Turkey's top religious body collects 2.77 million liras for Quran memorization courses

Duvar English 

Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has expanded its teaching of Quran memorization and recital, or “hafızlık.” Since January, it has collected 2.77 million Turkish liras in donations to provide scholarships to students for Quran memorization, through the International Foundation for Solidarity with Muslim Communities (MÜSDAV), Deutsche Welle Turkish reported on Feb. 15.

Three years ago, the Diyanet had launched Quran memorization courses in public education. Such courses were first introduced in the year 2014-2015 in the Medina İmam Hatip secondary school in Ankara.

Later, in May 2019, the Diyanet signed a protocol with the Ministry of Education, entitled “Quran Courses at School Cooperative Education.”

According to the protocol, students who complete their Quran memorization courses in the 5th and 6th grades then go on to take further consolidation courses in the 7th and 8th grades.

Those who are awarded a Quran memorization certificate are then redirected to İmam Hatip secondary schools determined by the Ministry of Education.

According to the Diyanet’ annual reports, during the year 2019-2020, 14,900 students took part in Quran memorization courses. During the year 2020-2021, 16,639 students took part in such courses.

The protocol signed with the Ministry of Education says that a cooperation might be undertaken with muftis, universities, public institutions and organizations, civil society organizations and local administrations for the implementation of the project. This makes it possible for the Diyanet to cooperate with religious communion and foundations.

In this context, the Diyanet signed a protocol with the MÜSDAV, entitled "I am raising a hafız." Students are given 3,000 liras in aid per year as part of the project. 

A statement on Diyanet's website says that the aim of the donations is "to financially support hafızs who show an academic success in university exams." 

MÜSDAV Chairman Erdal Atasay has said that citizens can make donations through the organization's website. Some 2.77 million liras have been collected since the beginning of January for the project.