The Role of the Muslims during the Pre-Portuguese Period.
1. The arrival of the first Muslim settlers dates back to the early part of the eighth century. During subsequent years Muslims came in increasing numbers, attracted by the geographical position which Ceylon occupied as a commercial junction of great importance. They settled down in Ceylon, fascinated by its scenic splendour and enamoured of the hoary traditions associated with the Adam’s Peak. They were encouraged to make Ceylon their Island-Home by the cordial treatment meted out by the local rulers and the favourable reception given them by the country’s inhabitants. These Muslims were never regarded as aliens. Instead they were valued as contributors to the country’s wealth and welfare. They entertained no scheme for the temporal and spiritual conquest of Ceylon. The local rulers, therefore, accorded them the status of the most favoured community for the commercial and political contacts these Muslims gained for Ceylon, the foreign skills they secured and the encouragement they gave local trade by the introduction of new crafts and improved methods of transport. But with the advent of the Portuguese in 1505, they suffered a change in their status which was never recovered till Ceylon became free of foreign domination.
The Ideal of a Muslim University and its Genesis .
2. There was, however, during the closing quarter of the 19th century, an awakening among them brought by the cumulative influences traceable to the Aligarh Movement started by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the religious and educational renaissance resulting from the efforts of the Buddhist Theosophical Society in Ceylon, and to the Hindu counter-reformation associated with Sri La Sri Arumuga Navalar. For this awakening among the Muslims, the leadership was provided by M. C. Siddi Lebbe, who having skillfully diagnosed the dire disease then afflicting them with the unmistakable symptoms of educational backwardness, cultural isolation and political insignificance, prescribed the sovereign remedy of MODERN EDUCATION IN MUSLIM ENVIRONMENT.
3. This awakening found its best expression in the establishement during the year 1892 under the patronage of Arabi Pasha – dearly beloved of the Muslims though officially a rebel-exile – of Al-Madrasathuz Zahira which has since blossomed into Zahira College, Colombo.
4. During the period as principal ( 1921-1948 ) of the late Dr. T.B. Jayah, Zahira became “The Radiating Centre of Muslim Thought and Activity” and thus played in the Island of Ceylon the role of the Aligarh Movement, in the sub-Continent of India. The Aligarh Movement culminated in the establishment, by the Indian Act XL of 1920, of the Aligarh Muslim University which has received recently special recognition in the educational set-up of the Government of the Indian Republic
5. Zahira thus never did consider herself a mere collegiate or secondary school but was throughout conscious of her duty to foster the culture distinctive of the Muslims of Ceylon. In the words in 1952 of Dr. K.G. Saiyidain, Joint Secretary and Educational Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the aim was “ to build up Zahira into an educational and a cultural centre which would focus the activities of the Muslim community in cultural and educational matters.”
6. In furtherance of the above objective and impelled by the conviction that the Muslim community best serves Sri Lanka not by the desertion, disregard or dilution of its preservation, protection and promotion, the project of the Ceylon Muslim Cultural Centre as an integral part of Zahira College, Colombo, was conceived in 1954. Through this Centre, it was hoped that the community would steadily contribute to the cultural enrichment of Ceylon and firmly maintain its spiritual links with the World of Islam.
Cultural Universities and the Government of Ceylon ( 1956-60 )
7. When the Government of the late Hon’ble S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was actively engaged during the years 1956-58 in the task of establishing Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Universities for the promotion, inter alia, of Sinhala and Buddhist culture, the Muslims were themselves keen on obtaining a similar institution for the promotion of Islamic Culture and Arabic, encouraged as they were by the attitude of the then Prime Minister the Hon’ble S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike in respect of cultural affairs and Cultural Universities.
