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MAKKAH: Some 172 military personnel from 32 Muslim countries will be participating in the 10th International Military Qur’an Memorisation Competition launched on Saturday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The General Administration of Religious Affairs of the Armed Forces is organising the event under the patronage of Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.

The event promotes the significance of the Qur’an, encourages its memorisation, and highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in serving Islam’s holy book and as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites.

The competition features six categories: full Qur’an memorisation; 20-part, 10-part, five-part, and three-part memorisation; and a special category for recitation and tajweed (proper pronunciation).

Parallel activities include a Qur’anic forum for religious affairs directors and imams, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s efforts in Qur’an printing, translation, and distribution.

The forum also discusses the Qur’an’s moral values, the Kingdom’s contributions through its ministries, and the impact of tajweed on understanding the Qur’an.

Additionally, the General Administration of Religious Affairs will offer training programs for religious affairs personnel across the armed forces, focusing on Qur’anic teaching methods and enhancing the skills of instructors and competition judges.

Maj. Gen. Mesfer Al-Issa, director of the General Administration of Religious Affairs and competition supervisor, described the event as a significant initiative to honour the Qur’an.

Al-Issa emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to hosting this event, reflecting the leadership’s dedication to serving the Qur’an.

In an interview with Arab News, he highlighted the event’s profound impact on participants, especially as it takes place in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Issa said that the Qur’an guides soldiers, shaping their character and values and encouraging psychological, behavioural, and spiritual stability.

Soldiers grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah are more balanced and resilient, contributing to the development of morally and spiritually strong armed forces, he said.

The 14-day event will include 10 days in Makkah before moving to Madinah for four days, where participants will visit the Prophet’s Mosque and other Islamic landmarks.

Judges, including imams from the Two Holy Mosques and Qur’anic scholars, will use an advanced electronic evaluation system called “Insaf” (Fairness) for transparent scoring.

Contestants receive immediate feedback on memorisation, pronunciation, tajweed, and error rates.

Al-Issa said that the soldiers were selected through year-long national competitions to identify top military memorisers.

The competition also serves as a platform for military personnel from Islamic nations to promote moderate Islamic values and a proper understanding of the Qur’an through scientific forums.

Al-Issa said that the competition strengthens the Qur’an’s role in Islamic armed forces, supporting efforts to memorise, recite, and reflect on its teachings.

This helps build a generation of soldiers rooted in Islamic knowledge and guided by noble values, he added.

Source: Arab News