Qatar Indian Islahi Center
Encyclopedia
Qatar Indian Islahi Centre (QIIC) is an organization of Malayalam-speaking, India
n (also known as Keralites) expatriates living in Qatar
.
Qatar, like other Gulf countries, is home for many Keralites. The Kerala
community in the Gulf
represents a cross-section of the society of their home state in India
, and, although comprising different groups with different religious faiths and ways of life, still shares a common “Malayali” identity.
had three primary duties to perform, correct misconceptions about religious practices among Muslims by teaching them monotheism (Tawheed), urge them to keep away from innovations in religion (Bid’as), and promote social and educational reforms and fight social evils. Fighting extremism in the society is a new challenge taken up by the movement at a later stage.
The Qatar Indian Islahi Centre’s goals are not different from that of Islahi Movement in Kerala
, but it has to cater to the needs of a different category of people, the India
n expatriate community in Qatar
. To achieve its goals, Qatar Indian Islahi Centre works closely with the government departments of the State of Qatar, and with the Indian mission.
Study classes are conducted by QIIC throughout the year in locations including remote places like Shamal, Al Khor, Dukhan, Mesaieed, etc. Schedule of study classes will normally appear on QIIC’s website. Translation of Juma’ Khutba (Friday sermon) into Malayalam is done at various Masjids in Qatar after Friday prayers with the aim of conveying the messages of Imams to Malayalam speakers who do not understand Arabic.
Qatar Indian Islahi Centre has had many a first to its credit; it introduced ‘Madrassa Education’ (religious education) system to the expatriate schools in Qatar, and is now running religious schools (Madrassas) at Noble International School (Doha), Dukhan and Al Khore. QIIC started Iftar
meets for the Indian expatriates in Qatar, and it conducts a number of other educational activities through CIS and Focus Qatar, like ‘Spoken Arabic’ and ‘Spoken English'.
social meets and Iftar
parties being conducted by QIIC in the past. Qatar Malayali Conferences are one of the biggest gatherings of Keralites in the Middle East, and Qatar Indian Islahi Centre has organized four such conferences in the past. Prominent personalities like Qatar’s Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, HE Sheikha Ahmed Al Mahmoud,Minister for Education, State of Qatar, Chief Minister of Kerala Mr. Oommen Chandy
, Minister for Expatriate Affairs, Govt. of India, Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Former Minister for Education, Govt. of Kerala Mr. Nalakath Sooppy, Ambassadors of Govt. of India to the State of Qatar and other Indian Embassy officials, Dr. Sukumar Azhikode
and Dr. M. Leelavathy
attended Qatar Malayali Conferences in the past.
Free medical camps and medical awareness programmes are also conducted by QIIC.
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...
n (also known as Keralites) expatriates living in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
.
Qatar, like other Gulf countries, is home for many Keralites. The Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
community in the Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
represents a cross-section of the society of their home state in 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...
, and, although comprising different groups with different religious faiths and ways of life, still shares a common “Malayali” identity.
Islah
As the word “Islah” suggests, the founders of the Qatar Indian Islahi Centre (QIIC) extracted energy from the “Islahi Movement” in Kerala, the very term “Islah” means “renovation”, “restore the original” or “purification.” The Islahi Movement in KeralaIslahi Movement in Kerala
The renaissance of the ancient Sunni Muslim community in the Kerala state, South India mostly owes to the rise of Salafi ideas and scholars in the early 20th century, referred as Islahi movements of Kerala. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the Sunni umbrella, and is...
had three primary duties to perform, correct misconceptions about religious practices among Muslims by teaching them monotheism (Tawheed), urge them to keep away from innovations in religion (Bid’as), and promote social and educational reforms and fight social evils. Fighting extremism in the society is a new challenge taken up by the movement at a later stage.
The Qatar Indian Islahi Centre’s goals are not different from that of Islahi Movement in Kerala
Islahi Movement in Kerala
The renaissance of the ancient Sunni Muslim community in the Kerala state, South India mostly owes to the rise of Salafi ideas and scholars in the early 20th century, referred as Islahi movements of Kerala. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the Sunni umbrella, and is...
