Sheikh Ismail Mohamed has been awarded the first honorary doctorate ever conferred by a higher education institution in the Maldives.

The honorary doctorate was awarded by the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) in recognition of his over five decades of service to Islamic scholarship.

The degree was formally conferred by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu during IUM’s graduation ceremony, held on Saturday.

Sheikh Ismail Mohamed is widely respected for his contributions to Islamic scholarship and was the first Maldivian student to study at the Islamic University of Madinah. Over the course of his career, he has authored 40 books, served as a judge, and played a significant role in the promotion of religious education in the Maldives.

This year’s convocation ceremony of the Islamic University of Maldives was conducted over multiple sessions. A total of 980 students graduated this year. The university currently offers 101 academic programmes, ranging from certificate-level qualifications to PhD degrees, reflecting its growing role in higher education in the Maldives.