Guyana’s Sunni Muslim School, Madrasa Nooranie, has formalised plans for the establishment of a branch of the Markaz Al Ihsaan Theological Institute of Higher Islamic Education of Trinidad and Tobago to be based at the famed Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC).
The Madrasa Nooranie was established in September 2003 at the ACIC. The deal was confirmed by principal of the institute, maulana Dr Waffie Mohamed when he visited Guyana earlier this month.
Markaz Al Ihsaan was established in 2000 as a theological institute to provide quality higher Islamic education from the fundamentals of Islam to the tertiary level. It also offers courses in some of the specialised areas of Islamic knowledge. It is committed to the dissemination of Islamic knowledge and in assisting in the cultivation of a refined life for every individual, based on Quranic guidance and on the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
True Islam
Its courses are designed to help individuals to know, practice and preach true Islam. Markaz al Ihsaan recognises that many Muslim leaders, preachers and teachers do not have this kind of outlook of life; as a result, it has developed a band of competent, qualified teachers to carry out this mission in order to be able to pass on the legacy of Islam at any level in the society.
It offers three levels: a certificate programme (a one-year course designed to make the participants aware of all that is required to be an enlightened practising Muslim), a diploma programme (a one-year course opened to students who have successfully completed the certificate programme and prepare the participants to be able to present Islam at a national, meaningful and learned way to believers and non-believers alike) and an alim programme (a three-year course, which enables the participants to become qualified in Islamic theology, (aalim).
In the areas of specialised subjects on contemporary issues, Markaz al Ihsaan offers special subjects to each student, such as comparative religion, public speaking, Islamic sociology, Quranic psychology, Quranic philosophy, leadership course and religious sects in Islam.
Madrassa Nooranie was established under the tutorship of the late Pakistani Muslim scholar Maulana Hafiz Noorul Hadi Haleem, and is operated by the ACIC, in association with The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman.
It was declared open in 2003 by then President Bharrat Jagdeo. The Guyana Branch of the Markaz will offer the programmes in two semesters, each consisting of four weeks (once per month for four months).
Teachers from Trinidad and Tobago will travel to Guyana to conduct the classes. Students must meet the admission age and other requirements and only 25 persons will be trained at one time.
All course material, books etcetera will be provided free of charge by the Markaz. Principal of Madrasa Nooranie, Pakistani maulana/ qari Muhammad Mujahid, now based at the ACIC, will also be one of the teachers on the panel.
