KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 250 tithe recipients (asnaf) have successfully completed the Quran recitation (khatam al-Quran) through the 4th edition of the Celik al-Quran programme, launched in April this year to improve Quranic literacy among asnaf in the Federal Territory. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, stated that the programme focuses on Tahsin al-Quran classes to help Muslims in the Federal Territories read the Quran accurately.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme is organised by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) in collaboration with Yayasan Institut Pengajian al-Quran (IpaQ), since 2020. “MAIWP has allocated RM350,000 in zakat funds this year to support the programme, with 302 participants enrolled since its launch,” he said in a speech delivered by the minister’s political secretary Dr Muhamad Razak Idris, during the Khatam al-Quran ceremony at the Federal Territory Mosque today.

Mohd Na’im added that next ye
ar, MAIWP will allocate RM324,000 to distribute 5,000 copies of the Quran, with translations, to new students in MAIWP-affiliated educational institutions as part of the ‘1 Student 1 Quran’ initiative. ‘Each new student will receive a copy of the Quran, helping to encourage a deeper love and understanding of the Quran among the younger generation,” he said.

Meanwhile, MAIWP acting chief executive Datuk Mohd Nizam Yahya, expressed the council’s consideration of expanding the Celik al-Quran programme to Sabah and Sarawak in the future. “We are committed to expanding this initiative. With the available resources, we aim to extend it further, particularly to improve Quranic recitation among the asnaf communities in People’s Housing Project (PPR) schemes,” he added.

Also present at the event were MAIWP chairman Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Kabeer and IpaQ Board of Trustees chairman Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff.