Honoring the winners of the 27th King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran
Under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - the capital, Riyadh, celebrates this week the crowning of a new group of memorizers of the Book of God, at the closing ceremony of the twenty-seventh session of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Local Award for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Quran for boys and girls.
On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, will preside over the ceremony honoring the male winners next Friday evening. The ceremony honoring the female winners will be held on Thursday evening, the second day of Ramadan, under the patronage of the wife of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Her Royal Highness Princess Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain.
A historical legacy in the service of the Holy Quran
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is an extension of a long-standing approach adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the era of its founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud – may God have mercy on him – in caring for the Holy Quran and encouraging the sons and daughters of the nation to memorize it and reflect upon its meanings. This competition, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, is one of the most prominent national initiatives aimed at connecting new generations with the Book of God and instilling its tolerant values of moderation, balance, and mercy.
For 27 years, the award has become a beacon of healthy competition among Saudi youth, motivating them to master memorization, recitation, and understanding of Quranic interpretation, thus contributing to the development of a well-rounded Islamic personality that serves both their faith and their nation. The generous and continuous support from the wise leadership for this competition and other Quranic events reflects the central role of the Holy Quran as the nation's constitution and way of life.
An exceptional tournament and valuable prizes
The final rounds of the competition were held from the 25th to the 29th of Sha'ban, witnessing wide participation from male and female contestants from across the Kingdom. His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, and General Supervisor of the competition, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, explained that the award has received generous support and continuous contributions from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and diligent follow-up from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them both – to the point that it has become one of the most prominent Quranic competitions at the national level.
The total prize money for this edition exceeded seven million Saudi Riyals, reflecting the significant support allocated to motivate participants to excel. Winners will be awarded prizes for the top three places in the six competition categories, which include: memorizing the entire Holy Quran with excellent recitation and intonation according to the seven canonical readings; memorizing the entire Quran with interpretation of its vocabulary; and categories for memorizing twenty, ten, and five parts of the Quran with intonation.
The importance of the award and its societal impact
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran transcends its status as a mere competition, becoming a pioneering Islamic and national project. Locally, the award contributes to strengthening the Islamic identity of society and nurturing a generation connected to the Holy Quran, capable of representing the Kingdom in international forums. It also fosters a faith-based environment that encourages engagement with the Quran and showcases young Quranic talents, empowering them to become valuable members of their communities.
Regionally and internationally, this competition reinforces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as a leader of the Islamic world and a major sponsor of all that serves Islam and Muslims. It sends a clear message to the entire world that this country was founded on the Quran and will, God willing, remain its servant, disseminating its teachings and noble human values.
