Saudi Gazette

CALICUT — Islahiya College Chennamangallur has been playing a significant role in the socio-cultural and educational progress of Muslims in the south Indian state of Kerala over the past 65 years, producing highly capable and knowledgeable scholars proficient in religious as well as material subjects.

Vice Chancellor of Calicut University Dr. K. Mohammed Basheer emphasized the commendable role being played by Islahiya College and its sister institutions in imparting much-needed moral education to students.

“Such an education is essential in modern times when students are unaware of their social commitment and their moral duty to uphold truth and justice,” Basheer said after unveiling the logo of Islahiya College Chennamangallur Old Students Association (ICCOSA) during a function at Asma Tower in Calicut.

He also announced the date (Jan. 27, 2018) to hold ICCOSA’s first largescale gathering with the participation all Alumni members of Islahiya College.

“Islam stands for justice. Even its fundamental principle of Thouheed or monotheism is based on justice as God alone deserves worship and prayers,” the vice chancellor said in his keynote speech. “I am happy to learn Islahiya institutions and students stand for truth and justice. This is the need of the hour,” he added.

Basheer called upon students and parents to confront moral degradation by setting good examples through their lives. “The decrease in such examples obstructs the realization of the prime objectives of education,” he said, adding that education should promote warm and harmonious human relations.

O. Abdurrahman, president of Islahiya Association and group editor of Madhyamam and Mediaone, presided over the function. He said Islahiya’s Vision 2040 aims to overhaul the Islamic education system incorporating global best practices.

Five new institutes will be established under the vision: Institute of Theology and Ethics, Institute of International Languages, Institute of Business & Management, Institute of Law & Journalism and Institute of Sport Sciences. The vision and its projects will be unveiled during the Alumni summit.

The beautiful blending of arts and Islamic subjects makes the courses at Islahiya attractive and impressive. “Islahiya is proud of its contributions in enhancing the quality of religious education in Kerala over the past decades,” the president said.

He highlighted the association’s bold educational experiments including introduction of Islamic education for Muslim women. “Molding a socially committed vibrant generation is our first and foremost objective,” said Abdurrahman, who is also a member of the over 5,000-strong Islahiya Alumni.

The president highlighted the association’s endeavors to impart Islamic education to the young generation. “Our organization has been successful in experimenting novel educational programs such as the Arts and Islamics Course (AIC). We were the first to introduce women’s Islamic education by setting up Madrassathul Banath,” he told Saudi Gazette.

The AIC, which was the brainchild of K.C. Abdullah Moulavi — a reformer and former president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Kerala, was the first such program in India. Many other educational institutions have later introduced this program that enabled graduates to present Islam in the language of modern era. AIC students appear for Calicut University exams to obtain degrees in Economics, Commerce and English language.

During the past 60 years, more than 5,000 graduates have passed out from Islahiya College and these graduates have been making key contributions in various vistas of life in India and abroad. Many of them work in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The college has produced a large number of teachers, managers, advocates, politicians and media persons.

Abdurrahman, a prominent media person, expressed his optimism about ICCOSA and its Jan. 27 meet that would bring together graduates of Islahiya College and its sister institutions. “We believe that the Alumni meet would be a landmark event in the whole history of Islahiya Association,” he added.

Professor K.P. Kamaluddin, former principal of Islahiya, spoke highly about the college and its achievements. M.P. Shaijal, the munsif magistrate in Palakkad and an Alumni member, decried the deterioration of moral values among the educated community. “I have seen ordinary laborers showing better human qualities than some of our engineers and doctors. This is a big challenge for our education system,” he added.

Ever since its inception, the Islahiya Group of institutions has been endeavoring relentlessly to reach out to the society. “The academic ambience at Islahiya encourages students to acquire new skills and knowledge and develop their overall personality,” said Principal O. Safarullah, also an Alumni member.

The principal highlighted the college’s objectives. “We want to empower students in order to face challenges of the times, intellectually and rationally. Women empowerment in social, cultural and political spheres is another major objective,” he said while speaking to Saudi Gazette.

Islahiya seeks to produce a new class of students who will strive for the realization of a society having compassion, mutual respect and tolerance as its hallmarks, said Safarullah. “We provide Islamic education with a modern perspective enabling students to address contemporary issues with confidence,” he added.

Dr. Shaheed Ramzan, general secretary of ICCOSA, spoke about his organization’s plan to strengthen Islahiya making use of the Alumni members’ academic, managerial and financial capabilities and their expertise in various fields. “We expect the support of all ICCOSA members to take our Alma Mater to greater heights of progress and prosperity.”