Zakat Fund Scholarships to Be Announced This Week, Says Minister Dr. Shaheem

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Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has announced that scholarships funded by the Zakat Fund will be officially opened this week. These scholarships aim to provide new opportunities for master’s and PhD studies, particularly in significant areas of Islamic studies, as well as super-specialized fields in medicine that are currently unavailable in the Maldives.

Dr. Shaheem noted that in addition to academic scholarships, the Zakat Fund will support projects to spread the teachings of the Holy Quran and help produce hafizs across the country. He credited President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for his positive reforms and efforts to strengthen the zakat system, which have led to significant outcomes.

The Zakat Fund is also being utilized to assist the poor and needy, especially in critical healthcare needs such as medications, kidney transplants, bone marrow procedures, lung surgeries, and cancer treatment.

Moreover, financial assistance will be provided to top-performing students pursuing Islamic studies abroad, even if they are self-funded. Countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia were specifically mentioned as destinations where support will be extended.

According to the Ministry, 2024 saw a record-breaking year for the Zakat Fund, with over MVR 100 million collected in property zakat alone, the highest amount ever received in a single year.