Year: 2008

Led the establishment of the Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Maldives in 2008, creating a national scholarly institution dedicated to providing authoritative Islamic jurisprudential guidance on contemporary issues affecting Maldivian society. The Academy was established as a central scholarly body composed of qualified Islamic scholars specializing in diverse fields of Islamic jurisprudence. The Academy was mandated to serve as a national authority for issuing fatwas and providing religious and legal opinions to the Government of the Maldives, state institutions, and the general public, particularly on emerging fiqh issues, including family law, taxation, social ethics, financial transactions, and complex contemporary issues requiring Islamic legal analysis. As of 2026, the Islamic Fiqh Academy has contributed to strengthening public access to authoritative Islamic rulings through the publication of three official booklets compiling fatwas issued and have been made publicly accessible through the Council’s official website, enhancing transparency, scholarly accessibility, and public understanding of Islamic legal guidance in the Maldives.

Bank Operationalized Date: 07^th March 2011

Contributed to the advancement of Islamic finance in the Maldives through his engagement in the establishment and development of Maldives Islamic Bank PLC (MIB), which commenced operations on 07^th March 2011 as the country’s first and only fully-fledged Shariah-compliant banking institution. The establishment of MIB marked a major milestone in the development of Islamic financial infrastructure in the Maldives, providing Shariah-compliant financial services that enable individuals and businesses to conduct financial transactions in accordance with Islamic ethical and legal principles. The bank introduced a range of Islamic financial products and services based on recognized Shariah contracts such as Murabaha, Ijara, Musharakah, and other Shariah-compliant financing mechanisms. Dr. Shaheem supported institutional capacity-building efforts and strategic development initiatives aimed at strengthening the operational and governance framework of Islamic finance in the country.