8. On the 15th day of February, 1958, in the course of his Prize Day speech at Zahira College, Colombo, Dr. T. B. Jayah made the following remarks so eloquently expressive of the felt want of the Muslim Community :-
“While on this subject and before I conclude, I feel it my duty to pose the question whether it is not time in view of the changes taking place in the country to take steps for the establishment of a Muslim University. While we welcome the conversion of two well-known Pirivenas into Universities, the Hindu and Christian Universities in the making, we Muslims will be failing in our duty if unmindful of the inspiring lead Muslims had given the World in higher and University education, we look on with folded arms on the rapidly developing situation in the country which may leave us out of the reckoning as nationals worthy of consideration and attention in any scheme of national reconstruction. While congratulating Zahira College on the great achievement of her students during last year in the class room, in the playing fields, in the firing line, and in other directions, I wish to express the hope that Zahira College will under the leadership of the Principal and the helpful co-operation of the Management rise higher and higher, and in co-operation with other Zahira Colleges make possible the establishment of a Muslim University to enable the Muslim community to play a worthy part as builders of New Ceylon”.
9. A few Months later, in December 1958, Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Universities were created by the Act No.45 of 1958. On the occasion of the inauguration in February 1959 of the Vidyodaya University, the late Prime Minister made a statement in favour of a Cultural University for the Tamils of Ceylon. The several resolutions passed soon after by various Muslim organizations pressing for the establishment of a Muslim University gave expression to their feeling that the claims of the community should not be lost sight of or ignored for lack of numbers or want of influence.
10. On 30th October, 1959 Mr. M..E.H. Mohamed Ali, M.P., addressed a communication on this subject to the than Prime Minister, requesting the conferring of University status on the premier Muslim institution in the Island – Zahira College, Colombo. This received wide publicity in the press.
The Programme and Progress of the Ceylon Muslim Cultural Centre – Zahira College, Colombo.
11. Meanwhile the project of the Ceylon Muslim Cultural Centre conceived in 1954 was making steady progress. The foundation ceremony of the Centre (Stage 1) took place on March 18, 1958 and the building is now nearing completion. On that occasion the hope was expressed that the centre would develop into an Islamic Institute offering adequate facilities for reading and research, attracting specialist students from Ceylon and abroad. The present financial position is set out below:-
Stage 1 – Rs . 175,000/- Stage 1 Rs. 175,000/-
Stage 11 – . 225,000/- Donation Received 163,500/-
Total: Rs. 400,000/- Balance Required Rs . 11,500/-
Donations so far received:
The Asia Foundation, U. S. A. (1956 & 1960 ) … Rs. 81,000/-
The Government of PAKISTAN (November 1956 …. 25,000/-
The Government of CEYLON (Sept. 1957, 58, 59, 60 ) …. 12,000/-
H.H. Dr Syedna Taher Saifudeen Saheb, Chancellor,
Aligarh Muslim University, India (Feb. 1954 ) …. 10,000/-
The Government of the Republic of IRAQ (Sept. 1960 ) …. 10,000/-
Govt. of KUWAIT, Arabian Gulf ( February 1961) …. 10,000/-
H.M. The Late Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paramount Ruler
of the Federation of MALAYA, (1958) …. 3,000/-
His Excellency the Ambassador of SAUDI ARABIA
at Karachi ( March 1961 ) .… 2,500/-
The MALDIVIAN Governnment (June 1957 ) …. 2,000/-
Local Benefactors 8,000/-
Rs. 163,500/-
12. The objectives of the Centre, on the fulfilment of which depends so much the future of the Community and its harmonious integration into the national life of Sri Lanka, as laid down rom the commencement may be stated as follows:-
a) a Library ( for both research and reading ) of volumes on Islam and Islamic Culture and Civilization in all the available languages specially Arabic, English, Urdu and Arabic-Tamil;
b) a School of Islamic Music and Art including Quranic Recitation and Arabic Calligraphy;
c) Classes in Arabic and Islamic Philosophy, and Lectures on Muslim Affairs;
d) a Bureau of Publications, specializing in the production of books on Islam in Sinhala including translations, text books, supplementary readers and books for general readers. In view of the non-availability of Islamic literature in Sinhala, these publications, in addition to enriching Sinhala literature will enable the Muslims to adapt themselves without difficulty to the changing conditions brought about by the adoption of Sinhala as the Official Language of Ceylon;
e) an Islamic and Educational Research Centre for special fields of knowledge e.g. Contribution of Arabic-Tamil literature to Islamic Civilization, the Sociological and Cultural Aspects of the History, of the Muslims of Ceylon, problems connected with the complexities of the Muslim Curriculum including the Teaching of Islam.
