Qatar Indian Islahi Center

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Qatar Indian Islahi Center (QIIC) is an organization of Malayalam-speaking, Indian (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.


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[edit] 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 Kerala 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 Indian 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] MGM

The Muslim Girls’ and Women’s Movement (MGM) is the women’s wing of Qatar Indian Islahi Centre. MGM frequently organizes study classes, and talks for women. A number of Qur’an Learning courses are offered by MGM exclusively for ladies in various parts of Qatar.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 one Madrassa in Shanti Niketan School in association with Shanti Niketan Indian School management. 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'.

[edit] 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 Eid 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, Dr. M. Leelavathy attended Qatar Malayali Conferences in the past.

Free medical camps and medical awareness programmes are also conducted by QIIC.

[edit] Hajj and Umra programmes

Qatar Indian Islahi Centre’s Hajj and Umra service is established to guide the pilgrims perform their deeds and rituals in strict abidance to the teachings of Islam. It is the preferred service among the Indian expatriate community in Qatar.

[edit] Public talks

Public talks are held in Qatar throughout the year.

[edit] Humanitarian activities

Donations to the Bagalpur Relief Fund, the Sudan earth-quake relief fund campaign, the Gujarat Relief aid, and a relief materials collection drive for tsunami hit areas are some of the activities of QIIC.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links