Grand Mufti of India leads International Sahihul Al-Bukhari recitation in Malaysia

New Delhi, Nov 22: The International Sahihul Al-Bukhari recitation ceremony, organised by Malaysia’s Religious Affairs Ministry, concluded on Thursday at the Masjid Putra in Putrajaya, reinforcing its role as a key platform for promoting Islamic scholarship and heritage.

The 12-day event, inaugurated by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, brought together scholars, government officials, and students from across the globe. The ceremony celebrates Sahih al-Bukhari, the most authoritative collection of sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a cornerstone of Islamic jurisprudence and teachings.

Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the Grand Mufti of India, delivered the closing keynote, granting scholarly certifications (Ijazat) to participants. He also launched the first phase of Tadkeerul Qari, a monumental 20-volume commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari based on decades of study and teaching.

The annual gathering, which began last year, was first inaugurated by Sheikh Abubakr after he received Malaysia’s prestigious Ma’al Hijra Award for his contributions to Islamic scholarship. It has since become a symbolic event aimed at fostering international collaboration and preserving traditional Islamic studies.

This year’s ceremony was attended by 750 selected participants and supervised by Malaysia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Naeem bin Mukhtar. It aligns with the Malaysia Madani Policy, championed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to promote Islamic heritage and cultural understanding.

Sheikh Abubakr’s visit to Malaysia also included meetings with the prime minister and various cultural and social engagements. His presence highlights the continuing religious and cultural ties between India and Malaysia, rooted in centuries of shared history with Sahih al-Bukhari serving as a unifying symbol of Islamic learning and devotion.