Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah

Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah[lower-alpha 1] is an Arabic academy dedicated to Islamic learning based in India, Pakistan, and Kenya. Established in Surat as Dars-e Saifee c. 1810 by Abdeali Saifuddin, it was after extensive renovation (c. 1960s) and expansion (c. 1980s and c. 2010s) carried out by Taher Saifuddin and Mohammed Burhanuddin, the University gained prominence.[6][7] Today, as holder of the office of Dāʿī al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin is the sole benefactor of the institute.[8][9]

Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah
الجامعۃ السـیفیۃ
Former names
Dars-e-Saifee
TypePrivate Religious Theological University
Established1810
ChancellorDr. Mohammed Burhanuddin
Vice-ChancellorDr. Mufaddal Saifuddin
Rector
Students2500[1]
Location
Campus
Affiliations
Website

History

It was founded as a theological University for Dawoodi Bohras in 1810 AD by the 43rd Dai Abdeali Saifuddin who named it Dars-e Saifee (Urdu: درسِ سيفي‎, lit. 'Saifee School').[10]

Old Jamea Saifiyah entrance gate in Surat.

The 51st Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Taher Saifuddin introduced secular and scientific subjects in the 1960s and gave it the present name of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah. Its doors were later opened for Bohra girls. The academy, since then, has had separate hostel facilities for boys and girls. The 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin oversaw a complete rebuilding and expansion of the campus buildings.[11]

In 2011, during centennial celebrations, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin established Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in Nairobi, Kenya. The construction of this 14-acre campus that commenced in 2013 was completed by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin and inaugurated by the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, on 20 April 2017.[12][13][14]

Curriculum

Its educational focus is the Quran, Islamic sciences, Islamic Jurisprudence, Arabic language, and Literature.[15] Students are sent around the world for religious duties during the Ashara Mubaraka and Ramadan.[16] As per tradition, these graduates invite the Da'i al-Mutlaq for a ziyafat (lit. 'banquet').[17]

An eleven-year course of study is divided into three phases:[2] The first phase is four years and involves 55 courses, the second phase is five years, subdivided into three years with 75 courses and two years with 90 subjects, and the final two-year phase focuses on specialization and advanced studies in Islamic and Arabic sciences.[2]

At the end of the eleven-year course the students graduate with the degree of Al Faqih Al Jayyid,[2] and are sent on khidmah (lit. 'community service') to hajj and other pilgrimages at full cost to the office of the Da'i al-Mutlaq.[18]

The final degree is considered equivalent to the Masters of Arts[2] from Aligarh Muslim University, recognized by Al Azhar and Cairo University.[5] 4 years of study at the university is equivalent to secondary education (GCSE) whilst 7 years is equivalent to Higher Secondary (GCE A Level) post which the students qualify to test for an International Baccalaureate,[2] recognized by Oxford University and others.[5]

Campus

The principal university campus is situated in Surat (India) with three sister campuses in Karachi (Pakistan), Nairobi (Kenya), and Marol (Mumbai, India).

Surat

Mohammed Burhanuddin renovated the Surat campus c. 1983: The aesthetics of the new buildings complement the purpose of their existence: to provide an inspiring and highly conducive environment for learning and nurturing.[19] The academic block north houses classrooms, administrative offices, Ewaan (a large hall where annual exams are held amongst other events that involve the entire student and teaching faculties), and Al-Masjid al-Fatemi (sits between the garden and the Ewaan). Opposite to the Academic block is a library that houses more than 150,000 books and subscribes to more than 100 periodicals.[20] The Masakin (boys hostel) and Rabwat (girls hostel) blocks are adjacent to the academic block.

Next to the campus towards south is Devdi Mubarak (lit. 'lord's honorable house'), Da'i al-Mutlaq's residence, at the end of which is Mahad al-Zahra: An institute for memorization and recitation of Quran, and for Quranic arts and sciences. Further south are Mazar-e Saifee (mausoleum of seven Dua't Mutlaqeen) and Masjid-e Moazzam (lit. 'The Great Mosque').

Rectors
Taher Saifuddin (left) and his son, Ameer al-Jamea, Yusuf Najmuddin (c. 1945).

Following the death of its first rector[lower-alpha 2] post-renovations, Yusuf Najmuddin in 1987 (1407 ھ), Mohammed Burhanuddin appointed four rectors in his place:[lower-alpha 3] His two brothers Qasim Hakimuddin, Abbas Fakhurdddin, and his two sons Qaidjoher Ezzuddin and Mufaddal Saifuddin.[21] Mohammed Burhanuddin instructed the newly appointed rectors that in the event that there was a difference of opinion amongst them, then Mufaddal Saifuddin's opinion should take precedence.[22]

Following the death of Mohammed Burhanuddin, on 16 Rabi al-Awwal 1435 ھ (17 January 2014), and Mufaddal Saifuddin's succession as 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq, he appointed his son Jafar us Sadiq Imaduddin as Aljamea's fourth rector.[23]

After the death of Abbas Fakhruddin on 14 February 2018,[24] and of Qasim Hakimuddin shortly thereafter on 5 April 2018 (in Surat), Mufaddal Saifuddin appointed Aliasgar Kalimuddin and Malik-ul Ashtar Shujauddin as rectors.

