MAKKAH — Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh inaugurated on Saturday the final rounds of the 45th King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Qur'an at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Held under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the competition brings together 179 contestants from 128 countries across five continents. The six-day finals are being held in morning and evening sessions, with judging conducted by an elite panel of international referees. In his opening address, Al Al-Sheikh welcomed participants and attendees, stressing that one of the Kingdom's greatest honors is its service to the Qur'an and recognition of its memorizers, a tradition upheld since the era of the Kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz, through to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said the ministry takes pride in organizing the event, where competitors strive to perfect their memorization, recitation, and interpretation of the Qur'an in the holiest site in Islam, quoting the Qur'anic verse: "And in that let the competitors compete." Al Al-Sheikh noted that the ministry has set clear, transparent judging criteria and selected a panel of referees from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Uganda, and Albania. The competition's total prize fund stands at SR4 million, in addition to SR1 million in financial gifts for all participants. Concluding his remarks, he prayed for the late King Abdulaziz, expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of Qur'anic service, and wished success to the judges and contestants. The event then moved to the recitation stage, with participants delivering readings across the five competition categories before a large audience of competitors, companions, and worshippers at the Grand Mosque, in an atmosphere filled with the sound of the Qur'an.