13. The progress of the Centre, however, depended entirely on the voluntary services offered by the staff of Zahira College, Colombo, and on the financial assistance received from well-wishers. In consequence, the results so far achieved with difficulty do not match the aspirations entertained with enthusiasm.
14. Regarding (a) above a good library has been built up steadily and is extensively used; (b) a member of Zahira’s staff already possessed of recognized qualification in Carnatic Music will be shortly completing, with the scholarship awarded by the Government of India, a course in Hindustani Music at Bathkanda College, Lucknow; (c) classes in Classical Arabic were inaugurated in September 1957. Several adhoc lectures have been delivered, e.g. Islamic Contribution to Indian Culture by the Hon’ble Humayun Kabir, Minister of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, Government of India; (d) A Life of Holy Prophet Muhammed ( on whom be peace ) has been translated into Sinhala and is to be shortly published with a special Glossary. A series of Readers in Islam for Schools have been completed and are awaiting publication after revision, based on comments received from practising teachers; (e) No progress in respects of Research has been made so far due to the lack of funds for the employment of trained personnel.
The Need for a Cultural University
15. It will be thus seen that without legal status, statutory recognition, financial resources, trained personnel and full-time staff, these objectives cannot be satisfactorily realized. A University alone can serve the purpose adequately.
16. Such a University will provide a valuable repository of Islamic Knowledge and a radiating centre for the study of Islamic Culture in all its aspects, applications and influences. This university will act as a catalytic agent for the healthy growth among the Muslims of a Ceylonese nationhood. In addition the University will supply leadership, among the Muslim, in the various spheres of national life, thereby largely remedying the Community’s backwardness, resulting from a long period of unequal opportunity, due to causes for which the Community is not entirely responsible.
17. What is therefore required in the present circumstances is an enactment on the lines of the Act No. 45 of 1958 (Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara University Act) for the creation of a Cultural University for the Muslims of Ceylon where with State-recognition research and teaching will receive adequate emphasis and support. The need for this enactment has become urgent in view of the special importance now attached to the teaching of Religion in the National system of Education recently inaugurated.
Site and Premises for the University.
18. For the purpose of such a University, the proprietor of Zahira College, Colombo, (The Executive Committee of the Maradana Mosque, Mardana) is prepared to lease the premises of Zahira College, Colombo, on a nominal rental to the University Corporation to be statutorily constituted.
19. These premises are spaciously situated within the heart of the City of Colombo with the adjoining Maradana Mosque dominating the scene so befittingly for a Cultural University. The premises and building are such that they will adequately serve the needs of this University for several years to come thereby saving for the University Corporation expenditure on buildings.
20. It is therefore urged that the Government of Ceylon be pleased to initiate action for the enactment of a Bill on the lines of Act No. 45 of 1958 for the creation of a Cultural University for the Muslims of Ceylon and for the provision of the necessary funds in the Estimates of 1961-62.
The Ceylon Muslim Cultural Centre, Senator A.M.A..Azeez
Zahira College, Colombo, 11.3.1961 Principal ZCC.
NOTE:
In the Governor-General’s Speech at the Opening of Parliament on 13th July, 1961 the following clauses were included:-
“Steps will be taken to ensure that the facilities provided by the three Universities will be utilised to the fullest benefit of the country by establishing a University Grants Commission.
My Government proposes to introduce legislation for the establishment of two Cultural Universities, one for the promotion of the Tamil language and Hindu culture, the other for the promotion of the Arabic language and Muslim culture”.
In the Address of Thanks to the Throne Speech by Senator A.M.A. Azeez on 13th July, 1961, he said:-
“There are several items in the Throne Speech which further promote the ends of the Bandaranaike creed. But for want of time I would concentrate upon just one item, namely, the establishment of two cultural universities, one for the promotion of the Arabic language and Muslim culture. As a Muslim, I should like to make it clear that as far as the Muslims are concerned, culture is religion and religion is culture; language and race occupy very subordinate places in Muslim society compared with religion. By the promise of this University, I would say that the present Government especially the Hon. The Prime Minister, has earned the gratitude of the entire Muslim community as well as of the unborn generations of Muslims of this Island, for in this country Islam has been preserved at considerable sacrifices during the four centuries of foreign rule beginning with Portuguese atrocities”.
