Imams leading prayers must always prioritise the interests and well-being of their congregation, Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed emphasised during the opening ceremony of the Young Khateebs Symposium.
Addressing the newly licensed Khateebs, the Minister outlined essential guidelines for religious leadership, community harmony, and personal conduct.
Minister Shaheem highlighted that while every Muslim should be capable of leading prayer, Imams carry a specific responsibility to serve the people behind them. In accordance with the Sunnah, he explained that Imams should shorten Quranic recitations when leading larger congregations. Additionally, he advised young Imams to respect local island customs regarding prayer practices, warning against sparking unnecessary disputes over minor jurisprudential differences among the Shafi'i, Hanafi, Hanbali, and Maliki schools of thought.
"If the way the people of an island pray does not explicitly contradict the Quran and Sunnah, the person leading prayer in that island must do so according to what the people praying behind him accept," Minister Shaheem said, reinforcing the need for unity at the island level.
The Minister urged the young Khateebs to serve as moral role models within society and to approach religious guidance with humility and deep learning. He cautioned them against expressing opinions on complex religious matters without adequate knowledge and strongly warned against extremist ideologies frequently encountered on social media platforms and in local communities. Additionally, he highlighted the vital importance of respecting established religious scholars.
Reflecting on the nation's heritage, Minister Shaheem noted that Maldivians have preserved their identity as part of the Islamic Ummah for nine centuries by upholding and spreading sacred teachings and principles. He described the programme to train young Khateebs as a vital step toward securing this legacy for the next 100 years. Expressing immense confidence in the new cohort, the Minister framed their current qualifications as a stepping stone toward continuous self-improvement.
"The young khateebs we see today will become adults in two to three years. I believe that your future is brighter than those who deliver sermons in mosques today. The reason is that you are becoming Khateebs today having received modern education through formal schooling, gained Islamic knowledge, and learned to recite the Quran beautifully. So, I believe you will be more capable than the previous generation,” he added.
Minister Shaheem called for nationwide cooperation to promote Islamic rituals and symbols, reiterating that adherence to the Quran and Sunnah must remain the ultimate foundation for all religious affairs in the Maldives.