Zakat Fund Announces 50 Scholarship Opportunities for Islamic Studies and Other Fields
Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed (L) at the ceremony held at the Islamic Center to launch the Zakat Fund scholarships today | Photo: Ministry of Islamic Affairs
Maldives Zakat Fund has announced 50 scholarship opportunities under its Higher Education Assistance policy today.
This initiative, launched at a special ceremony held at the Islamic Center today, offers scholarships in Islamic education and human resource development.
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The scholarships are designed to cultivate expertise in a range of Islamic disciplines, both within the Maldives and overseas. Of the total 50 scholarships available, 20 are reserved for local postgraduate programmes, while 30 are allocated for international study. This includes 13 special scholarships designated for renowned institutions across the Islamic world.
ޒަކާތު ފަންޑުން ރާއްޖެއާއި ރާއްޖެއިން ބޭރުން އިސްލާމީ ދާއިރާތަކުން މަތީ ތަޢުލީމު ހާސިލްކުރުމަށް ޓަކައި ދޭ ސްކޮލަރޝިޕްގެ ފުރުޞަތު ހުޅުވައިލުމުގެ ރަސްމިއްޔާތު pic.twitter.com/rEHbahM2Ph— Ministry of Islamic Affairs (@MVIaffairs) April 14, 2025
Domestically, the scholarships will support students undertaking Master’s degrees at the Maldives National University (MNU) and the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM). The eligible fields and corresponding allocations are as follows:
Master of Arts in Quranic Sciences – six opportunities
Master of Islamic Revealed Knowledge, Leadership and Administration – three opportunities
Executive Masters in Islamic Finance (eMIF by INCEIF) – five opportunities
Master of Arts in Shariah – three opportunities
Master of Arts in Islamic Studies – three opportunities
According to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the overseas scholarships are offered in partnership with universities in Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and SAARC countries. A total of 17 opportunities have been allocated to institutions in Malaysia and Brunei, including the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), the International Center for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), and Universiti Brunei Darussalam. These include two undergraduate courses, six Master’s degree courses, and nine PhD placements.
In addition, prominent Islamic universities have offered 13 special scholarships. These include Al-Azhar University in Egypt, several universities in Saudi Arabia, such as Medina University, Qassim University, Umm Al-Qura University, Abha University, and King Abdulaziz University, and institutions in SAARC member states.
To further support students, the Zakat Fund has introduced ten stipend opportunities to help cover additional expenses for those studying disciplines such as Sharia, Al-Qada, Tafseer, Hadith, Quranic Sciences, Arabic, and Usul al-Din. The fund has also extended scholarships to cover super-specialised fields, including Urology/Urological Surgery, Paediatric Neurology, and Neurology.
According to the ministry, this scholarship initiative reflects the growing strength and influence of the Maldives Zakat system under the leadership of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Officials attributed the rise in Zakat contributions to the President’s vision and his early decision to establish the Maldives Zakat House, marking a significant milestone in the country’s Islamic development efforts.
The launch of these scholarship opportunities highlights the government’s continued commitment to advancing Islamic scholarship and professional expertise in key sectors essential to national development.