, but it has to cater to the needs of a different category of people, the 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...
n expatriate community in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. To achieve its goals, Qatar Indian Islahi Centre works closely with the government departments of the State of Qatar, and with the Indian mission.
Affiliations
The Qatar Indian Islahi Centre is affiliated to the Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs and it works closely with Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Agriculture, Qatar Centre for Presentation of Islam (QCPI), Sundook Zakat, Qatar Guests Centre, HMC (Hamad Medical Corporation), Indian Mission, and Qatar Red Crescent Society.CIS
The Centre for Islahi Students (CIS) is the students’ wing of Qatar Indian Islahi Centre, which has separate divisions for boys and girls. CIS not only provides moral guidance to the students, but also provides a platform and an environment to cultivate their talents, and to develop their personality.Focus Qatar
Focus Qatar is the youth wing of Qatar Indian Islahi Centre. “Focus Qatar” has chosen a few areas to focus on, namely, career guidance, humanitarian assistance to the needy in the society, health care and public relations. The prime objective of Focus Qatar is to develop and sustain a team of committed youth with high moral and spirits to serve as a resource pool for all including the desolate and under privileged. Focus Qatar has members from all areas including Engineering, Health Care & Service.Educational activities
Qur’an Learning Courses are offered in centers across Qatar by QIIC, weekly classes are being conducted in the Malayalam language, and handled by scholars. Separate classes for ladies are also made available by the women's wing.Study classes are conducted by QIIC throughout the year in locations including remote places like Shamal, Al Khor, Dukhan, Mesaieed, etc. Schedule of study classes will normally appear on QIIC’s website. Translation of Juma’ Khutba (Friday sermon) into Malayalam is done at various Masjids in Qatar after Friday prayers with the aim of conveying the messages of Imams to Malayalam speakers who do not understand Arabic.
Qatar Indian Islahi Centre has had many a first to its credit; it introduced ‘Madrassa Education’ (religious education) system to the expatriate schools in Qatar, and is now running religious schools (Madrassas) at Noble International School (Doha), Dukhan and Al Khore. QIIC started Iftar
Iftar
Iftar , refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after Maghrib time...
meets for the Indian expatriates in Qatar, and it conducts a number of other educational activities through CIS and Focus Qatar, like ‘Spoken Arabic’ and ‘Spoken English'.
Social activities
Qatar Indian Islahi Centre holds social functions and events. The participation of people from all walks of life regardless of communities was a main feature of EidEid 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"...
social meets and Iftar
Iftar
Iftar , refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after Maghrib time...
parties being conducted by QIIC in the past. Qatar Malayali Conferences are one of the biggest gatherings of Keralites in the Middle East, and Qatar Indian Islahi Centre has organized four such conferences in the past. Prominent personalities like Qatar’s Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, HE Sheikha Ahmed Al Mahmoud,Minister for Education, State of Qatar, Chief Minister of Kerala Mr. Oommen Chandy
Oommen Chandy
Oommen Chandy is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Kerala. He has held the Chief Minister of Kerala position earlier from 2004 to 2006, and was the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011.-Early life:Oommen Chandy or 'Kunjoonju' was born...
, Minister for Expatriate Affairs, Govt. of India, Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Former Minister for Education, Govt. of Kerala Mr. Nalakath Sooppy, Ambassadors of Govt. of India to the State of Qatar and other Indian Embassy officials, Dr. Sukumar Azhikode
Sukumar Azhikode
Sukumar Azhikode is a writer, critic and orator, acknowledged for his contributions to Malayalam and insights on Indian philosophy. He is a bachelor and lives in Eravimangalam near Thrissur....
and Dr. M. Leelavathy
M. Leelavathy
M. Leelavathy is a Malayalam writer, literary critic, and educationist. She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Kendra Sahithya Academy Award and Kerala...
attended Qatar Malayali Conferences in the past.
Free medical camps and medical awareness programmes are also conducted by QIIC.