In a moment of triumph and spiritual celebration, Chad’s Mohammad Adam Mohamed has emerged as the overall winner of the highly revered 45th edition of the King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Recitation, Memorisation, and Interpretation Competition, which concluded recently in the holy city of Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The gifted reciter walked away with the top prize of 500,000 Saudi Riyals, a testament to his excellence in Qur’anic mastery and eloquent delivery.
The global Qur’an competition, known for its prestige across the Islamic world, drew elite participants from various countries, all converging in Mecca under the auspices of the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Contestants competed rigorously across five categories focused on the memorisation, recitation, and understanding of the Holy Qur’an, disciplines that require years of dedication, accuracy, and deep spiritual insight.
This year’s edition was particularly competitive, with contestants displaying exceptional levels of proficiency. The event wrapped up with a grand ceremony that celebrated the spiritual and scholarly commitment of the participants, and paid tribute to their devotion to the Qur’an. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allocated a total prize pool of 4 million SAR for the competition, reflecting its ongoing commitment to promoting Qur’anic scholarship globally.
Saudi national Anas bin Majid Al Hazmi secured the second position, earning a prize of 450,000 SAR, while Nigeria’s very own S. Bukhari Idrees made the nation proud by clinching third place and receiving 400,000 SAR. His achievement stands as a proud moment not only for Nigeria but for West Africa as a whole, showcasing the deep-rooted Islamic scholarship within the region.
Other notable winners included Saudi Arabia’s Mansoor Al Harbi, who took fourth place with a prize of 300,000 SAR, and Yemen’s Mohamed Shoye, who earned fifth position and was awarded 275,000 SAR. The ceremony drew participants, scholars, dignitaries, and Qur’an enthusiasts from across the globe, highlighting the unifying power of the Holy Book in bringing together diverse cultures under the banner of faith.
The King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition continues to be a cornerstone in Saudi Arabia’s religious and cultural diplomacy, enhancing international Qur’anic engagement and providing a platform for gifted reciters to gain global recognition. With this year’s success, the event once again reaffirms the Kingdom’s status as a spiritual hub in the Muslim world and a patron of Qur’anic excellence.
