KUWAIT: A ceremony for Kuwait's 11th International Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran was held on Wednesday under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness the Crown Prince's Diwan Chief Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the event on behalf of His Highness the Amir. Upon arrival at the venue, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah was welcomed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Head of the High-Level Award Committee Fareed Emadi and committee members.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince's Diwan Chief Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah inaugurated an exhibition held on the sidelines of the ceremony. - KUNA photos

Kuwait's National Anthem was played and verses from the Holy Quran were recited at the beginning of the ceremony. The undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs then addressed the event by welcoming participants coming from different countries. He commended the prize as a cultural landmark, scientific achievement and clear-cut proof of the paramount significance attached by the Kuwaiti leadership to the Holy Quran and its learners.

Fareed Emadi speaking at the ceremony

He also said that the 11-year prize shows that the Muslim nation would continue to stick to the holy book as the key to redemption and development, emphasizing that reading the Quran would remain to be a holistic life approach and a source of success, values, reformation and legislation. The award committee's head urged Quran learners to not only memorize the book but also to honor its ultimate goals and values, and to stick to the essential components of Islamic identity.

He concluded by voicing his gratitude to His Highness the Amir for patronizing the 11th edition of the international Quranic competition, while thanking His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for supporting the award. - KUNA