Int’l Quran Contest for Armed Forces Kicks Off in Mecca
The Quranic event has been organized by the religious affairs department of the Arab country’s defense ministry under the supervision of the Saudi crown prince.
Representatives of 27 countries are taking part in the contest, competing on memorization of the Holy Quran at different levels.
A new category featuring the “most beautiful voice” has been included in this edition for the first time.
The competition started on Sunday and will run for eight days in two morning and afternoon sessions, Sabaq website reported.
There will also be a number of sidelines programs related to the Holy Quran and Quranic sciences, according to organizers.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Mohammad al-Issa, an official with the Saudi defense ministry, said the country pays special attention to Quranic activities, including the teaching of Quran memorization, recitation, Tafseer (interpretation) and Tadabbur (contemplation).
Earlier, an official with the organizing committee had said that more than 40 Arab and Islamic countries had been invited to send their representatives to the contest.
They said that a number of top Quran experts from different parts of the Muslim world would serve in the panel of judges.
4097636
