When asked why she chose to pursue a degree at the age of 79, Khadheeja Abdul Rahman began by speaking about her lifelong love for the Qur’an and her enduring passion for learning.

She said she did not have the opportunity to attend school as a child due to her family’s financial constraints and lack of parental support.

However, with the help of her uncle, she learned to read and recite the Qur’an from a young age.

“What I learned was to read the Qur’an with the help of my uncle. I don’t remember ever not reciting the Qur’an. Even though I didn’t get the opportunity to study, I always had hope in my heart that I would study someday,” she said.

Khadheeja said her husband, former MP and long-serving public servant Abdul Rasheed Ali, played a central role in encouraging her educational journey after their marriage. She said his support gave her the confidence to continue studying throughout her life.

In 1999, she completed a Qiraat Hifz Certificate Level 1 from Mauhad after seeking guidance from friends and peers. She later pursued Arabic language studies, completing multiple levels before earning a Diploma in Arabic from the Islamic University of Maldives, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree at a ceremony held last week.

She said her husband continued to encourage her studies until his final days.

“When he was very ill in hospital, he would tell me it’s just two hours of classes. He told me to go and study and come back. He asked me not to stop studying until his last moment,” she said.

“My husband asked me to continue my studies, and today, by God’s will, I have achieved that.”

She also credited her children, grandchildren, teachers and classmates for their support throughout her academic journey.

Among her children are Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) CEO Fizana Rasheed and former HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed.

She described her classmates as kind and encouraging, saying their companionship helped her progress in her studies.

Khadheeja said she currently has no plans to pursue a master’s degree or PhD, noting that her goal was to complete her first degree.

She had also enrolled in a Qur’an memorization programme during her studies but paused it after memorizing five books, finding it difficult to manage both courses simultaneously.

She now hopes to resume the programme and join it alongside fellow students once an official intake is announced.