Makkah: Eighteen-year-old blind Bangladeshi contestant Mahmoud Hassan Ashrafi memorized the entire Holy Quran through listening and perseverance before arriving at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to participate in the final rounds of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorizing, Reciting, and Interpreting the Holy Quran, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Ashrafi, who was born blind, began memorizing the Holy Quran at the age of seven and completed it within three years. He relied on listening and repetition, memorizing each verse through repeated recitation, with the support of his father, who guided him throughout the memorization and review process.

Ashrafi expressed his happiness at visiting Makkah and the Grand Mosque for the first time, describing his arrival in Saudi Arabia and participation in one of the world's prominent international Quranic competitions as a long-held dream.