Iranian Memorizer Calls for Quran’s Centrality in All Affairs
“Our expectation is that in this land, the Quran will be at the forefront of affairs; not merely in slogans and rhetoric, but in practice and genuine reverence. I have no claims for myself; but I have demands for the Quran,” said Shahriar Parhizkari, an internationally recognized reciter and memorizer of the Quran.
He was speaking at a Quranic ceremony held at the Kashan University of Medical Sciences on Tuesday to honor award-winning participants of a university Quran festival.
Parhizkari also shared a detailed account of his experience at the 1992 international Quran competition in Saudi Arabia, describing it as a period of both spiritual highs and political tension.
Reflecting on his participation in the contest, Parhizkari described a difficult atmosphere. He alleged that the hosts treated Iranian contestants with severe strictness. “The verses assigned to me for the competition were selected in a biased and prejudiced manner,” he stated, suggesting an attempt to disadvantage him.
A key privilege for top performers was the opportunity to enter the Kaaba in Mecca. Parhizkari described this as a profoundly moving spiritual moment. “For twenty minutes, all I did was kiss the wall of the House of God,” he recounted. “I was in a state of utter astonishment and gratitude for the blessing of breathing in the place where the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, had been born.”
However, he contrasted this spiritual experience with the competitive environment. He said the organizers, who offered the most lucrative prizes in the Islamic world at the time, intended to “condemn and eliminate” the Iranian contestants.
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Parhizkari said he relied on spiritual supplication before the contest. "I simply said, ‘O Lady Fatima (SA), help me,’ and with that invocation, I entered the response phase,” he stated.
According to his account, his successful performance shifted the dynamics. He highlighted the powerful recitation of his fellow Iranian, Karim Mansouri, which “caused an uproar in the hall”. Parhizkari said that for the remainder of their two-week stay, “they only spoke about Iran”.
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