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According to a press release from the ACIC, the Institute’s Principal, Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohamed, disclosed during a visit to Guyana earlier this month that the arrangement would see Markaz al Ihsaan establish a branch at the ACIC’s Madrasa Nooranie. The release states that Markaz Al Ihsaan was established in 2000 to provide Islamic education at all levels, from the fundamentals of Islam to more advanced studies of the religion.
Saying that the institute is committed to the dissemination of Islamic knowledge, the release noted that its courses are designed “to help the individual to know, practice and preach true Islam.” According to the release, Markaz al Ihsaan “recognizes that many Muslim leaders, preachers and teachers do not have this [appropriately Islamic] outlook of life” and as such, “it has developed a band of competent, qualified teachers able to pass on the legacy of Islam at any level in the society.”
The release states that the institute offers accreditation at three levels, which include a one year certificate-level course on the fundamentals of Islam, and a Diploma-level course for students that want to proceed from the certificate level and present Islam at a national level, and in a meaningful and learned way to believers and non-believers alike. In addition to these, the release notes that there is also a three-year programme which qualifies participants to be “Aalims” of Islamic theology.
The release says, too, that the institute will also offer stand alone courses in some of the specialised areas of Islamic knowledge such as: Comparative Religion, Public Speaking, Islamic Sociology, Qur’anic Psychology, Qur’anic Philosophy, Leadership Course and Religious Sects in Islam. The release disclosed that the Guyana Branch of the Markaz will offer the programmes over two semesters, each consisting of four weeks and with classes being held one week per month for four months. Teachers from Trinidad & Tobago will travel to Guyana to conduct the classes, the release advised.
According to the release, students must meet the age and other admission requirements while only 25 persons will be trained at one time. All course material, such as books, will be provided free of charge by the Markaz, the release informed.
Meanwhile, the release notes, Principal of Madrasa Nooranie, Maulana Muhammad Mujahid, a Pakistani scholar based at ACIC, will also be one of the instructors of the new course. Courses are expected to commence in October 2013. According to the release, the Madrassa Nooranie was established by the late Pakistani Muslim scholar Maulana Hafiz NoorulHadiHaleem, and is operated by the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, in association with the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman. It was declared open in 2003 by then President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.
