O-Level, A-Level Islamic studies students can lead prayers: Shaheem
Shaheem said the Islamic Studies curriculum taught in Maldivian schools covers the knowledge required for students to understand the principles of the religion.
Students who complete O-Level and A-Level studies in the Maldives and pass Islamic Studies are capable of leading prayers as imams without completing a separate course, Islamic Affairs Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said on Tuesday.
Shaheem made the remarks at a graduation ceremony for participants of the fifth programme conducted to train Friday sermon preachers, or khatibs, in the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shaheem said the Islamic Studies curriculum taught in Maldivian schools covers the knowledge required for students to understand the principles of the religion.
He said the syllabus includes Hadith studies, jurisprudence (Fiqh), Quranic studies, Islamic history and civilisation, and creed (Aqeedah).
According to Shaheem, students who study Islam and the Quran through the education system and perform well in Islamic Studies have the knowledge required to lead prayers.
“I believe that students currently enrolled in or completing their O-Level and A-Level studies who learn Islam and the Quran through formal education and achieve high grades in Islamic Studies have the capability to lead prayers,” Shaheem said.
“There is no doubt about it.”
The minister said he did not believe that leading prayers should be restricted to people who have completed a separate course or obtained a specific certificate.
Shaheem said imposing such requirements could make it more difficult for islands to find people to serve as imams.
He said the Maldives is already facing challenges in finding imams and khatibs, particularly as people who have served in those roles for many years grow older.
“In some Maldivian islands, people have to bring in khatibs from nearby islands just to deliver the Friday sermon,” Shaheem said.
“Due to the ageing of khatibs, they are becoming unable to fulfil their duties, creating numerous challenges in upholding Islamic practices.”
Shaheem said the shortage was among the reasons the government introduced a programme to train a new generation of khatibs.
More than 700 young people have been trained through the programme so far, according to the minister.
