Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Dr. Youcef Belmahdi, presided over the concluding scientific symposium of the national Quran memorization and recitation competition, held at Dar El Imam in Algiers on Saturday. The symposium, titled ‘With the Holy Quran… A Life Experience,’ marked the culmination of a nationwide program accompanying the 21st edition of the prestigious international competition.
Dr. Belmahdi emphasized that the event, held under the high patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, underscores Algeria’s commitment to the Holy Quran through memorization, education, and arbitration. He noted that the outreach program extended to several provinces, facilitated by international judges, providing invaluable opportunities for citizens and members of national recitation and arbitration committees to benefit from leading scientific and practical experiences in serving the word of God.
More than fifty countries participated in this year’s edition. Initial qualifying rounds, conducted via video conferencing, led to the selection of representatives from twenty nations to participate in the finals, commencing next Monday. The closing ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Djamaa El Djazair, coinciding with the 27th night of Rajab, commemorating Laylat al-Isra wal-Miraj (the Night Journey and Ascension).
The Minister highlighted that the competition’s 21st edition represents nearly two decades of dedication to the Holy Quran, through the training of memorizers, the qualification of judges, and the strengthening of Algeria’s presence in international Quranic forums. This reflects the state’s unwavering support for the Holy Quran and its custodians.
The scientific symposium featured presentations by members of the international jury, including Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Fahd Kharouf from Syria, Sheikh Taher bin Zaher bin Masoud bin Saeed Al-Azwani from the Sultanate of Oman, and Sheikh Bouchiba Boukhda from Algeria. They shared their experiences in memorizing the Quran, mastering its rulings, and judging international Quranic competitions.
The jury members expressed their admiration for the high level demonstrated by participants in the training seminars held during the outreach program in the provinces of Tipaza, Setif, Oran, and Algiers. They acknowledged the Algerian state’s efforts in nurturing the Holy Quran through supporting Quran teachers, providing infrastructure, organizing competitions, and qualifying memorizers and judges through recitation bodies across the country. This symposium marked the concluding stage of the program.
