fanaticism.
These remarks were made during the closing ceremony of the "National Competition for Memorizing and Reciting the Holy Quran" in the Republic of Albania, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the Religious Attaché at the Kingdom's Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in close cooperation with the Islamic Community of Albania. The ceremony was attended by a notable number of religious and political figures, reflecting the deep fraternal relations between the two countries.
A long history of serving the Quran and Sunnah
This competition comes within the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's long history of sponsoring international and local Quranic competitions. Since its founding, the Kingdom has undertaken the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. This role has expanded to include the care of the Holy Quran through its printing at the King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran and its distribution in the millions, in addition to supporting Quranic study circles and competitions around the world. These initiatives are an integral part of the Kingdom's soft power, which aims to connect Muslims with their primary source of Islamic law according to a sound and moderate understanding.
Promoting moderation and combating extremism
Speaking about the importance of the event, the Grand Mufti of Albania pointed out that these competitions transcend memorization, serving as an educational platform that helps protect youth from foreign ideologies. He explained that the Kingdom's support for such events, particularly in the Balkans, carries profound significance, as it contributes to strengthening moderate Islamic identity in societies that have suffered for years from the erosion of their identity, and also works to solidify the concepts of peaceful coexistence among the various religious and ethnic groups in the region.
Strategic partnership to serve Islam
Sheikh Buyar Spahiu expressed his deep gratitude to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance for organizing this blessed competition, noting that it represents a model of fruitful cooperation between official religious institutions. He commended the Kingdom's leadership, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman – may God protect them – for their utmost attention to serving the causes of Islam and Muslims, and for supporting initiatives that reinforce the values of tolerance, coexistence, and peace among peoples. He affirmed that the Kingdom remains a strong bastion and a trusted reference point for Muslims throughout the world.
