Grand Mufti of Tanzania Visits UDSM, Urges Students to Uphold Education and Faith
By Dickens Dominic, CMU
The Grand Mufti of Tanzania, Sheikh Abubakary Zubeir bin Ally, has called on university students to value education while maintaining strong spiritual and moral foundations during a visit to the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), on Friday, 6th March, 2026.
During the visit, the Mufti toured the university mosque and later addressed Muslim Community following the Jumu’ah Prayer, encouraging them to pursue academic excellence while remaining steadfast in worship and good conduct.
Speaking to the congregation, Mufti Sheikh Abubakary Zubeir bin Ally emphasized that Islam strongly promotes the pursuit of knowledge and urged students to make full use of the rare opportunity of studying at a university.
“Students must remain committed to their studies while also strengthening their spiritual life and upholding good moral values”, he said.
The Mufti also highlighted the growing need to expand and improve the UDSM mosque to accommodate the increasing number of Muslim community on campus. He noted that the rising student population has significantly increased demand for prayer space.
In response, he pledged to prepare and submit an official letter to the university leadership seeking approval to initiate a collaborative process with various stakeholders aimed at expanding the mosque.
The importance of spiritual guidance for students
Upon his arrival at the university, the Mufti was warmly received by Dr. Mussa Hans, Tanzania Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam, who welcomed him on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye.
Welcoming the Grand Mufti to the university community, Dr. Hans expressed appreciation for the visit and emphasized the importance of spiritual guidance for students pursuing higher education.
“On behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. William Anangisye, and the entire University of Dar es Salaam community, we are honoured to receive the Grand Mufti at our university. His visit is both inspiring and timely, as it reminds our students of the importance of balancing academic excellence with strong moral and spiritual values”, said Dr. Hans.
The visit was warmly received by Muslim community, particularly students at the University of Dar es Salaam, many of whom described it as a source of inspiration that reinforced the importance of balancing academic pursuits with spiritual growth.