By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net,
This is something that I will be questioned by Allah on the Day of Judgement, says Dr Muhammed Shaheer about his election as the new General Secretary of the Mujahid Students’ Movement, the students’ wing of the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen. There is a lot to do. There are a lot of responsibilities upon me now, says he, a dentist by profession, while sharing his thoughts and explaining the functioning of the organisation with Najiya O. of TwoCircles.net.
Can you please introduce the MSM?
The Mujahid Students’ Movement is the students’ wing of the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM). Earlier, the students’ wing of the organisation had worked as part of the Ittihadu Shubbanil Mujahideen (ISM), the youth wing of the KNM. The organisation realized the need for a separate students’ wing and thus the MSM was formed in the 1970s. As you know, the MSM is a part of the KNM which follows sunnath and hadees like the Salafis worldwide. The organisation is against many practices followed by the traditional organisations in the community.
Dr.MuhammedShaheer, General Secretary
How does the organisation function?
The MSM works on two levels – one is the campus and the other local level. The organisation has a secretariat, working committee and state council, in the order of hierarchy. The area of functioning in the state is divided into 16 districts. (There are only 14 districts in the state of Kerala. But the activities in the districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode are carried out dividing each into two districts. This is done for the sake of convenience owing to the strength of the organisation in these districts.) There are areas (meghala) under each district and units (shakha) under each area. The organisation has about 700 units in the state. This is the local level.
In the campus level, each campus has a unit, mainly in the Malabar area. The units in campuses come under the district committee. The state campus executive controls the activities in the campuses. The campus level has different wings like the professional wing, arts and science wing, etc.
What are the activities of the MSM?
In the campus level we hold a weekly meeting in which a Qur’an study class is held along with some discussions on general and religious topics. We hold a discussion on a public topic every month.
We organise meets of students like the Professional Students’ Conference (‘ProfCon’), Medical Students’ Conference, Technical Students’ Conference, Arabic Students’ Conference and a meet for the students of arts and science colleges (‘Signs’) annually. ‘Signs’ began only two years ago. These are organised to give awareness to the students about Islamic life, teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the like. We hold a programme called ‘Meet the Scholar’ in professional colleges once in two months. It mainly to help the students in a detailed study of Islamic life. Boys and girls attend the programme which normally begins on a Friday evening and ends on Sunday evening. Last year we began a new programme ‘Illumina’ in the Calicut Medical College. It was a three-day camp for those who have completed their first year MBBS in the Calicut University.
We organise religious school for students who have completed 10th standard and 12th standard in the vacation time. A ten-day religious school is held every vacation for boys who have completed 10th standard. A five-day camp called ‘vision’ is organised for both boys and girls.
The MSM also has a programme called ‘Continuing Religious Education’ under which various activities are held. They are
1. ‘Iqra’ Padasala’ – two hours of religious education is provided to students who don’t get it from schools, once in two weeks.
2. ‘Ask the Scholar’ – a website programme in which students can ask their doubts and eminent scholars will answer them.
3. ‘All Kerala Qur’an Learning Exam’ is held every Ramadan. A lot of people write the exam all over the state. The first round is of multiple-answer questions. Those who get 80% marks and above are selected to the second round which has a descriptive type exam. Awards are given to those who secure the first, second and third ranks.
4. ‘Qur’an Padana Shibiram’ – the syllabus of the All Kerala Qur’an Learning Exam is taught in this programme.
5. ‘Ahlan Ya Ramadan’ – this is a poster exhibition welcoming Ramadan, and it focuses mainly on the Holy Qur’an.
The Qur’an study classes held in campuses and the vacation camps for students also come under this ‘Continuing Religious Education’ programme.
Can you tell us about the welfare activities carried out by the organisation?
The MSM has a ‘Students’ Welfare Wing’ which distributes scholarships to about 120 students a year. We distribute school kits to poor students at the beginning of every academic year. If we cannot provide school kits, we give the money to buy the necessary items. A school kit comprises of notebooks, uniform and such other items necessary for education. The organisation runs a councelling centre named ‘Santhwanam’ (meaning consolation) which students can approach any time with any problem, and especially during the time of exams. We also provide career guidance councelling as well as exam-oriented coaching for the major tests like the UPSC, Medical/Engineering Entrance, etc.
What are the achievements of the organisation?
Our achievements are mainly our activities and the participation of students in them. We are happy if our programmes help people set the path of their life. The ‘Creative Forum’ of the organisation is a great achievement. It has got three wings – Writers’ Wing, Speakers’ Wing and IT Wing. The Writers’ Wing provides training in writing well. It encourages the students who have a flair for writing. The Speakers’ Wing trains students to become a good orator. It gives training for speaking at Jumua qutba also. The IT Wing literally runs the website of the MSM. The very functioning of these creative wings is a great achievement especially since they have contributed much to the community.
As a new face to lead the organisation, do you have any novel plans to carry out?
To carry out the existing programmes in the best possible way is my wish. While other organisations have full-time activists, the MSM doesn’t have so. We study or work and carry out activities of the organisation too along with. However, we are planning to organise a campaign against immorality in November-December, focusing mainly on campuses.
So what is the message that the new leader of the MSM has to give to the Muslim community of the country?
My message is the message of the organisation – ‘Intellect, thought and submission’.
Link: http://msmkerala.co.in/
(The organization elected its office bearers on 13th July. CM Sabir Navas has been elected the new President and EK Bareer Aslam the treasurer of the Mujahid Students’ Movement. Other office-bearers are Thajudheen Salahi, Jasir Sabri Umar and MK Irfan (vice-presidents), C Muhammed Rafi, PU Suhail and Anfas Mukram (secretaries) and TK Favas and Adil Atheef (members of Secretariat – Editor).