JEDDAH: The final round of the King Abdulaziz international competition for memorizing, reciting, and interpreting the Qur’an got underway on Saturday.
Judges listened to 10 finalists during the morning session and 13 during the evening session. The award ceremony of the competition will take place on Wednesday.
The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs said the competition reflects the great values of Islam, and that it is based on the principles of justice, transparency, and professionalism.
The ministry added that the competition aspires to achieve the Saudi leadership’s vision of motivating Muslims to adhere to the teachings of the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed.
The final round took place in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, as opposed to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, where the competition has been held for the last 39 years.
Some 115 contestants from 82 different countries participated in the competition this year.