The Secretary General of the Muslim World League Concludes the Global Forum for Qur’anic Certification and Honors Reciters from ASEAN Countries

Dr. Al-Issa:
The MWL’s standards for certification are high, drawing their governance from the World Council of Qur’anic Recitation Scholars.
The MWL is concerned not only with memorization, important as it is, but also with teaching the meanings and etiquettes of the Qur’an.


Mohammad Naim:
We value the League’s strong commitment to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between Malaysia and the Islamic world and to supporting the unity of the Ummah.

Under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League and President of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, concluded in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the proceedings of the Global Forum for Qur’anic Certification and the Honoring of ASEAN Reciters.
The event was attended by the Minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs, Senator Dr. Dato’ Seri Mohd Naim bin Mohd Mokhtar, along with the Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and President of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, as well as senior scholars from ASEAN countries. The forum also witnessed the participation of distinguished Qur’anic scholars and specialists, in addition to thousands of male and female Qur’an memorizers from across Southeast Asia.
This pioneering forum, held as part of the League’s global efforts in serving the Holy Qur’an, aimed to examine shortcomings in the verification of certain Qur’anic certifications and to address cases where certifications had been granted to those lacking proper mastery—gaps that often become evident during public recitations. The forum also sought to strengthen cooperation and integration among specialized institutions and centers responsible for reviewing and certifying Qur’anic licenses, as well as to promote the exchange of expertise among them.
In his address during the ceremony, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa, affirmed that by launching this Global Forum for Qur’anic Certification and Honoring Reciters from ASEAN countries, the League is fulfilling its duty in line with its Islamic mission and responsibilities.
He explained that each certification is followed by an authentication process that verifies and scrutinizes it, noting that the standards of the League’s Qur’an and Sunnah Agency are of the highest level. Their precision and review mechanisms are drawn from the World Council of Qur’anic Recitation Scholars—the first of its kind—whose members include leading reciters from across the Islamic world.
Dr. Al-Issa stressed that the Holy Qur’an was revealed by Allah the Almighty for reflection and action, alongside the importance of memorization. He cited the Qur’anic verse: “[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded” (Qur’an 38:29). He emphasized that the Qur’an and Sunnah Agency is deeply committed to this principle, working through the selection of specialized scholars entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the Qur’an in all its dimensions, particularly in cultivating adherence to its noble etiquettes.
For his part, the Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Senator Dr. Mohd Naim bin Mokhtar, commended the League’s efforts in ensuring the success of this forum. He expressed his gratitude to the MWL's Secretariat for its commitment to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between Malaysia and the Islamic world, and for its pursuit of the unity of the Ummah.
He further highlighted the significance of this forum in bridging the traditional chain of transmission with contemporary educational methodologies, thereby ensuring that students not only master the Qur’an but also embody noble character and social responsibility.
The Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, also delivered an address in which he expressed his joy at this grand and uplifting gathering of Qur’an memorizers from across Asia. He noted that such an occasion brings happiness to the heart of every Muslim and reflects the truth of Allah’s words: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian” (Qur’an 15:9). He urged Qur’an memorizers to embody the teachings of the Holy Qur’an in their daily lives so that they may serve as role models.
During the forum, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League inaugurated the Global Qur’anic Certification of Ijazah, aimed at raising the level of reliability and credibility of Qur’anic certifications and safeguarding the honor of those who carry the Book of Allah through a precise and rigorous methodology.
His Excellency presided over the granting of the first edition of this certification to ten memorizers who successfully met the standards of verification and review in their Qur’anic chains of transmission.
The Secretary General also oversaw the honoring of a number of prominent Qur’an reciters from ASEAN countries, in recognition of their pioneering role in spreading and teaching the Qur’an, as well as their contributions to nurturing Qur’anic generations grounded in moderation and balance.
He further attended the graduation of a new group of male and female Qur’an memorizers who received their Qur’anic ijāzah with an unbroken chain of transmission back to the great imams of recitation, through the MWL's Global Digital Qur’an Recitation Platform, along with the new graduating class from the Qur’an Memorization and Readings Institute of the Islamic Organization in Malaysia, affiliated with the Muslim World League.
The ceremony also featured a multimedia presentation highlighting the MWL's achievements, initiatives, and projects in serving the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah. Attendees likewise viewed the documentary film “Journey of an Ijazah Holder,” which chronicles the path of a Qur’an memorizer from his enrollment in the Global Digital Recitation Platform to his attainment of Qur’anic ijazah and authentication certification.
Following this, two scholarly sessions were held with the participation of leading reciters and heads of Qur’anic institutions worldwide.
The forum concluded with a set of key recommendations relevant to its theme, including the importance of documenting Qur’anic certifications according to rigorous scholarly standards, enhancing the understanding of ijazah for both the reciter and the recipient, and outlining the optimal methodology for granting such certifications.