Islam in Guyana
Encyclopedia
About 7.2 percent of Guyana
's population is Muslim
, representing 54,050 individuals, many of whom are descended from indentured labourers from India
.
The largest Islamic organization in the country is the Guyana Islamic Trust.
Until the 1970s, Muslim holidays were not officially recognized. A number of non-Christian
religious days are now public holidays. Muslim holidays
include Eid al Fitr
, the end of Ramadan
, the sacred month of fasting; Id al Adha, the feast of sacrifice; and Mawlid
, the birthday of Muhammad
. The dates for these holidays vary according to the Islamic calendar
.
The GIT has dedicated itself to the process of bringing about intellectual, moral and spiritual improvement to individuals, families and communities in Guyana.
Our fundamental approach is education, since ignorance is the root cause of the intolerance, racism, immorality and criminality that pervades our society and our world. Our belief that Islam holds the perfect solutions to man kind's woes is demonstrated in our of program of Da'wah, to bring Allah's message to each and every Guyanese.
The Guyana Islamic Trust manages its grass root work through fourteen Administrative Districts. Some of the areas of operations of the districts include:
Since its establishment in 1986, scores of students from Guyana and the Caribbean have graduated from a wide range of courses including Arabic Language, Qur'anic Sciences and Islamic Studies. Many of these graduates have since become Shuyukh, Imaams and Du'at and today are serving the Ummah in Guyana, the Caribbean, North America and other parts of the world.
The GII will continue to orient and equip its students to be Du'at in their respective communities, and for further studies at higher institutions of learning; will inculcate in them a sound exposition, understanding and knowledge of the Islamic concepts of life, death and the Hereafter; will imbue in them mannerisms, attitudes and social graces which will encourage Muslims to improve themselves and will invite Non-Muslims to Islam; will enhance the true understanding of Islam based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; will offer the resources and training opportunities for Muslims to improve their understanding and practice of Islam.
Programs offered
The GII concurrently offers two one year residential programs: one for secondary school graduates and the other being an advanced course for students completing the initial one year at the GII or having the necessary prerequisite knowledge base.
Students of these programs are given in-depth tutoring in the areas of:
Ideology and Concepts.
Co-curricular Activities
Additionally the curriculum is complemented by special studies in Information Technology, enhancement courses in English language and exposure to basic research techniques.
Students of the GII are given hands-on experience in
Guyana Islamic Trust
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
's population is Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, representing 54,050 individuals, many of whom are descended from indentured labourers from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The largest Islamic organization in the country is the Guyana Islamic Trust.
Until the 1970s, Muslim holidays were not officially recognized. A number of non-Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religious days are now public holidays. Muslim holidays
Muslim holidays
There are two main holidays in Islam, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. The way that holidays are recognized can vary across cultures, as well as across sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia. Muslim holidays generally follow the lunar calendar, and thus move each year relative to the solar calendar. The...
include Eid al Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
, the end of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, the sacred month of fasting; Id al Adha, the feast of sacrifice; and Mawlid
Mawlid
Mawlid or sometimes ميلاد , mīlād is a term used to refer to the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal,...
, the birthday of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. The dates for these holidays vary according to the Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
.
National United Halaal Authority of Guyana (N.U.H.A)
The National United Halaal Authority of Guyana (N.U.H.A) was established in 2011. This organisation is dedicated to the inspection and certification of Halaal products and food establishments in Guyana. Although other organisations have Halaal boards/committees, N.U.H.A is the first organisation in Guyana whose main objective is Halaal certification.Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG)
The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana is the oldest Islamic group in Guyana. They are involved in relief work and orphan sponsorships.Guyana Islamic Trust
The Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) is a multi-faceted , not for profit organization which has been established since 1978.The GIT has dedicated itself to the process of bringing about intellectual, moral and spiritual improvement to individuals, families and communities in Guyana.
Our fundamental approach is education, since ignorance is the root cause of the intolerance, racism, immorality and criminality that pervades our society and our world. Our belief that Islam holds the perfect solutions to man kind's woes is demonstrated in our of program of Da'wah, to bring Allah's message to each and every Guyanese.
The Guyana Islamic Trust manages its grass root work through fourteen Administrative Districts. Some of the areas of operations of the districts include:
- Organize Classes to educate the Muslims-young and elderly- on Islam
- Regular Family forums and Social activities
- Organize and Manage Islamic Societies in schools
- Youth Programs
- Partnership with Jamaats
- Da’wah to Non-Muslims
- Social Welfare programs
- Women’s Skills Enhancement and Educational Activities
- Medical Programs
National Islamic Sisters Association
The National Islamic Sisters Association (NISA) is the women's arm of the GIT. General areas of NISA's work include:- Promoting the teachings and values of Islam among the women of Guyana
- Reviving the practices of the Qur'anQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
and SunnahSunnahThe word literally means a clear, well trodden, busy and plain surfaced road. In the discussion of the sources of religion, Sunnah denotes the practice of Prophet Muhammad that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the sharī‘ah and the best exemplar...
in the lives of Muslim women - Providing assistance to Muslim Women in helping them fulfill their Islamic Obligations
- Advocating the Islamic family values and the rights gifted by Islam to women in the process of reorganization of Islamic life in Guyana *and in National policy formation
- Providing counseling where necessary and providing orientation in jobs and role enhancement skills to women
- Raise funds to carry out its projects by investment, soliciting donations and executing fund raising activities.
Guyana Islamic Institute
The Guyana Islamic Institute (GII) remains one of the Caribbean's premier Islamic centers of learning.Since its establishment in 1986, scores of students from Guyana and the Caribbean have graduated from a wide range of courses including Arabic Language, Qur'anic Sciences and Islamic Studies. Many of these graduates have since become Shuyukh, Imaams and Du'at and today are serving the Ummah in Guyana, the Caribbean, North America and other parts of the world.
The GII will continue to orient and equip its students to be Du'at in their respective communities, and for further studies at higher institutions of learning; will inculcate in them a sound exposition, understanding and knowledge of the Islamic concepts of life, death and the Hereafter; will imbue in them mannerisms, attitudes and social graces which will encourage Muslims to improve themselves and will invite Non-Muslims to Islam; will enhance the true understanding of Islam based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; will offer the resources and training opportunities for Muslims to improve their understanding and practice of Islam.
Programs offered
The GII concurrently offers two one year residential programs: one for secondary school graduates and the other being an advanced course for students completing the initial one year at the GII or having the necessary prerequisite knowledge base.
Students of these programs are given in-depth tutoring in the areas of:
- Arabic Language
- Qur'anic Sciences
- Aqeedah
- Hifz
- FiqhFiqhFiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
- HadithHadithThe term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
- Islamic History
- Da'wah Methodology
- Seerah
Ideology and Concepts.
Co-curricular Activities
Additionally the curriculum is complemented by special studies in Information Technology, enhancement courses in English language and exposure to basic research techniques.
Students of the GII are given hands-on experience in
- Teaching
- Delivering Khutbahs
- Da'wah to Non-Muslims
- Organizing and participating in youth activities.
- Scholarship
International
Guyana has been a member state of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation since 1998.External Links
Central Islamic Organization of GuyanaGuyana Islamic Trust