Students during the academic and cultural trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has concluded two international student programmes organised during the summer vacation.
The first was an intensive month-long Quranic and educational programme in Madinah, attended by 16 students from the preparatory and secondary school levels. The second was an academic and cultural trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, involving 30 Qatari male and female university students from various institutions.
The two programmes were organised as part of the Bunyan Student Centre initiative, reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to providing educational experiences that extend beyond the classroom, contribute to students’ personal development, broaden their cultural and intellectual horizons, and strengthen their pride in their national identity and Islamic values.
The Madinah programme combined Quran memorisation, spiritual education and character development in the surroundings of the Prophet’s Mosque. Participants achieved 97% of their memorisation and revision targets, while five students obtained an ijazah (authorisation) with an uninterrupted chain of transmission in the Hafs recitation from Asim to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Three students also completed the memorisation of the entire Quran and fulfilled the requirements for receiving an ijazah.
A number of participants also memorised scholarly texts and received listening certificates from Sheikh Abdulmohsen Al-Qasim, Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet’s Mosque. These included works on supplications and etiquette, Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith, the conditions and pillars of prayer, Tuhfat Al-Atfal, Kitab Al-Tawhid, The Four Principles, Unwan Al-Hikam, and Al-Ilbiri’s Poem.
The students also studied Islamic sciences related to the Quran and Tajweed, including Al-Qa’idah Al-Madaniyyah. All participants received certification in the Madinah-style call to prayer (adhan) after undergoing theoretical and practical training on its performance according to the Madinah tradition.
The programme went beyond academic learning to include the study of the Prophet’s biography (Seerah), daily Quranic sessions at the Prophet’s Mosque, performing Umrah, and visits to Islamic and historical landmarks. It also featured skills-based, social and recreational activities, creating a balance between the participants’ spiritual, psychological and social development.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina trip provided students with direct exposure to diverse academic and cultural environments. They participated in the “Beyond East and West: Reimagining Eurasian Encounters” international conference, organised by the Islam and Muslims Initiative in cooperation with the University of Sarajevo, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, the Sarajevo School of Advanced Studies and the QatarDebate Centre.
The conference brought together academics, thinkers and researchers from around the world, along with young people from Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Palestine. Discussions focused on identity, coexistence, intercultural dialogue and their shared responsibility towards the future.
The programme also featured training workshops, cultural activities and field visits aimed at developing students’ leadership, communication and teamwork skills.
Participants also held meetings with a number of officials and academic and religious figures, including Sheikh Dr Hussein Kavazovic, Grand Mufti and Raisu-l-Ulama of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dr Ibrahim Al-Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; and Sheikh Mishal bin Ali Al Attiyah, Qatar’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The students visited several historical and cultural landmarks, including Srebrenica, where they learned about the painful events experienced by Muslims in the country. The visit served as a reminder of the importance of promoting the values of coexistence, justice and peace.
