Republic of Somaliland has launched an ambitious new initiative to record the complete Holy Qur’an in the voices of the country’s leading Qur’anic reciters and scholars, marking what officials describe as a historic step in preserving religious heritage and expanding the role of national media in serving the community.
The project was officially launched by the Minister of Information, Culture and National Guidance, Hon. Barkhad Jama Batuun, and includes a new Holy Qur’an Recording Museum as part of an expanded broadcasting framework for the Holy Qur’an Radio.
The initiative follows President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro’s July 28 launch of the Somaliland Qur’anic Reciters Selection, Holy Qur’an Recording and Printing initiative.
Minister Barkhad Jama Batuun has played a leading role in advancing the project in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments. The initiative reflects the government’s stated commitment to promoting the Holy Qur’an and using national media to strengthen religious education, cultural values and public awareness.
“This is an ambition I have personally hoped for over a long period of time, to see it eventually implemented,” Minister Barkhad said, thanking President Irro and his government for supporting policies aimed at promoting the Book of Allah.
He also praised Radio Hargeisa and the leadership of Holy Qur’an Radio for taking responsibility for the recordings, while expressing appreciation to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments.
“We want to make the country a Baladul-Qur’an,” he said.
The project is designed not only to broadcast Qur’anic recitations but also to create a permanent audio and visual archive preserving the voices and recitation styles of Somaliland’s Qur’anic scholars and reciters for future generations.
Officials say the archive will provide an important platform for talented Qur’anic reciters to contribute their knowledge and abilities to society while giving young people greater access to high-quality Qur’anic recitations.
Scholars to Select Reciters
The Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Sheikh Abdillahi Dahir Jama, said his ministry had established a committee of scholars tasked with selecting the reciters and scholars who will participate in the recording of the complete Qur’an.
“The government has decided to provide an opportunity for our scholars to record the complete Qur’an. As the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, we have appointed a committee of scholars that will select those who will record the Holy Qur’an,” Sheikh Abdillahi said.
The committee will be responsible for assessing and selecting qualified reciters, helping ensure that the recordings meet the required standards of accuracy, quality and Qur’anic scholarship.
A Legacy for Future Generations
Somaliland scholars have welcomed the initiative, describing the Qur’an Museum as a potentially powerful source of inspiration for young people studying, memorizing and reciting the Holy Qur’an.
They said preserving the voices of the country’s leading reciters could encourage a new generation to deepen its engagement with Qur’anic education and pursue higher standards in memorization and recitation.
The Ministry of Information will oversee key aspects of the project, including recording, technical production, archiving and broadcasting, while the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments will contribute religious and scholarly oversight.
The initiative ultimately seeks to bring together faith, culture, education and modern broadcasting technology, creating a national religious archive that officials hope will serve Somalilanders today and generations to come.
With the launch of the Qur’an Recording Museum and the recording of the complete Holy Qur’an by Somaliland’s Qur’anic scholars, the government is positioning the national media sector not only as a source of information and entertainment, but also as a platform for preserving and transmitting the country’s religious heritage.