TEHRAN -- The northwestern city of Tabriz is hosting the final stage of Iran’s 47th National Qur’an Competition, which started on Monday.
It began with recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by renowned qari Saeed Parvizi.
Shahabeddin Husseini, director general of the Awqaf department of East Azarbaijan Province, said the competition is a source of honor for Tabriz, which has presented several top scholars, including renowned Qur’an interpreter Allama Seyyed Muhammad Hussein Tabatabai, to the Islamic world.
Ahmad Motahariasl, representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in the province, also addressed the ceremony, highlighting the divine reward for the youths who recite the Qur’an.
The competition, which began earlier this year, features multiple stages, including local, provincial, and national preliminary rounds.
While the initial stages included both in-person and video-based submissions for judging, the final stage has brought nation’s top qaris and memorizers together for an in-person competition.
The finalists include participants from the men’s and women’s categories, as well as competitors under the age of 18, across various disciplines such as recitation, memorization, supplication reading, and the call to prayer.
A total of 225 participants have advanced to the final stage of the national contest, which will run until December 19 in Tabriz.
This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of the “Martyrs of Service,” including former President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in May.
The winners of the competition will represent Iran in international Qur’anic events around the world.