Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has announced that the number of Maldivians who have memorised the Holy Quran has reached 291, with expectations that the figure will surpass 300 before the start of the upcoming month of Ramadan.
Sharing the update in a public statement, the Minister said the steady rise reflects continued progress in national efforts to promote Quran memorisation and religious education across the country.
Successive initiatives introduced by the current administration have placed renewed emphasis on supporting Huffaz and recognising their role in society. As part of these measures, President Mohamed Muizzu has approved a doubling of the monthly allowance provided to Huffaz, a move aimed at encouraging more students to pursue Quran memorisation and easing the financial burden on those who do so.
Minister Shaheem also noted that formal graduation ceremonies for Huffaz have been held regularly since 2024, marking a new tradition of public recognition. During the upcoming Ramadan, 30 students are scheduled to graduate on the 27th night of the holy month. By comparison, 24 Huffaz completed their memorisation and graduated during Ramadan last year.
According to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the long-term objective is to increase the number of Huffaz in the Maldives to 500 within the next five years, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Islamic education and scholarship.
The Ministry further revealed that more than 1,500 students are currently engaged in Quran memorisation programmes in Malé and across the atolls. Officials described this as a historically high level of participation, signalling growing interest among young Maldivians in committing to Quran memorisation and religious studies nationwide.
