President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced a sweeping recalibration of national priorities, declaring that the cultivation of a society grounded in reverence for the Holy Quran constitutes the Maldives’ foremost developmental imperative. Addressing the awards ceremony of the 37th National Holy Quran Recitation Competition, the president asserted that moral and religious advancement must supersede material progress.
The administration has formally designated the Quran Recitation Competition as a top national priority, a decision, he said, intended to strengthen religious affairs and facilitate progress in that domain. This commitment was reflected in the awarding of substantial prizes to students recognised in this year’s competition. President Muizzu described the initiative as “a significant beginning” in fostering a Quran-loving society.
Calling for a collective shift in educational and institutional focus, the president urged parents, schools, government bodies, and private organisations to prioritise the upbringing of children who recite the Quran with precision, melody, and reverence. He advocated for the development of a generation that not only seeks to recite the Quran but regards its study as a source of pride.
He drew a philosophical distinction between physical infrastructure and authentic societal progress, arguing that religious mandates must form the foundation of national stability. “A 50-storey building may be constructed,” he said. “However, that is not genuine development. It is essential to engrave virtuous deeds upon the heart and strengthen the framework of actions built upon those principles.”
Development, he elaborated, must be understood as a deliberate alignment of thought, action, and speech with Islamic teachings. The Maldives, he said, is a distinctly ‘unique’ country blessed with Islamic guidance. “Priority should therefore be given to preparing for the hereafter, rather than focusing on tangible development,” he said.
The president linked national peace and prosperity directly to religious observance, warning that neglecting divinely mandated priorities would undermine both. He stressed that the nation’s stability depends on adherence to spiritual obligations.
He also sought to embed this moral framework within the national ethos of competition, stating that Islam encourages striving in virtuous deeds. “Competition must not exist in matters other than piety [Taqwa]. Consequently, the highest prize must be conferred upon the rank achieved through the recitation of the Holy Quran,” he stated.
Recalling traditional Maldivian practices, President Muizzu called for the revival of family Quranic study between Maghreb and Isha prayers, a custom he described as virtuous and essential. He urged citizens to carve out time for Quranic study, even amid the demands of daily life.
Concluding his address, the president acknowledged that national transformation must begin at the individual level. Genuine change, he said, requires internal development of thought, philosophy, and action. While affirming the government’s role in facilitating this shift, he maintained that its success ultimately depends on the willingness of individuals to embrace the commitment themselves.