Under the new programme to encourage more people to memorise the Holy Quran, half a dozen Hafizes have been granted Umrah pilgrimage thus far, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has said. Hafiz is a term used by Muslims for someone who has completely memorised the Holy Quran.
In a bid to encourage more people to memorise the Holy Quran, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali announced the new programme during the national Holy Quran recitation competition earlier this year. He said the new programme aimed at inspiring a new generation of Hafizes and encouraging more people to memorise the Holy Quran would be funded through donations from private benefactors.
So far, six Hafizes had received Umrah pilgrimage under the programme, according to the ministry.
The administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has attached great emphasis to Islamic values and beliefs in the country. President Muizzu has recently announced a new building for the National Centre for the Holy Quran, in addition to making the national Holy Quran recitation competition, the most prestigious competition held in the island nation.