Parallel with the anniversary of Prophet Mohammad’s first revelation (Mab’ath), the 29th International Quran Competition opened at Tehran’s Milad Tower on June 18, 2012.

IBNA: The contest started in a ceremony held in the presence of the head of the Supreme Leader’s office, Hojjat-ol-Islam Mohammadi Golpayegani, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad Husseini, and Iran’s State Endowment and Charity Affairs Organization Director Hojjatoleslam Ali Mohammadi.

In his keynote speech, head of the Supreme Leader’s office, Hojjat-ol-Islam Mohammadi Golpayegani, asserted that the Lord revealed to Mohammad all there is to know. “Prophet Mohammad was assigned his mission in a land where knowledge and science had no place among its citizens and according to the historical documents, only 12 men could read at that time.”

400 years ago in Sweden, the family of a slave were doomed to be decapitated in case one of them happened to kill their master; while over 14 centuries ago, Prophet Mohammad has insisted that no one is superior than another unless for their modesty and impeccability, added Golpayegani elsewhere in his address. “We maintain that the key to human happiness is in Islam and the Holy Quran.”

He went on to say that the Islamic awakening is gaining pace. “Anti-arrogance movements are accelerating in the world of Islam and the oppressive enemies’ endeavors to stop them are doomed to fail. Based on Islamic teachings, one the public realizes that no other school of thought can resolve issues for them, Islam becomes pervasive in the world and this has become very imminent.”

Later in the ceremony, Iran’s State Endowment and Charity Affairs Organization Director Hojjatoleslam Ali Mohammadi delivered a speech in which he presented details about the 29th competition and the competitors. As he said, as many as 46 Quranic memorizers and 56 reciters from about 70 Islamic and non-Islamic countries have shown up in the contest. The competitors are screened by a jury panel of 14 international judges including 9 foreign judges and 5 prominent Iranian Quranic experts.

He added that two Iranian reciters have partaken in the contest. The two are winners of previous international Quranic contests.

He went on to say that a conference will be held on the sidelines of the contest to pay tribute to a number of women involved in Quranic activities on June 20, 2012. Moreover, another gathering on Quranic research works will be held to praise 45 sublime Quranic research works on June 21. Besides, a exhibition of cultural Quranic products with 50 exhibitors will be run during the competition.

Furthermore, over 200 Quranic gatherings in Tehran and Mashad will be mounted in the presence of foreign and Iranian international reciters.

Id : 140647