See also

Notes
  1. Arabic: الجامِعةُ السّـيفِيّة‎, lit. 'The Saifiyah University'; Lisan al-Dawat: الجامعۃ السـیفیۃ; Urdu: جامعۃ سـیفیۃ‎, romanized: Jamea Saifiyah.
  2. Arabic: أمير الجامعة‎, romanized: Amīr al-Jamea.
  3. Arabic: الأمراء الجامعة‎, romanized: Umarāʿ al-Jamea.

References
  1. "Current Student Count - Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah". jameasaifiyah.edu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 Jun 2020.
  2. "The Three Stages". jameasaifiyah.edu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 Jun 2020.
  3. "Assessment Visit". jameasaifiyah.com. 22 Jan 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020.
  4. "People: Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin" (PDF). 27 (326). Bangalore: Islamic Voice. Feb 2014. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2020 – via islamicvoice.com. Dr. Burhanuddin greatly modernized the community and its institutions. Under his stewardship the Bohra religious school Jameatus Saifiya at Surat introduced the modern curriculum together with religious curriculum and opted for International Baccalaureate program under IBO.
  5. "City's Arabic univ now opens campus in Nairobi". timesofindia.com. Surat: Times of India. 28 Apr 2017. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020.
  6. "A brief history of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah". jameasaifiyah.edu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 Jun 2020.
  7. Mustafa, Shabbir Hussain (2011). "In Defense of the Community: Syedna Taher Saifuddin and Reassertion of Authority". Between Community and Securalism: The Dawoodi Bohras and Agendas of 'Reform' in India, c. 1915-1985 (Thesis). National University of Singapore. pp. 60–83. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020.
  8. "Realisation of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah". jameasaifiyah.ed u. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. "Timeline of Key Events - Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah". jameasaifiyah.edu. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 Jun 2020.
  10. "In 1225/1810, the 43rd dāʿī, Syedna Abdeʿali Saifuddin RA, constructed an academy in Surat that consisted of designated areas for teaching, student residences and a masjid. Syedna placed this academy, which he named Darse Saifee, adjacent to his residence to signify the deep value and respect he accorded to education and its seekers". instagram.com. Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah. 1 Jul 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020.
  11. Mukherjee, Soumen (2017). Ismailism and Islam in Modern South Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 180. ISBN 9781107154087 – via books.google.com.
  12. "The Dawoodi Bohras - President Kenyatta inaugurates new Aljamea campus in Nairobi". thedawoodibohras.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  13. "The Dawoodi Bohras - Syedna arrives in Nairobi for Jamea campus opening and annual exam". thedawoodibohras.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  14. "The Dawoodi Bohras - Arabic academy of Dawoodi Bohra community inaugurated in Nairobi". thedawoodibohras.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  15. "The Dawoodi Bohras - Education". www.thedawoodibohras.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  16. Izzuddin, Tasneem Saify (2016). "Chapter 3: Population and Geographical Distribution of Dawoodi Bohras" (PDF). Conceptual study of the Quranic education system managed under Dawoodi Bohra Spiritual leadership (Thesis). Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibarewala University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2020 – via shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in.
  17. Blank, Jonah (2001). "Qasr-e Ali: The Royals". Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras. University of Chicago Press. p. 148. ISBN 9780226056760 – via books.google.com.
  18. Kaur, Kuldip (2007) [1990]. Madrasa Education in India: A Study of Its Past and Present. New Delhi: Centre for Research in Rural & Industrial Development. p. 54.
  19. A Golden Era. Mumbai: Department of Statistics and Information. Dawat-e-Hadiyah. 2016. p. 18.
  20. "From Gurukul to IBO Varsity", indiatimes.com, Surat: Times of India, archived from the original on 29 June 2020
  21. "Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah | Official Website » 1407/1987". jameasaifiyah.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  22. His Holiness, Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb (1436H). رسالة النعي المسماة - حكمة الغيبة القدسانية الابدية. Mumbai, India: Badri Mahal.
  23. His Holiness, Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb (1437H). شكر نعم اصحاب البركات. His Holiness Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb, Badri Mahal, Mumbai, India. p. 1269.
  24. "Obituary: Shahzada Abbas bhaisaheb Fakhruddin". The Dawoodi Bohras. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.

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