Sana'a: A ceremony was held in the capital Sana'a to honor winners of the national Quran memorization, recitation, and mastery competition for 1447 AH, with officials emphasizing the importance of combining Quranic education with academic and scientific excellence.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Charitable Association for Quranic Education in the capital Sana'a, in cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Summer Activities and Courses, honored the winners of the national Quran memorization, recitation, and mastery competition for the year 1447 AH during a ceremony held in the capital on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, Sana'a University Rector Dr. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti expressed pride in the university's hosting of the ceremony, describing it as one of the most important religious and educational activities dedicated to honoring memorizers of the Holy Quran. He stressed the importance of combining Quran memorization with academic achievement in fields such as medicine, engineering, computer science, and law in order to prepare a generation capable of innovation and productivity across scientific and humanitarian disciplines. He described Quran memorizers as a foundational pillar for Yemen's future.
Al-Bukhaiti said students who memorize the Quran should serve as role models for their peers in honesty, integrity, and academic excellence, inspired by Quranic teachings. He also praised the cooperation between the Charitable Association for Quranic Education and the Supreme Committee for Summer Activities and Courses in organizing the event. He affirmed that Sana'a University would continue to support talented and creative students and expressed hope that Quran scholars would assume leadership roles and contribute to scientific and professional advancement.
For his part, Mohammed Manea, Undersecretary of the Endowments Authority for the Guidance Sector, emphasized the need to move beyond memorization and recitation toward applying Quranic teachings in daily life and behavior. Manea said the Quranic project seeks to embody the Quran as a comprehensive way of life capable of guiding society through contemporary challenges. He called on people to engage with the Quran through reading, memorization, reflection, and practical implementation of its teachings.
Two additional speeches were delivered by Yahya al-Mahthouri on behalf of the Supreme Committee for Summer Activities and Courses and Dr. Dhaifallah al-Duraib on behalf of the Charitable Association for Quranic Education. The speakers discussed the condition of the Arab and Islamic world, attributing many challenges to distancing from Quranic teachings. They highlighted the role of summer programs and Quranic activities in promoting memorization, mastery, and understanding of the Quran, noting that participation in such programs has expanded annually. They also pointed to the implementation of the 'Yemeni Method' in public schools to strengthen students' reading, writing, and Quran recitation skills.
The speakers encouraged students to maintain a lifelong connection with the Quran and not limit their engagement to seasonal activities or summer courses. The ceremony, attended by officials and leaders from educational and religious institutions, featured Quran recitations by outstanding students, chanting performances, and the distribution of certificates, prizes, and cash awards to winners, judges, participants, and organizers.
The 20-day competition included 448 students from various governorates. After qualifying rounds at district and governorate levels, 48 contestants advanced to the finals in categories covering memorization of the entire Quran, 15 parts, 10 parts, and five parts. In the full Quran memorization category, the winners were Hisham Sharaf Ali Taher from the Capital Governorate and Hussein Mohammed Hussein Khatra from Sa'ada. In the 15-part category, the winners were Ali Abdul Aziz Abu al-Rijal from Taiz and Ahmed Abdo Hatem from the Capital governorate. In the 10-part category, the winners were Ali Hussein Al-Ashmouri from the Capital Governorate and Wissam Abdullah al-Sufi from Mahweet. In the five-part category, the winners were Mohammed Taha Abdullah Al-Haddad from Al-Bayda and Laith Mohammed Saleh from Dhamar.