Statements of the Supreme Leader at the Closing Ceremony of the Quran Recitation Competition

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We are thankful and grateful to God that, thanks be to God, this gathering was conducted in the best manner this year as well. It is pleasing that each year, we take a step forward. However, I must tell you, dear brothers and sisters, that we have been distant from the Quran for many years. The oppressive rulers and those foreign to the Quran kept this Quranic nation away from the Quran for many years. Truly, we have fallen behind. Therefore, one step a year is not enough.

My dear ones! The Quran is light and truly illuminates the heart and soul. If you become familiar with the Quran, you will see that your heart and soul become enlightened. By the blessing of the Quran, many darknesses and ambiguities are removed from the heart and soul of a person. Is this not better? "He brings them out of darkness into light." It is through the Quran that God Almighty says: "Allah is the Guardian of those who believe; He brings them out of darkness into light" (66). By the blessing of the Quran, a person finds the path to the light of guidance from the darkness of illusions, mistakes, errors, and wrongs. The Quran is a book of knowledge. In matters of life, the future, current duties, the purpose of existence, and many other areas, we do not know many issues. Humanity is filled with ignorance, and the Quran brings knowledge to humans.

The Quran is a book of light, a book of knowledge, a book of salvation, a book of health, a book of growth and elevation, and a book of closeness to God. When do we obtain these characteristics from the Quran, dear brothers? Is it enough to carry the Quran in our pocket? Is it enough to pass under the Quran during travel? Today, I say, is it enough for us to participate in a Quran recitation session? Is it enough to recite the Quran with a pleasant voice or to listen to a beautiful recitation and enjoy it? No. Something else is needed. What is that? It is reflection on the Quran. We must reflect on the Quran. The Quran itself, in multiple instances, asks us to reflect. My dear ones! If we learn to become familiar with the Quran through reflection, all the characteristics we mentioned will be achieved. We still have a long way to go; therefore, we must advance. The reason you see that from the beginning of the revolution until today, the officials and well-wishers of the country have emphasized the Quran in recitation, memorization, and pursuit of Quran-related ceremonies is so that we may approach that point. Of course, reciting the Quran with a pleasant voice is a very good deed. There is a narration that Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) - both about Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) and Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) - when they recited, those who passed by the place of their recitation would have their knees tremble and weaken, and they could not move. They would stop, listen to the Quran recitation, and when they had taken their pleasure, they would continue on their way. Reciting the Quran with a beautiful voice and with manners, which has a specific style, a specific music, a specific method, are necessary matters. These bring a person closer, but they are not enough. If we want to make an analogy, we say: Consider the Quran as a magnificent building with various halls, rooms, corners, and great depths. This vast and grand edifice has an entrance and a portal. If we beautify that entrance, people will be encouraged to enter that building. The entrance of that lofty edifice is these beautiful recitations that were read here. The tilework at the door is this recitation. Now enter. This tilework is very necessary. This beautification of recitation is a necessary matter. Therefore, I encourage and commend. That is, I honor those who, by their good recitation, make the Quran sweet in our hearts and beautiful in our eyes. This appreciation and commendation include both our dear young and budding reciters in Iran and the old and experienced teachers who come from other countries, especially the Egyptian reciters and especially this venerable and old master, Mr. Shaisha, whom I have known for a long time. Perhaps it has been thirty years that I have been familiar with his recitation. Thanks be to God, for several years he has been coming here, and we see him up close and hear his recitation. Today, too, he performed one of those very good recitations.

The tape of today's recitation by this venerable Sheikh and Quran master will be a memorable tape and, God willing, will remain. For himself, too, God willing, it will be a means of remembrance and for others a source of benefit. Others also recited well, thanks be to God. But all these are preludes to entering that lofty foundation. You must enter and memorize the Quran. In the programs of these past two or three days that were broadcast, I saw that our young children have memorized the Quran with the characteristics of the verse, the chapter, page by page, and line by line. It is a very interesting work. It is very beautiful. Truly, the parents of these children must be honored. It is very important that a person works with their youth in this way and raises them in this manner. These remain.

Of course, I must also give a reminder: Do not fill the minds of these children with computer numbers. What do we have to do with how many letters a certain chapter has? There was a time when such matters were necessary. In times when there was fear of distortion, it was necessary to preserve the number of words and letters. Today, the Quran has been printed thousands of times. Who dares to add or remove a letter from the Quran? These tasks are not necessary today. Instead of these tasks, tell them to memorize where, for example, in the endings of verses, expressions like "and He is the Hearing, the Knowing" appear several times in a certain chapter. Hearing or Knowing or Powerful; how many of these come together. Which ones come together. These are good. Let them memorize these. These affect the understanding of the meanings of the verses. Let them see in the verses, for example, from the beginning of this chapter to the end of the chapter, how many times the word revelation has appeared. For example, in how many verses is it mentioned that this Quran is revealed to you. For example, repeated points in the chapter - whichever chapter they want to read - should be extracted. Suppose these verses pertain to the chapter "Fussilat." In this chapter, revelation is repeatedly discussed. Let the youth extract and memorize these points. These are important. How many letters there are or what page it is on is not important. We do not have a single printed Quran; we have hundreds of printed Qurans. The beginning of a chapter in this Quran is on page 325, but in another Quran, it might be on page 100. Therefore, you must teach the children necessary and useful points that bring them closer to understanding the concepts of the Quran so that, like an engraving in stone, it remains in their minds for the rest of their lives and becomes a source of blessing.

My dear ones! Our Islamic society grows in this way. It gains strength in this way. It guarantees its independence in this way. It attracts the attention of the Muslims of the world in this way so that they find their path of guidance in Islam. Today, thanks be to God, people have become aware and are seeking the path of guidance in Islam. This work must be encouraged. Noon is approaching; the prizes must also be given. I will not continue further. I sincerely thank all the attendees, the guests, the organizers of this competition, the judges, everyone who has made an effort in any way, and the dear brothers who have worked very hard.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

66) Baqarah: 257