The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367
MADRASA JAMIA MANBAUL ANWAR AT LALPET - AN OVERVIEW
L. JAFARUNNISA BEGUM DR. C. NADARAJAN Ph.D., Research Scholar Associate Professor Department of History Department of History Annamalai University Annamalai University
ABSTRACT
Madrasa Jamia Manbaul Anwar is situated at Lalpet in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. It was founded by Allama Ahamed Alim in 1864 A.D. Madrasa Jamia Manbaul Anwar is the second largest Madras a in Tamil Nadu, next to Vellore Madrasa Al-Baqiyathus Salihath. More than two hundred people study in this Madras a every year. A large number of Islamic students come from many parts of Tamil Nadu, South India and Sri Lanka to study the religion. Launched with 15 students and 2 teachers. Madras a now has over 200 students a year with more than 15 teachers. From the beginning to the present day, women are not allowed to attend the school. There were small Madras as for women alone. And in her own home, women learned the Quran, Hadith, and Arabu Tamil. In the Madras a Manbaul Anwar, Lalpet, the study materials are available only in Arabic, through the medium of instruction is Tamil. The course of study runs for seven years. Duration of the Course is seven years, on successful completion of the course and students are getting the Diploma of Manbayee. The advanced level course, Muthawwal, has one year duration. The Madrasa has a group of dedicated staff. „Lecturer method‟ and „seminar‟ are followed to impart instructions. What has been achieved so far is the result of their joint efforts. Thus the curriculum of the Madrasa caters to the educational needs of the Muslim society of not only south Arcot, but also of the whole state of TamilNadu.
Keywords: Madrasa, Manbayee, Hadith, Tafsir, Hafiz, Shariath, Qirat.
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Lalpet is a Panchayat town in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu. Lalpet is
situated in a lush green surrounding with water bodies. Lalpet was named after
Lalkhan who held an administrative position under the ruling Prince Nawab of Arcot.
Under the command of the prince, Lal Khan developed this town in 1775 for Arab
traders, Muslims, international visitors and people of other faiths to dwell together
peacefully. Arabic college named "Jamia Manbaul Anwar" was established here in
1862. Lalpet was established before in 1775 by Lal Khan. Lalpet is a commune.
Lalpet Commune consists of one census town and 8 panchayat villages. The town
extends over an area of 16.425km.
The Population of Lalpet town was predominantly Muslims. But a
considerable number of them in those days most of them well versed their religion.
They knew only the elementary Doctrines of Islam. In the absence of Arabic
knowledge and of qualified teachers they were ignorant of the contents of the Holy
Quran. The religions Scholars felt dire need to teach children, the Quran and Hadith.
To catch them young and teach them Halal and Haram, the society required a large
number of Ulema. To produce interpreters of the Quran and the Hadith, to propagate
the way of life in herited from the Prophet Mohammed to teach People to follow
Sunnah, the rules inherited from the traditions of Mohammed Nabi and to
open their eyes to learn Ilm.
Allama Ahamed Alim, the founder switched on the light. Though “it is folly to
be wise, where ignorance is bliss”‟ the founder with string will and determination
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decided to liberate the society from the evils of illiteracy. So he founded the Madrasa
Manbaul Anwar in 1864 A.D. at Lalpet. It is quite unfortunate that we could get kittle
information about his life History. Lalpettai Ismail AlimShahib and Ammapettai
Hazrath were the other two members to join the faculty to develop Madrasa.
The founder of Madrasa Manbaul Anwar, Allama Ahamed Alim in 1864 A.D,
when he founded this institute, in a symbolic yet substantive move, introduced
PidiArisi scheme for the collection of resources for the maintenance of the Madrasa.
Under this novel scheme Pidi Arisi, a handful of rice, was collected every week from
every house as subscription torun the Madrasa. The scheme still works in Lalpet. The
public donations received in kinds contribution much to the development of the
Madrasa. By donating anything in cash or in kinds the donars not only earned the
goodwill of the people but also believed to invoke the pleasure ofAllah.
Madrasajamia Manbaul Anwar Madrasa Jamia Manbaul Anwar is the second largest Madrasa in Tamil Nadu,
next to Vellore Madrasa Al-Baqiyathus Salihath. This Madrasa was started in 1864
during the reign of Arcad Nawabs. More than two hundred people studying this
Madrasa every year. Each year more than 50 graduates of Fazil9, Moulavi and Hafiz
graduate. A large number of Islamic students come from many parts of Tamil Nadu,
South India and Sri Lanka to study the religion.
