Rector Özölçer Attends the Qur’an Memorization (Hafiz) Graduation Ceremony and Shares the Joy of Young Hafiz Students

Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer attended the “Hafiz Graduation Ceremony” organized in cooperation with the Governorship of Zonguldak, the Zonguldak Provincial Directorate of Religious Affairs, and the Turkish Diyanet Foundation at Uzun Mehmet Mosque.

The program held at Uzun Mehmet Mosque was attended by Deputy President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmet İshak Demir, Governor of Zonguldak Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu, Chief Qur’an Reciter (Reîsülkurrâ) Mustafa Demirkan, Zonguldak Chief Public Prosecutor Gökhan Kapağan, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Theology Prof. Dr. Murat Akın, Zonguldak Provincial Mufti İbrahim Halil Demir, members of the provincial protocol, students who successfully completed their hafiz education, their families, and a large number of citizens.

The program, which began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, featured a speech by Deputy President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmet İshak Demir, who stated that approximately 15,000 people receive hafiz certification each year in Türkiye, emphasizing that young people who memorize the Holy Qur’an play an important role in preserving and transmitting religious and cultural heritage to future generations.

Governor Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu congratulated the students who completed their hafiz education, as well as their teachers and families, highlighting the importance of hafiz education in the spiritual life of the nation.

Zonguldak Provincial Mufti İbrahim Halil Demir also noted that hafiz education activities continue to increase across the province, stating that 42 female students the day before and 35 male students on the day of the program were entitled to receive hafiz certification.

Rector Özölçer: “Our Hafiz Students Are the Strongest Guarantee of Our Nation’s Spiritual Future”

In his evaluation of the program, Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated:

“I am deeply pleased to share in the joy of our children who have reached the distinguished level of hafiz by engraving the Holy Qur’an into their hearts and minds. Hafiz education is not only about having a strong memory; it is also about placing patience, perseverance, discipline, and good morals at the center of life. Generations raised with the Qur’an are among the most valuable treasures of our nation’s spiritual life.

I firmly believe that our young hafiz students who received their certificates today will adopt honesty, compassion, justice, and wisdom as guiding principles in their lives, regardless of the professions they will pursue in the future. I sincerely congratulate our esteemed teachers who contributed to this meaningful achievement, our devoted families, and all institutions supporting hafiz education. Every teacher and student striving to preserve the Holy Qur’an is making one of the most valuable investments in the future of our nation. May Almighty Allah bless the knowledge, wisdom, and service of our hafiz students.”