Forty contestants advance on day five of King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition

The male and female judging panels continued on Thursday to listen to the recitations of 40 contestants on the fifth day of the final round of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Qur’an Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance in Makkah.

Thursday’s competition featured 21 male and 19 female contestants from various countries, competing across the event’s five categories. The qualifying rounds were held in both morning and evening sessions.

This brings the total number of contestants evaluated by the judging panels since the start of the finals to 188, representing more than 120 countries from across the world. The finals are being held according to the approved schedule, with male contestants competing at the Grand Mosque and female contestants at the designated competition venue.

Rigorous judging and advanced electronic standards

The judging panels comprise leading international experts in Qur’anic sciences, recitation, and rules of tajweed. Contestants’ performances are assessed with precision based on memorization, recitation, tajweed, and quality of delivery. The ministry uses an advanced electronic judging system to ensure accuracy, fairness, transparency, and to expedite the announcement of results.

Record participation and diverse categories

This year’s competition has attracted 334 contestants from 133 countries, competing in five main categories. These include memorizing the entire Qur’an with the seven canonical readings (per Al-Shatibiyyah), memorizing the Qur’an with interpretation, memorizing fifteen parts, and memorizing five parts with excellence in performance and tajweed.