Launched with 15 studentsand 2 teachers, Madrasa now has over 200 students
a year with more than 15 teachers. From the beginning to the present day, women are
not allowed to attend the school. There were small Madrasas for women alone. And in
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her own home, women learned the quran, Hadith, and ArabuTamil.
Famous Chiefs of Madrasa There have been many famous religious scholars who were the first Usthad13
of the Madrasa. Notable among them was Maulana Moulavi Alhaj Mohammad
Amani Hajrat Qibla also known as Hirul Millat Maulana, Moulavi Alhaj Allama
Abdullah Hazrat Qibla, Maulana Moulavi Alhaj, Allama Ibrahim Hazrat Qibla and
Maulana Moulavi Al Hajj also known as Samsul Millat. It would not be an
exaggeration if Jamia Manbaul Anwar was made famous by the administration and
reputation of the likes of Mohammed Zakariya Hajrat Qibla. There is still plenty of
great acclaim. The pages here may not be enough to explain it.
Curriculum The curriculum followed in the centers of Islamic learning in India comprises
of the Quran, Hadith, Thafsir, Tajwid, Qirat, Fiq, Kalam and Tasawuf. All the Muslim
religious scholars unanimously agree that the Quran and the Sunnah should be taught
in the language of the Quran i.e., Arabic. The early religious scholars did the same
when they conquered different countries and established centers of Islamic learning.
In the Madrasa Manbaul Anwar, Lalpet, the study materials are available only in
Arabic, through the medium of instruction is Tamil. The course of study runs for
sevenyears.
The academic year starts in the month of shawal and ends in the month of
Shaban. The annual vacation falls in the month of Ramadhan, since the lunar calendar
is followed, the academic year losses even days every year and slides over the solar
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months towards January. The curriculum followed by the Madrasas, the centres of
Islamic learning in India remained unchanged and static for centuries. Even
Aurangazeb was highly critical of the traditional system of education.
Aurangazeb undoubtedly had modern ideas to revamp the system of religious
education. Curriculum reforms were introduced in his period. Mulla Nizamuddin was
given responsibility of reshaping of the system of education in the Madrasas. His
modified system came to be known as Dhars-e-Nizamiya. Nizamiya syllabus was an
excellent program for the study of the religion of Islam. Various works of Indian
Muslim scholars had been for the first time, included in this syllabus. Mullah
Nizamuddin himself had not written any book on a subject taught in the Madrasas.
But he wrote commentaries and notes on certain books. His reputation liesnot in the
fact that he was the author of commentaries and notes but because of the fact that he
introduced a system of education followed even now in most of the Madrasas in India
and Pakistan.
There is no justification for complacency as there are short comings in Dhars–
e-Nizamiyah developed by Mulla Nizamuddin. The books prescribed by him are
difficult for study and comprehension, and they required a large number of
commentaries and notes. Hence the course of instruction devised by him became
unwieldy and cumbersome. Books on Logic and Philosophy gave mind boggling
more than religious thinking. Moreover Hadith and Thafsir were relegated to the
second position because of the importance given toFalsa-Fah.
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Inspite of these shortcomings Dhars-e-Nizamiyah with slight changes is still
followed by almost all the centres of Islamic learning, expect a few, throughout the
Indian sub-continent. The centres of Islamic learning are very reluctant to bring about
any major change in Dhars-e- Nizamiyah. It was even considered as sin by some
Ulema to execute any change in the syllabus followed for centuries. Madrasa
Manbaul Anwar, Lalpet is no different from other premier institutions.
In keeping with the changing time some modifications are accepted. But the
Lalpet scholars wanted to equip their students only with the religious knowledge and
to make them Islamic scholars and preachers. English language is not included in the
syllabus and the study of science is conspicuously absent. The Madrasa Manbaul
Anwar is against the inclusion of any vocational course along the regular subjects.
In addition of the study of Al-Quran, Thafsir and Hadith, Philosophy, Logic,
Literature, Grammar and Rhetoric find a place in the syllabus of this institute. The
course of study includes Astronomy and Mathematics also. But the book on
Astronomy is out-dated and devoid of new findings. The paper on Mathematics helps
the students to make simple calculations on partition of properties according to the
Shariath. Umdatul Adillah, the famous book written by the distinguished Principal of
this Madrasa for two decades, Allama Amani Hazrath is taught in the final year of the
Moulavi Course. It deals widely with the Geometry to find the Qibla and the Prayer
Timings at a given place. This book is prescribed in the Madrasa almost all over the
state ofTamilnadu.
