Assam is the state with second largest Muslim population in India. It has a web of Islamic seminaries in some parts of the state which came into existence by the efforts made by scholars and philanthropists. Their aims and objectives are not only to set up madrasas but also to see how the various segments of the system education, teachers’ training and administrative work can be streamlined and upgraded. Despite unceasing efforts, the expected results are not forthcoming. Foreseeing the need to harmonise the works of the various madrasas and makatibs, a board for Madaris-e-Islamiya was set up in 1955 as a unitary movement to be used to safeguard Islamic values and traditions. Some of its main aims were also to bring unanimity in achieving its goals such as to wrestle with mischief and storms which rise from time to time against Islam, to give a calibrated response to day-to-day challenges and to encourage the madrasas to work with mutual cooperation. Initially its activities were confined to southern parts of Nagaon. Slowly its benefits and effects seemed to be widened.
Hence in 1984 it was extended and renamed as All Assam Tanzim Madaris-e-Qaumiya Board on the insistence by some members. A substantial number of madrasas have harmonised their working with the rules and regulations and policies of the board.
By the grace of Allah the board has geared itself to work in the light of
following aims and objectives.
1. To conserve and preserve Islam and to spread its ideology to the far ends of
the world as possible enrich the children with Islamic science and knowledge.
2. To provide an up-to-date syllabus as required today and to implement them in
madrasas.
3. To hold competitive programmes on different topics to enhance the creative
bent of students and to motivate them.
4. To train the fresh Islamic graduates in writing and translation skills, as
national and international, and to equip them with necessary sophisticated
equipment like computer etc.
5. To combat the misconceptions and misinterpretations spread against Islam and
madrasas.
6. To conduct combined exams for academic progress in madrasas.
7. To create a peaceful environment through Madrasas and its teachings in each &
every corner of the entire glove.
Academic activities and programmes
(1) Academic Inspection
The seminaries which come under the Board are inspected by
its ulama to improve academic standards and streamline plans
to improve administrative affairs of the madrasas.
(2) Teachers’ Training Centre for primary and secondary education
Tanzim Madaris-e-Qaumiya looks after the training centres
every year to equip teachers with improved knowledge. It
benefits them a great deal as the teaching is carried out by
closely monitoring the psychological and emotional state of the
students. And therefore it helps madrasas to obtain their
cherished aims.
(3) Upgrading Teacher Skills
When teachers go back to their madrasas after a training programme, they very
soon lose their effectiveness. Therefore, the workers of Tanzim visit the
madrasas to check on the teaching skills of those who attended training camps to
spur them and to make their method of teaching more useful. So they give
students demonstrations of effective classroom teaching under the guidance of
trained teachers. And both the students and teachers become directly benefited.
(4) Scholarship Examination
To motivate and encourage students and to evaluate the standards of education,
classes have been selected for the scholarship exams every year among the
madrasas covered by Tanzim. Short listed students are rewarded and encouraged
with scholarships and awards along with testimonials on their ability.
(5) Academic tour
The executive members of the board from time to time visit the madrasas under
Tanzim Board every year to take a stock of their internal situation. Whenever he
finds any fault, he holds discussion with teachers and responsible officials to
iron out the problems.
(6) Hazrat Shaikh Ahmad Ali Competitive Exam for eligibility growth
It is an acknowledged fact that self-study is essential for the acquisition of
knowledge in one’s life. Particularly, if the students could not grasp the finer
points of knowledge such as SARF and NAHU initially, they cannot rise to a
higher level of proficiency. That is why Tanzim Madaris-e-Qaumiya regularly
organises programmes on the topics of SARF and NAHU to hone the skills of
students.
(7) Hazrat Shaikhul Islam Tashih-e-Qur’an project (e.g.
correcting pronunciation & accent as well as phonetics
while reading the Qur’an)
It is an accepted fact that the glorious Qur’an is the fountainhead of all
Islamic science and teachings. Hence recitation of the Qur’an correctly and to
understand its meanings and explanations and to cleanse human’s spirit through
its guidance are among the main aims of Madaris-e-Qaumiya. But it is a sorry
fact that a sizeable number of graduates from madrasas cannot recite Qur’an
perfectly. Therefore this project was initiated so that graduates from madrasas
pronounce and understand the meaning of the Qur’an in a better way.
