Addressing the closing ceremony of a nationwide Quran competition organized by Imam Ali (AS) Dar-ol-Quran Center on Friday, Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi said memorization, recitation and interpretation of the Quran are all meant to pave the way for implementing the teachings and injunctions of the Holy Book.  

This should be emphasized in all Quranic sessions because acting upon the Quran is necessary for the health of the society, ethics, faith and politics, he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the senior cleric hailed the Imam Ali (AS) Dar-ol-Quran Center for organizing the competition and said such Quranic programs, which are held thanks to the victory of the Islamic Revolution, enhance the Islamic Establishment.

He reminded that prior to the revolution’s victory, there were not many Quranic activities but since the 1979 revolution, such activities are held abundantly across the country.

“In this session (closing ceremony of the contest) alone, there are over 500 memorizers of the Quran,” Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said, adding that one should be thankful for the level of Quranic activities in the Islamic Republic.

The final round of the 11th edition of the annual Quran competition organized by the center concluded in the holy city of Qom, 150km south of Tehran, on Thursday.

It had been underway since Saturday, February 17.

Some 4,000 Quran activists from different parts of the country took part in different stages of the Quranic event.

They competed in various categories in two age groups of 16 years and below, and older than 16.