The King Salman Quran Award qualifiers kick off with the participation of 129 contestants

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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 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques 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 prominent Quranic event witnesses the participation of a select group of Quran memorizers, with (129) male and female contestants representing various regions and governorates of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia qualifying to compete for the titles of this prestigious award.

Royal patronage and unwavering interest in the Holy Quran

This competition is an extension of the righteous path followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since its founding by King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – who made the care of the Book of God and the Sunnah of His chosen Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, a constitution and a guiding principle. In his opening address, His Excellency Minister Al-Sheikh emphasized that this award embodies a project deeply rooted in the preservation of the country's Islamic identity, noting the significant support and continuous attention the competition receives from the wise leadership – may God support them – which reflects the great importance of the Quran in the hearts of the rulers and the people of this generous nation.

Fair competition and millions in prizes

This year's competition witnessed a large turnout, reflecting its significant positive impact on young men and women. More than 3,600 contestants from across the Kingdom participated in the preliminary rounds. These participants underwent rigorous selection processes, resulting in 129 finalists advancing to the final stage, which is being held at the Narcissus Hotel in Riyadh. To motivate those who have memorized the Quran and recognize their efforts, the Ministry has allocated substantial cash prizes for the winners, totaling seven million Saudi Riyals, in addition to incentive awards for those who qualified, amounting to 645,000 Riyals. This underscores the state's commitment to honoring those who have memorized the Holy Quran in a manner befitting their status.

Competition categories and judging criteria

The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is distinguished by the diversity of its branches, encompassing various levels of memorization and mastery, with participants competing in six main categories:

The first branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran with the seven canonical readings from the Shatibiyyah method (narration and knowledge) with good performance and intonation.
The second branch: Memorizing the entire Holy Quran with good performance, proper recitation, and interpretation of Quranic 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 of Islamic Affairs selected a group of male and female judges with knowledge, expertise, and experience in Quranic readings and recitation, to evaluate the contestants and highlight the most proficient and distinguished.

Educational and social dimensions of the award

The importance of this award extends beyond mere competition to encompass profound educational and social dimensions. It directly contributes to strengthening moderate Islamic values among young people, connecting them to the Book of God through recitation, contemplation, and application. Furthermore, this competition serves as a vital feeder for international competitions, as its winners are nominated to represent the Kingdom in global Quranic forums, thus reinforcing the Kingdom's leading role in serving Islam and Muslims. The gathering of this elite group of memorizers presents a shining example of a generation deeply rooted in its identity and ready to contribute to building its nation, armed with knowledge and faith.