The Supreme Court on Friday announced that 154 out of 628 examinees passed the 2025 Sharia Special Bar Examinations, a 24.48% passing rate.

The new Sharia Counselors at Law will take their oath on August 6 at Manila Hotel in a historic ceremony using a newly approved oath specifically crafted for Islamic legal practitioners.

Associate Justice Antonio T. Kho Jr., chairman of this year’s Sharia Bar exams, revealed the results during a formal announcement at the Supreme Court session hall.

The 2025 examinations featured several firsts, including being held simultaneously across four regional testing centers nationwide — University of the Philippines-Diliman, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

The Court introduced reforms to improve accessibility, including financial assistance of up to P80,000 for qualified applicants from the Middle East and reduced fees of P2,000 for indigent examinees. For the first time, candidates could answer in English or Arabic, with specialized translation software ensuring accurate evaluation of Arabic responses.

Emphasizing inclusivity, Justice Kho said, “the Sharia Bar represents our dedication to ensuring our justice system respects and accommodates the diverse legal traditions of Filipino Muslims.”

Successful examinees must complete clearance procedures from July 28 to 30 before the oath-taking.

This year’s administration builds on reforms under the Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (2022-2027), which aims to modernize legal education and improve access to Sharia law practice. The 2024 exams had a 21.45% passing rate, with 183 out of 853 passing.

The full list of successful examinees is available on the Supreme Court’s official website and Public Information Office. Court officials urged new Sharia lawyers to uphold the highest standards while serving their communities.