Shari’ah Bar goes digital — and Arabic

For the first time in the history of the Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations (SSBE), examinees were able to type their answers directly in Arabic — marking a major step forward in making the exams more accessible and inclusive for aspiring Shari’ah lawyers.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) celebrated this milestone, extending its congratulations to the 154 passers of the 2025 SSBE and welcoming them into the legal profession.

“Your achievement marks a significant milestone, not only in your legal journey, but also in advancing access to justice and strengthening the Shari’ah justice system in our country,” the IBP said in a statement, lauding the successful candidates.

This year’s SSBE, chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Kho Jr., introduced several digital innovations aimed at improving both access and fairness. The examinations were fully digital for the first time and featured the use of Arabic keyboards — allowing examinees to express their answers directly in Arabic, a language central to the practice of Islamic law.

To complement this, translation software was employed to convert English questions into Arabic and Arabic answers back into English, with human translators on hand to ensure accuracy and preserve context.

The Supreme Court on Friday announced the results of the two-day exam, held simultaneously at four local testing centers: UP Diliman in Quezon City, Mindanao State University — Iligan Institute of Technology, Ateneo de Davao University, and Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Out of 628 examinees, 154 passed, posting a passing rate of 24.48 percent.

The IBP urged the new Shari’ah lawyers to carry the values of justice, integrity and compassion in their practice — especially as they serve communities that rely on the Shari’ah justice system in regions like Muslim Mindanao.

The Shari’ah Special Bar is a specialized licensure exam for lawyers who wish to practice Islamic law in the Philippines. With this year’s reforms and technological integration, it sets a new precedent for culturally responsive and inclusive legal certification.

The successful passers are set to take their oath and sign the Roll of Attorneys in the coming weeks.