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Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
Media releases

MUIS strengthens leadership pipeline for Singapore's asatizah

20 July 2026

New Religious Leadership Development Programme launched alongside scholarships to strengthen Singapore’s next generation of religious leaders.

  1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has introduced the Religious Leadership Development Programme (RLDP), a new talent development programme designed to strengthen the leadership capabilities of asatizah in Singapore. The programme was announced by Mufti Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir at the annual Syed Isa Semait Scholarship (SISS) and MUIS Scholarship (MS) Award Ceremony.

  2. The RLDP supports the continued development of asatizah beyond their formal education. Today’s religious leaders navigate an increasingly complex world marked with geopolitical shifts, rapid technological change, and the accelerating spread of information. These forces transform how communities live, connect and seek meaning. The RLDP builds on MUIS’s broader efforts to develop a steady pipeline of religious leaders to serve the evolving needs of the community, from supporting promising madrasah graduates through undergraduate scholarships and developing the upcoming Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS), to preparing experienced asatizah to assume greater leadership responsibilities.

Religious Leadership Development Programme (RLDP)

  1. The RLDP is a fully funded programme open to Tier 11 asatizah recognised under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) who are keen to develop themselves and deepen their contributions within Singapore’s religious sector. Asatizah selected for RLDP will attend modules such as (i) Governance of Muslim Affairs in Singapore, (ii) Leadership and Community Engagement, and (iii) Advancing Religious Thought in Singapore, building on the foundation laid in the Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies (PCICS) programme2.

  2. Participants will engage with senior asatizah, policymakers and community leaders through leadership dialogues, fireside chats and roundtable discussions, and analyse real-world case studies on issues affecting Singapore's religious sector and the Muslim community. The programme aims to deepen participants’ understanding of Singapore’s unique multicultural and multireligious context, while strengthening their community engagement capabilities needed to work effectively with diverse stakeholders. Applications will open from 20 July through the MUIS website - with successful applicants starting the programme in October 2026. Refer to Annex A [PDF, 233.52 KB] for more details of the RLDP.

Syed Isa Semait Scholarship (SISS)

  1. The SISS supports exceptional madrasah graduates in pursuing undergraduate studies, with the aim of developing future leaders for key Islamic institutions such as MUIS, the Syariah Court and Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM). The scholarship provides funding of up to $240,000 with a six-year bond commitment. Since 2022, MUIS has awarded the SISS to a total of 11 recipients.

  2. This year, MUIS is awarding the SISS to three new recipients: Ms Nor’Aqilah Marsya Binte Muhammad Syafie, Mr Ahmad Eimran Darwisy Bin Mohammed Suhaimi and Ms Sumayyah Binte Jumadi in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and leadership potential.  

MUIS Scholarship (MS)

  1. The MS, introduced in 2025, creates a dedicated pathway for madrasah graduates to assume leadership positions in community institutions such as mosques and madrasahs. It provides funding of up to $120,000 with a three-year bond commitment and complements the SISS by developing leaders across a broader range of sectors in service of the community.

  2. Last year, four individuals received the MS. This year, two more individuals are the proud recipients of the scholarship. They are Ms Qurratu Aini Binte Mohamadali and Ms Hannah Yusra Binte Rashid - selected based on their academic excellence, and commitment to serve the community. Refer to Annex B [PDF, 293.83 KB] for the profiles of the 2026 SISS and MS recipients.

  3. Together, the RLDP, SISS, and MS reflect MUIS's long-term commitment to developing trusted, forward-looking religious leaders who are rooted in Islamic scholarship, deeply attuned to the context of our diverse society and committed to the well-being of the wider community. In nurturing these leaders, MUIS reaffirms its belief that a confident, resilient, and empowered Muslim community begins with those who are called to guide it.

1 The mandatory ARS was implemented in 2017 with two tiers. Tier 1 asatizah refer to Islamic teachers who hold a degree in Islamic Studies and are competent in the Arabic Language. Tier 2 asatizah refer to Quranic teachers who possess a certificate or diploma in Quranic teaching.

2 The PCICS was introduced in 2020 as a pre-requisite programme for asatizah returning from their undergraduate studies, prior to receiving the ARS Tier 1 certification.

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