Junior high school graduates eligible to lead Friday prayer

Islamic Ministry has decided to permit students who graduate from grade 10 to become an imam of Friday prayers.

In a post on X on Sunday, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed announced that graduates of grades 10, 11 and 12 who are proficient in Quran and salat will be eligible to become an imam and deliver sermons during Friday prayers.

He said the decision was made to provide more opportunities to young imams and khatibs.

ޒުވާން އިމާމުންނާއި ޚަޠީބުންނަށް ފުރުޞަތު ފަހިކޮށްދިނުމުގެ ގޮތުން ގްރޭޑް 10،11،12 ނިންމާފައިވާ ރީތިކޮށް ޤުރުއާންކިޔަވާ، ނަމާދުގެ ފިޤުހަށް އަހުލުވެރި ދަރިވަރުންނަށް އިމާމުވެ ހުކުރުކޮށް ޚުޠުބާކިއުމުގެ ހުއްދަ ދޭން މިނިސްޓްރީން ނިންމައިފި.

— Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed (@Mohamedshaheem1) December 10, 2023

Imams require a separate certificate to lead Friday prayers. At present, the permit is issued to imams with minimum ‘C’ pass in SSC or HSC exam or completion of second year of secondary education in Arab medium. They are also required to possess a minimum national certificate level III certificate in Quran and Fiqh.

But with Sunday’s decision, junior high school graduates are now eligible to lead Friday prayers.