By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Lok Sabha MP from Manipur, Dr. Th. Meinya announced that he has earmarked a sum of Rs. 50 lakh for the construction of a community centre or Musafir Khana for the Muslims at a function organized at an Islamic seminary in Lilong.
The function, held on November 25, 2012, was organized to inaugurate the kitchen-cum-dinning hall complex of Darul Uloom Markaz at Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi. MP Dr. Th. Meinya, Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries Md. Abdul Nasir, Parliamentary Secretary for Minority and Other Backward Classes & Scheduled Castes (MOBC & SC), Science & Technology Md. Amin Shah, former Speaker Dr. Maneruddin Sheikh, Thoubal Zilla Parishad member Maulana Abdul Salam and Councilor of Lilong Nagar Panchayat Maulana Jainul Abidin attended the function.
Md. Amin Shah, Md. Abdul Nasir, Dr. Th. Mienya and Dr. Maneruddin Sheikh
The two-storey building of kitchen-cum-dinning hall was constructed at a cost of Rs. 13 lakh. MP Dr. Meinya had contributed Rs. 6.5 lakh from his MP’s Local Area Development Fund for constructing the building. The rest of the amount for the construction was managed by the madrasa.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Meinya declared that if the Muslim community could provide land he is ready to sanction Rs. 50 lakh from his MP’s Local Area Development Fund for the construction of a special guest house or Musafir Khana for the Muslims. He further said that he will request the Civil Aviation Ministry and other concerned authorities to make Imphal airport the embarking point for the Haj pilgrims from Manipur. This will do away with the difficulties that pilgrims from Manipur face while taking the flight for Jeddah from Guwahati Airport, he added.
Giving his speech, Minister Md. Abdul Nasir assured to improve the condition of the roads and other infrastructures in Lilong Assembly constituency. Lilong, which has the highest concentration of Muslims in the State, happens to be his constituency. He also said that he is planning to build a residential school shortly to promote education among the Muslims in his constituency. Construction of a Food and Civil Supply godown and installing a power sub-station in the constituency are also on the pipeline, he added. He donated Rs. 1 lakh to the madrasa.
In his speech, Parliamentary Secretary Md. Amin Shah said that the madrasas in the State should strive to improve the quality of dini-talim given in their madrasas. Madrasas of this State should attract students from outside the State. MOBC department, under the madrasa modernization scheme, is planning to build two-room set maktabs in the masjids of Manipur, he added. He also donated Rs. 1 lakh to the madrasa.
Darul-Uloom Markaz was established taking the model of Darul-uloom Deoband. Today it is the biggest madrasa in the state. The foundation stone of the madrasa was laid by the Saikul-Hind Hadith of Darul-Uloom Baskandi of Assam on December 12, 1980.
This 31 year old madrasa offers Fazil or Aimiyat and Hafizia (memorization of holy Quran) courses. So far, it has produced 37 Alims and 150 Hafiz. At present the madrasa has 8 branches and more than 1000 students. There are more than 400 students residing in the hostel of the seminary. Around 650 boys and girls are day-borders. The madrasa has 71 teaching and non-teaching staff.
Darul-Uloom Markaz
Darul Uloom Markaz follows the Dars-i-Nizami syllabus and Deobandi curriculum. The syllabus of the madrasa includes study of the Quran (articulation, phonetics and memorisation) and Hadith (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), Quranic Commentary (Tafsir), Islamic law (Fiqh), Logic (Mantiq), History (Tarikh), among others. Urdu, Arabic, Persian and Manipuri languages and grammar are also part of the syllabus till Standard V. The madrasa offers general subjects like English, Mathematics, Science and even Geography. Urdu and Manipuri are the main mediums for instruction.
The madrasa is also the markaz for Tabliqhi Jamaat in Manipur. The madrasa also publish Islamic books regularly. The Darul Ifta of this madrasa gives fatwa or Islamic judgment. The madrasa has also a masjid, library, playground and a book-store. The madrasa also organize Islamic lecture and cultural programmes. The madrasa organize naat, kirat, khutbah, bayan and Quran recitation competition for the madrasa students of the State regularly. It also engages in relief and other welfare activities for the community. The madrasa is managed by khairat and imdaad or donations and contributions from the Muslims.