The Governor of Riyadh honors the winners of the King Salman Award for Quran Memorization
Honoring generations of Quran reciters in a joyous ceremony in Riyadh
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, the capital city of Riyadh witnessed a joyous ceremony last night. His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, graced the event with his presence, honoring the winners of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Prize for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran for Boys. The ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, was attended by a number of princes, ministers, scholars, and the parents of the contestants.
Historical background and deep roots in serving the Quran
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is one of the most prominent Quranic competitions at the national level, representing an extension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's longstanding commitment to the Holy Quran and its sciences. Launched more than a quarter of a century ago, the award aims to encourage the sons and daughters of the nation to engage with the Book of God through memorization, understanding, and contemplation, and to instill its noble values within them. This competition is part of a comprehensive system of efforts undertaken by the Kingdom to serve Islam and Muslims, most notably exemplified by the King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran, which prints millions of copies annually for distribution worldwide.
The importance of the award and its expected impact on society
The significance of the award transcends mere competition in memorization and recitation, becoming a national project aimed at building a generation armed with the values of moderation and tolerance, and fortified against extremist and deviant ideologies. In his address during the ceremony, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, Sheikh Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, affirmed that the continuation of the competition and the expansion of participation reflect the utmost care that the wise leadership bestows upon the Book of God, and its keenness to nurture a generation proud of its faith and enlightened by the guidance of the Quran. The graduation of hundreds of proficient memorizers annually contributes to providing society with future imams, preachers, and scholars, and reinforces the Kingdom's position as the beating heart of the Islamic world and a beacon of Quranic sciences.
Details of the 27th session and wide participation
This year's competition witnessed exceptional participation, with over 3,600 contestants from across the Kingdom competing in the preliminary rounds. Of these, 129 qualified for the finals. During the closing ceremony, the Governor of Riyadh and the attendees listened to recitations from the winning contestants, and a documentary showcasing the award's history and achievements was screened. At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar honored the winners in the competition's six categories, as well as the members of the judging panel. The total cash prizes distributed exceeded seven million Saudi Riyals, in recognition of their efforts and excellence in serving the Holy Quran.
