Deadline extended for councilor's Khatib training

The deadline for applying to the special Khatib training program for councilors has been extended.

In the first round, only 50 councilors will receive training. The application process for the course started on June 17 and will remain open until tomorrow.

However, the Quran Center announced today that the application deadline has been extended until the 3rd of next month.

For the course opened for male councilors, classes have been arranged to be conducted online. Classes will be held every day except Fridays from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

As previously stated by the ministry, admission to the course will be based on the ability to read the Quran fluently and proficiency in reading both Dhivehi and Arabic languages.

While a special course for councilors is being launched, the Islamic Ministry is also running a program to train young preachers (hatibs). This program, which has been completed by over 400 students so far, is a government initiative to provide licenses for delivering Friday sermons and conducting religious ceremonies to school graduates.

A program to train Hafiz (memorizers of the Quran) along with preachers is also being implemented. The government's goal is to produce 1,000 Hafiz within five years. Currently, there are 266 Hafiz in the Maldives which includes 126 females and 140 males.