By ABANG FARID ABANG TAHA
KUCHING: More than 1,000 Tahfiz students gathered for an event organised by Federation of National Associations of Al-Quran Tahfiz Institutions (Pinta) at the Darul Hana Mosque here yesterday.
The event, a religious gathering, was meant to encourage the youth and local Muslim community to get to know Islam better.
Islamic institutions in Sarawak such as Tahfiz schools needed to be enhanced to produce more religious professionals among the youth and local Muslim community.
Public Utilities Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi in his speech said in order to produce more religious professionals, opinions and feedbacks from professionals in the administration of Tahfiz schools were needed.
“A higher religious institution other than Tahfiz schools is needed where students of Tahfiz schools can further their studies similar to a university.
“If such an institution can be realised, it could become another step of religious studies in Tahfiz schools. We need to have a standard in the institution so that students from Tahfiz schools can proceed to a higher level of religious education,” he pointed out.
“The National Islamic Affairs committee is also discussing the establishment of this institution also known as Darul Quran in certain states in the country,” he added.
Abdul Rahman who is also Pantai Damai assemblyman said he will discuss the matter further with the State Islamic Council (ICS) because the council’s support is vital for Tahfiz schools throughout Sarawak provided the Tahfiz schools are registered and certified by the state government.
“A Registry of Tahfiz schools is also important so that funds can be allocated to the schools to run their activities. Tahfiz schools need to do this in order to generate more quality hafiz and hafizah (people who can memorise 30 chapters of the Al-Quran),” he said.
Abdul Rahman who is also chairman of the mosque committee also proposed that the event held yesterday be conducted annually and if needed, the Darul Hana Mosque can become the permanent venue for the event.
