Global Forum for the Authentication of Qur'anic Ijazahs and the Recognition of ASEAN Reciters

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Concludes the Global Forum for the Authentication of Qur'anic Ijazahs and the Recognition of ASEAN Reciters

Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa:

“The MWL’s standards for Qur’anic ijazahs are of the highest caliber, as they are overseen by the Global Council of Qur’anic Recitation Scholars. The MWL is committed not only to memorization—despite its great importance—but also to the teaching of Qur’anic meanings and etiquettes.”

Dr. Mohd Na’im:

“I deeply appreciate the MWL’s commitment to strengthening the bonds of fraternity between Malaysia and the wider Islamic world, as well as its strong cooperation in fostering the unity of the Ummah.”

 

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, concluded in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the proceedings of the “Global Forum for the Authentication of Qur'anic Ijazahs and the Recognition of ASEAN Reciters.” The event was attended by His Excellency Senator Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Na’im bin Mokhtar, Minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office for Religious Affairs; His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque and President of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, in conjunction with his attendance at the First Forum for Fiqh Scholars; along with a distinguished gathering of senior scholars from ASEAN countries. Furthermore, the forum also witnessed the participation of an elite group of scholars and specialists in Qur’anic sciences and recitation, as well as thousands of male and female Qur’an memorizers from across Southeast Asia.

 

This first-of-its-kind forum, held as part of the MWL’s global efforts in serving the Holy Qur’an, aims to examine shortcomings in the verification of certain Qur’anic licenses and to address cases where licenses have been granted to individuals without adequate proficiency and accuracy, as such deficiencies become apparent during their public recitations. The initiative also responds to weak governance practices in the issuance of some ijazahs, while seeking to enhance cooperation and integration among specialized institutions and centers responsible for reviewing and certifying Qur’anic licenses, in addition to promoting the exchange of expertise and best practices among them. In his address during the ceremony, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the MWL affirmed that, by launching the Global Forum for the Authentication of Qur'anic Ijazahs and the Recognition of ASEAN Reciters, the MWL is fulfilling its duty in light of its mission and Islamic objectives. He explained that each ijazah is followed by an authentication certificate that ensures thorough review and verification, noting that the standards adopted by the MWL’s Undersecretariat for Qur’an and Sunnah Services are exceptionally high. Their accuracy and review processes are governed by the Global Council of Qur’anic Recitation Scholars—the first council of its kind—comprising some of the most distinguished Qur’an reciters in the Islamic world.

 

Dr. Al-Issa emphasized that the Holy Qur’an was revealed by Allah Almighty to be reflected upon and implemented, while also underscoring the significance of its memorization: “(This is) a Book (the Qur’an) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.”

He highlighted that the MWL’s Undersecretariat for Qur’an and Sunnah Services is dedicated to this objective by carefully selecting specialized scholars entrusted with the task of teaching the Qur’an comprehensively—focusing on understanding its meanings and embodying its etiquettes.

 

For his part, H.E. Senator Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Na’im bin Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for Religious Affairs, praised the MWL’s efforts in ensuring the success of this forum and extended his sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the MWL’s General Secretariat for its commitment to strengthening the bonds of fraternity between Malaysia and the Islamic world, along with its strong cooperation to strengthen the unity of the Ummah.

He explained that the importance of this forum lies in combining the traditional chain-of-narration heritage with modern educational methodologies, to ensure that students not only master the Qur’an but also embody noble morals and social responsibility.

 

In addition, H.E. Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque, delivered a speech and expressed his delight at this large and joyful gathering of the memorizers of the Holy Qur’an from ASEAN countries, noting that this is something that brings happiness to the heart of every Muslim, as it confirms the words of Allah Almighty: “Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)”. Thus, H.E. advised the memorizers of the Holy Qur’an to embody the teachings of the Book of Allah Almighty in their lives so that they may serve as role models.

 

During the forum, H.E. the Secretary-General of the MWL inaugurated the Qur’anic Ijazah Authentication Certificate Program, aimed at enhancing the level of accreditation and reliability of Qur’anic certifications and preserving the status of the bearers of the Book of Allah Almighty through a precise methodology and well-structured framework.

 

Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Al-Issa attended the award ceremony of the inaugural edition of the certificate, which was presented to ten certified memorizers who had been granted Qur’anic ijazah with the continuous chain of transmission, after successfully meeting all the standards for review and verification.

 

Dr. Al-Issa also witnessed the honoring of several prominent Qur’an reciters from ASEAN countries, in recognition of their pioneering role in promoting and teaching the Qur’an and their contributions to raising firmly grounded Qur’anic generations committed to the principles of moderation and balance.

 

The program also included the graduation of a new group of male and female memorizers who obtained the Qur’anic ijazah with the continuous chain of transmission extending back to the early Imams of recitation, through the MWL’s Global Electronic Maqra’a, as well as the graduation of a new cohort from the Institute of Quran Memorization and Recitation at the Islamic Foundation in Malaysia, affiliated with the MWL.

 

During the event, the audience also watched a visual presentation showcasing the MWL’s achievements, initiatives, and projects in serving the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah.

 

They also watched a documentary titled Journey of a Certified Reciter, which highlights the journey of one memorizer of the Book of Allah, from his enrollment in the MWL’s Global Electronic Maqra’a to obtaining the Qur’anic ijazah and the authentication certificate.

 

Following this, two scholarly sessions were held with the participation of several prominent Qur’an reciters and leaders of Qur’anic certification institutions from around the world.

 

The forum concluded with the issuance of a set of significant recommendations related to its theme, including the importance of verifying Qur’anic ijazahs according to precise scholarly standards, enhancing the understanding of the ijazah among both certifiers and recipients, and outlining the optimal methodology for granting ijazahs.