(8) Competitive exam for glorious Qur’an
The All Assam Tanzim Madaris-e-Qaumiya regularly organizes this competitive exam
to instigate the students of Madaris run by the Board correcting recitation of
the glorious Qur’an and to hone the skills of phonetics as well, to inculcate
the actual spirit of Arabic accent among students. This is the only reason Assam
has its own merit in All India Competitive exam of glorious Qur’an, and yet
Alhamdulillah two students have got first position. By Allah’s grace such
competitive exams caused a big revolution in Assam in contrary to the past.
(9) Interpretation Training Centre
There is a sinister attempt by some anti-Islamic elements to misrepresent Islam
and its teachings. Such attempts snare not only the simple-minded folk, but also
the educated ones. Such kinds of books are published regularly in Assamese. To
counter this trend, there was felt a need to promote a body of ulama who would
translate articles and pamphlets in regional languages as well as in well known
languages to clear the cobwebs from the minds of mass people and guide them to
the right path.
(10) Reawakening (Renovation) of Madrasas
As it is known, that Tanzim Madaris-e-Qaumiya always strives by every means for
the betterment of Islamic education. Towards this end, the institution conducts
a movement titled “Reawakening Madrasas” to revive such Islamic institutions
which have reached a state of decline. After analyzing the causes the Tanzim
undertakes efforts to revive them at all levels, and by the grace of Allah the
movement brings new life to some madrasas. May Allah continue these efforts
forever!
(11) Tahaffuz-e-Shariat (Undertaking Religious Regulations)
The majority of Muslims generally settle down in the char areas and they are
very backward academically and financially. The population of the Muslim
community in lower Assam is much higher than the upper Assam and that is why a
large number of people of these areas do agree to do any menial and inferior
work for their livelihood. A few organisations that have senator motives always
interested in ensnaring these simple people easily, consequently ill-fated
people are in the grip of evil forces. Occasionally, the Officials of Tanzim pay
visit to these areas and meet the local Scholars, Ulamas, and Intellectuals and
organized such programmes. Alhamdulillah, now it is silver lining that
un-advancement, ignorance, poverty and superstitions which have eroded their
vitality are on the decline gradually.
(12) Islamic Studies and Research Centre
Islam is a universal and eternal religion and it is a processor and path finder
for the whole mankind. Islam brings the mankind closer under one umbrella to
promote eternity and humanity as well as it rejects crimes and hostility
forever. The Holy Qur’an is the most secret script of the whole universe, which
solves innumerable human problems of any kind and pays salvation and mental
solution. It is a matter of immense regret and sore to say that despite many
scholars are not in a position at this hour to solve the manifold intricate
human and social burning problems, though the Holy Qur’an has displayed clearly
the eternal solutions of problems of the human society. At the mean time there
is a good number of Qur’anic Research Centres at home and abroad but again
regret to say that there is no such an Islamic Research Centre in Assam till
now. It is a general view of the masses that if the Tanzim intense and come
forward the existence of such a Research Centre will not be a problem at all. It
is the matter of happiness and pleasure to note that starting of such a centre
has been decided by the Executive Body and will soon try to be started from the
next Academic Year.
(13) Meetings and Talks
Below mentioned 12 various meetings and talks were held by All Assam Tanzim
Madaris Qaumiya in the last period, such as:- (A) Executive Body – 2 (B) General
Council – 1 (C) Examination Committee – 3 (D) Qur’an Recitation Competition – 3
(E) Syllabus Commission – 1 (F) Talks – 1 (G) Affiliation Commission – 1
(14) Future Plans
As the Office of Tanzim Madaris Qaumiya is a center of Education and that is why
various kinds of religious and general books are needed for it. There was a
small Library named Shah Waliullah Darul Mutala. The Executive Committee already
took a decision to improve it into a Model Library. But due to non existence of
convenience building house the required books were not purchased. A newly
constituted room selected for the Library, which has 25x20 feet, and now
rearranging of it in a large manner and purchasing of books have been started. A
plan has been also chalked out to start a Computer Training Centre in front of
the Office premises. In addition to a scheme has been also taken to plant the
Valuable Trees in front of the Office Premises. Construction of a beautiful Gate
is also under consideration of the Executive Body. So we need public
Co-operation and Blessings in this regard.
