Darul Uloom Al-Madania is a private Islamic Seminary in Buffalo, New York that is devoted to producing Islamic scholars and Huffaz.
| Key figures | |
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Qasim Nanotvi · Rashid Gangohi |
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| Notable Institutions | |
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Darul Uloom Deoband, India |
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| Movements | |
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Tablighi Jamaat |
Contents |
Darul Uloom Al-Madania was founded by Hazrat Ismail Memon and his son Sheik Ibrahim Memon Madani. The search for a suitable building that would serve as an institution began in 1986, when Hazrat Memon and Sheik Ibrahim were living in Waterloo, Canada. In 1989, the two prepared to purchase a property in Dunkirk, New York only to have it rejected. One year later in 1990, they again prepared to purchase a property on Dodge Street in Buffalo, New York. Once again this sale was rejected. On June 17, 1991 a property was obtained on North Davis Road in East Aurora, New York. However, a permit was only obtained to house 18 people. In 1992, a contract was signed for a property in Hamburg, New York. However, the sale was cancelled due to local opposition. Later that year, another property was obtained on Sycamore Avenue in downtown Buffalo, only to have the sale cancelled by the owners.
Finally, in 1993, the Polish National Church was purchased and converted into a mosque and boarding school. On March 3, the church across from the newly formed Masjid Zakariya was also purchased and converted into a women's school. In 1996, the original property on Sycamore Avenue was obtained again and this time the purchase was complete. The new building was turned into the Jamia, or the boys' boarding school. The original building purchased for the boarding school then became the Darul Khalil secular studies school. In 2002, a 6-acre (24,000 m2) plot, previously used as a Youth Detention Center, was purchased and the Jamiah was moved there.
On October 22, 2001 an electrical cord lit some insulation on fire burning down the building. It took the 80 Buffalo Firefighters a full day to extinguish the flame and salvage what they could. Because the damage was severe (the roof had collapsed)the building was declared unsafe to use. Later that year, funds were raised to renovate the entire building.
Every year, Darul Uloom Al Madania holds a Jalsa Graduation Ceremony for all the graduating huffaz and ulama. The ceremony usually takes places in June and happens after the Dhuhr prayer and lasts until sundown. During the ceremony, the new huffaz are presented with a white turban placed on their heads by Hazrat Ismail Memon.