NIBONG TEBAL, 14 June 2025 – The Festival Musabaqah Al-Quran (FMQ) 2025, held at the Engineering Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), not only served as a platform for discovering talent in Quranic arts, but also strengthened student unity in embodying Islamic values aligned with the development of an Insan MADANI.

This year’s edition saw participation from all USM residential colleges (desasiswa), encompassing the Main Campus, Engineering Campus, and Health Campus, through five key events, Tilawah Al-Quran, Hafazan, Religious Oratory, Calligraphy, and Azan.

Desasiswa Jaya Lembaran Utama acted as the host for this edition, carrying the theme "Sinar Kalamullah, Teras Insan MADANI", which signifies the profound appreciation of the Quran as a guiding principle for the development of a balanced Muslim identity spiritually, morally, and intellectually.

The closing ceremony of FMQ 2025 was officiated by the School of Mechanical Engineering Dean, Associate Professor Dr. Abdullah Aziz Saat, who represented the Engineering Campus Director.

In his speech, he emphasised that the active involvement of students in knowledge-based and spiritually oriented programmes like FMQ reflects the exemplary character of youth shaped by the Quran.

“The FMQ programme plays a crucial role in shaping students’ personalities, ensuring they continuously turn to the Quran as a reference for achieving success in both this world and the hereafter,” he said.

“The culture of healthy competition fostered in this programme also helps cultivate confident and open-minded students who are capable of facing various challenges,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Penggawa of Desasiswa Jaya Lembaran Utama, Hasliza Mat Saad, who also represented the Majlis Penggawa USM Chairman, described FMQ as a platform for uniting USM students from various backgrounds in an environment of knowledge and harmonious brotherhood.

“Initiatives like this not only elevate the spirit of Islam but also nurture the love for the Quran among the USM community. It further strengthens the values of good character and the identity of students as Insan MADANI,” she remarked.

She also extended her appreciation to the entire team at Desasiswa Jaya Lembaran Utama, the Majlis Penghuni Desasiswa JLU (MPDJLU) as the main organisers, the Pusat Islam of the Engineering Campus as a collaborative partner, and the FMQ 2025 secretariat, which comprises representatives from all USM residential colleges.

According to her, the programme is not just a competition, but a platform for fostering a deeper understanding of the Quran in the daily lives of students and developing a generation of individuals who are morally upright, knowledgeable, and competitive in line with Islamic values.

FMQ 2025 was fully organised by the Majlis Yang Dipertua (MYDP) Desasiswa USM in collaboration with the Majlis Penggawa USM and the Pusat Islam of the Engineering Campus.

The programme took place in two phases, starting with the preliminary rounds and culminating in the final competition held on 13 and 14 June 2025, at the Pusat Islam of the USM Engineering Campus.

Text: Azriq Rashid Hussin (Yang Dipertua MPDJLU)/ Editing: Hasliza Mat Saad, Nur Edrayana Ezzaty Muhammad Kamal & Shariff Hakim Abdullah/ Photo: Courtesy of the Multimedia & Publicity Department FMQ 2025