By Dr Abdul Rehman Jiskani
The Holy Quran is not merely a book to be recited; it is a comprehensive source of guidance, wisdom, moral values and principles for a meaningful human life. While recitation holds a central place in Islamic worship, understanding the Quran’s message, reflecting upon its teachings and applying its ethical principles are equally important dimensions of a Muslim’s intellectual and spiritual development.
In this context, the inclusion of Quran-understanding courses in higher education represents a commendable educational and religious initiative. It provides university students with an opportunity to connect professional knowledge with moral awareness and a deeper understanding of their faith.
HEC’s Initiative: Integrating Quranic Understanding into Higher Education
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has taken an important step towards promoting Quranic understanding by directing universities to incorporate two courses, Understanding of Holy Quran-I and Understanding of Holy Quran-II, into undergraduate and graduate degree programmes.
In a letter dated March 28, 2025, HEC advised recognised universities and degree-awarding institutions to include these courses, each carrying one credit hour (0–1), for Muslim students at the relevant undergraduate and graduate levels. The policy was intended to take effect from Fall 2025.
Safeguarding Girls of Religious Minorities
This initiative deserves appreciation because the purpose of education extends beyond professional qualifications and technical competence. Universities also have a responsibility to nurture individuals who demonstrate integrity, ethical awareness, social responsibility and respect for humanity.
Future doctors, engineers, teachers, business leaders, researchers and administrators can benefit from a meaningful understanding of the Quran’s teachings on justice, honesty, compassion, accountability and human dignity.
Parliamentary Efforts to Promote Quranic Education
The promotion of Quranic education has also received attention at the parliamentary level in Pakistan.
In April 2017, the National Assembly passed the Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Bill, 2017, concerning Quranic education for Muslim students in educational institutions within its specified federal scope.
In July 2020, the National Assembly adopted a resolution concerning arrangements for teaching the Holy Quran with Urdu translation. Subsequently, on January 16, 2023, the Senate of Pakistan passed Resolution No. 533, recommending compulsory Quranic teaching, including translation, tajweed and tafseer, in universities across academic disciplines, with an emphasis on learning rather than examination marks.
These developments demonstrate growing recognition of the importance of making Quranic education accessible to students in formal educational settings. Effective implementation, however, requires appropriate teaching materials, trained faculty and methods that enable students from diverse academic backgrounds to understand the Quran more easily.
Muallim-ul-Quran: Making Quranic Understanding More Accessible
One of the significant challenges in understanding the Holy Quran is the linguistic barrier faced by students with little or no formal knowledge of Arabic. Many university students pursue degrees in computer science, medicine, engineering, business administration and other disciplines without acquiring sufficient Arabic vocabulary to understand Quranic expressions independently.
The Muallim-ul-Quran course offers an educational approach intended to make this initial learning process more accessible. Particular emphasis is placed on Arabic words and linguistic connections that are familiar or widely used in Urdu. By connecting Quranic vocabulary with words students already recognise, the learning process can become more approachable and engaging.
This approach can help students develop an introductory understanding of Quranic vocabulary without requiring advanced proficiency in Arabic at the outset. It can also encourage a closer relationship with the Quran and motivate students to explore its message further.
Dr Ubaid ur Rehman Bashir deserves particular recognition for his role in the development and academic delivery of the Quran-understanding initiative.
According to HEC, Dr Bashir, an assistant professor at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, was attached to HEC for two years from May 14, 2025, to assist with workshops, training programmes and conferences related to the Understanding of Quran course. He also contributed to a faculty workshop on the course’s structure, content and teaching methodology in July 2025.
His contribution should be viewed within the broader national effort to provide university students with accessible and structured opportunities for Quranic learning. A complete assessment of the specific vocabulary selection and teaching framework of Muallim-ul-Quran, however, requires consultation of the original course material.
Quranic Understanding and the Intellectual Development of Young People
The Holy Quran emphasises truthfulness, justice, patience, compassion, trustworthiness, respect for human dignity and responsibility towards others. Understanding these values can help students appreciate the practical and ethical dimensions of religion and consider how these principles may guide their personal and professional lives.
The Quran asks:
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ
“Do they not reflect upon the Quran?”
— Surah An-Nisa, 4:82
This verse highlights the importance of reflection and thoughtful engagement with the Quran. Similarly, Surah Sad, 38:29, describes the Quran as a blessed Book revealed so that people may reflect upon its verses and take guidance from them.
Consequently, Quranic understanding should not be limited to memorising individual word meanings. It should also involve studying verses in context, consulting reliable translations and explanations, asking informed questions and considering how Quranic teachings can be applied responsibly in everyday life.
Introductory vocabulary courses can provide a valuable foundation, while deeper interpretation should be supported by qualified teachers and authentic scholarly resources.
A Religious Responsibility and an Educational Opportunity
The teaching and learning of the Holy Quran hold a distinguished place in Islamic tradition. In Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Virtues of the Quran, Hadith 5027, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated that the best among people are those who learn the Quran and teach it.
This teaching reminds us that promoting Quranic understanding is more than a curricular exercise. It is an opportunity to contribute to education, character development and religious awareness.
Universities should therefore ensure that Quran-understanding courses do not become merely a formal requirement for completing a degree. Instead, these courses should encourage genuine engagement, intellectual curiosity, ethical reflection and a desire to understand the Quran’s message.
Faculty development, accessible teaching resources and thoughtful classroom discussions are essential to achieving these objectives. Teaching methods should accommodate students from different academic disciplines and levels of prior knowledge, allowing them to participate meaningfully in the learning process.
Assessment should also support understanding rather than encourage rote memorisation alone. Students should be given opportunities to reflect on the text, develop familiarity with Quranic vocabulary and appreciate the importance of consulting reliable scholarly interpretations.
Conclusion
The HEC initiative to incorporate Quran-understanding courses into higher education, parliamentary efforts to promote Quranic education and accessible teaching resources such as Muallim-ul-Quran represent important developments in Pakistan’s educational landscape.
Dr Ubaid ur Rehman Bashir’s contribution to the academic and instructional implementation of the Understanding of Quran course is worthy of recognition. By helping make Quranic learning more approachable for university students, such efforts can contribute to a broader culture of knowledge, reflection and ethical awareness.
The ultimate objective should not simply be to complete a course or fulfil a degree requirement. It should be to encourage students to understand the Holy Quran, reflect upon its guidance and translate its moral principles into responsible personal conduct and professional practice.
When Quranic understanding becomes a meaningful part of higher education, it can help strengthen the connection between knowledge and character, intellectual achievement and ethical responsibility, and education and service to humanity.
