The 37th National Quran Recitation Competition officially commenced on Thursday night, marking a new milestone with a record number of participants. This year, 31 individuals are set to recite in the Hafiz category, a notable rise compared to last year’s 36th competition, which featured just 15 participants in the same category.
The ceremony was inaugurated by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, who declared the competition open.
Altogether, 1,037 participants representing 119 institutions will compete this year. They will take part across three main categories:
Reading directly from the Holy Quran
Recitation by heart
Recitation with proper intonations (Hafiz category)
As in previous editions, participants have been divided into three main groups: Students, Hafizs, and institutional representatives.
The recitations are scheduled to take place at the 4th floor auditorium and the 5th floor multipurpose hall of the King Salman Mosque. The competition will run until the 26th of this month.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizz has pledged to expand the number of Hafizs in the Maldives. In line with this commitment, the government has increased the allowance for Hafizs to MVR 4,000, while also raising allowances for other related categories.
This year’s competition features several new improvements aimed at elevating its standards, as previously announced by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. These enhancements include:
Higher prize money across all categories
Stricter judging criteria to ensure fairness and transparency
Refined participation standards, following reforms introduced in 2024
The Ministry stressed its continued dedication to strengthening religious education and nurturing Quranic recitation talent throughout the nation. More details regarding rules, eligibility, and applications are available on the OneGov portal.
First launched in 1981, the annual competition has long served as a platform for broad community engagement, with entries accepted from councils, schools, clubs, and associations across the Maldives. This year, submissions were accepted under separate categories to ensure inclusive participation.
The 2025 competition will feature three primary segments: schools, Hafizs, and clubs/associations. Within these, participants will compete in recitation, memorized recitation, and the Hafiz category.
Organized each year by the government, the National Quran Recitation Competition continues to play a central role in fostering appreciation for the Holy Quran, encouraging memorization and recitation among all age groups. It remains a cornerstone of the nation’s religious calendar, dedicated to promoting Quranic excellence throughout the Maldives.
