Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed confidence that tahfiz education in the state can produce huffaz who will become experts and leaders in strategic fields like medicine, engineering, technology, artificial intelligence, and economics [1, 2]. Speaking at the 2026 Pahang State Maahad Tahfiz Excellence Award ceremony held on June 15, the Sultan highlighted the importance of grounding students in religious values, noble character, and high integrity while excelling professionally. "With a strong Quranic foundation, they can emerge as future leaders who not only excel professionally, but are also grounded in religious values, possess noble character and uphold high integrity," he said [1].
At the ceremony, 48 tahfiz students were awarded for their excellence in academics, Quran memorisation, and co-curricular activities, showcasing the success of the state's tahfiz education sector [1, 2]. The Sultan reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to raising Quranic studies at all education levels to nurture scholars, professionals, and leaders inspired by Quranic principles for the benefit of religion and nation [1, 2].
Pahang’s tahfiz schools have achieved strong academic results. In the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Pahang State Maahad Tahfiz and Pahang State Turath Maahad Tahfiz ranked among the top three schools nationwide, a testament to their rigorous curriculum and the dedication of students and educators [1, 2].
The recent establishment of Universiti Al-Quran Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah Pahang (UNIQSAAS) represents a major milestone. It provides a comprehensive pathway for huffaz to pursue higher education and strengthens the Islamic education ecosystem in the state. The Sultan described this as a key step toward making Pahang a leader in tahfiz and Quranic studies across Malaysia, stating, "My aspiration to make the Tahfiz Institute a leading tahfiz education institution in Malaysia has become a reality" and "I believe this effort will strengthen the Islamic education ecosystem in Pahang and position the state as a leader in tahfiz and Quranic studies in Malaysia" [1, 2].
The awards ceremony on June 15 was the latest event highlighting the state’s ongoing efforts to elevate Quranic education and support talented tahfiz students to contribute to Malaysia’s future in multiple professional sectors [1, 2].