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Duration of the Course is seven years, on successful completion of the course,
the students are getting the Diploma of Manbayee. The advanced level course,
Muthawwal, has one year duration. This final stage concentrates on Sahih-Al-
Bukhari, Sahih-Muslim, Sunan-Ibn-Maja, Sunan-Al-Nisai, Sunan-Abi-Daud and
Jamiah-Al-Tirmidhi. The Fazil Diploma is conferred on the students after the
successful completion of their in depth studies on the above books on Hadith. There is
a provision for Hafiz. In this class, the students are trained to memorise the Quranic
Verses step by step. Due emphasis upon Tajwid is given when they learn by rote.
Those who memorise all the verses in the Quran will earn the title, Hafiz. The
Madrasa has a group of dedicated staff. „Lecturer method‟ and „Seminar‟ are followed
to impart instructions. What has been achieved so far is there sult of their joint efforts.
Thus the curriculum of the Madras a caters to the educational needs of the Muslim
society of not only south Arcot, but also of the whole state of TamilNadu33.
Madrasa Board of Management The Madrasa Executive Board has been set up to look into the administration
of Madrasa. Members of the Board of Governors are specific member from each
Mahallah34 of Lalpettai is selected by the Mahallahs and sent to the Madras a
executive council, who meet monthly to discuss budget, Madrasa development
projects, maintenance and management.
The Madrasa Manbaul Anwar is managed by a committee of dedicated
members. It is registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860. The office bearers
are changed once in three years. No election is conducted as the contest among the
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members is avoided due to mutual understanding. The members of the governing
body which is known Madrasa committee are usually nominated from among the
families dedicated to the cause of education.
The management admits students from different Districts of Tamil Nadu. They
are expected to assimilate so completely as to lose their native identities. Since the
students hail from Labbai, Maraikayar, Rawther and Syed Communities. The
administration lets each group to maintain in some ways its distinct cultural and social
norms within the frame work of Islamic jurisprudence. The establishment does not
seek the efficiency only among the relatives and natives. Such preferential treatment
does not exist. So the administrative excellence is exemplified.
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References
1. Moulvi M.Y Mohammed Ansari Manbayee and Moulvi Alim Siddiq, Seermigu Lalpettai special number (Tamil Version) 1994, Lalpet Mehar Padippagam. p. 1.
2. Hadith, A Collection of traditions containing sayings of the Prophet Mohammed.
3. Halal, Permitted.
4. Haram, Forbidden (or) Prohibited.
5. Ulema, One who well versed in Quran.
6. Sunnah, The traditional portion of Muslim Law based on Mohammed‟s words or acts, accepted by Muslims.
7. Ilm, Knowledge.
8. Interview with Moulvi M.Y. Mohammed Ansari Manbayee on 11thNovember 2019 at Lalpet.
9. Fazil, Superior.
10. Moulavi, One who has completed full studies in a Madrasas.
11. Hafiz, Someone who has completely memorized the Holy Quran.
12. Arabu Tamil, The Tamil language that uses an Arabicalphabet.
13. Usthad, Teacher.
14. Interview with Moulvi M.Y. Mohammed Ansari Manbayee on 11th November 2019 at Lalpet.
15. Thafsir, Exegesis.
16. Thajwid, Art of Quranic Pronunciation.
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17. Qirat, Art of recitation of Quran.
18. Fiq, Jurisprudence.
19. Kalam, Scholasticism.
20. Tasawuf, Mysticism.
21. Dr. Mohammed Taqid-Din Al-Hillali. Introduction to the Interpretation of the Meaning of the Noble Quran, 1972, Islamic University, Al-Madina, Al- Munawwara. p. 64.
22. Shawal, The Tenth Month of Islamiccalendar.
23. Shaban, The Eighth Month of Islamiccalendar.
24. Ramadhan, The Ninth Month of Islamiccalendar.
25. Mohammed Akhalaq Ahmad, Traditional Education among Muslims, 1985, B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi. P.15.
26. Falsa-Fah, Philosophy.
27. Interview with Moulvi M.Y. Mohammed Ansari Manbayee on 11th November 2019 at Lalpet.
28. Shariath, Islamiclaw.
29. Qibla, The direction that should be faced when a Muslim Prays duringPrayer.
30. Interview with Moulvi M.Y. Mohammed Ansari Manbayee on 11th November 2019 at Lalpet.
31. Persian Islamic Scholars were compiled the words of Prophet Mohammed.
32. Interview with Moulvi M.Y. Mohammed Ansari Manbayee on 11th November 2019 at Lalpet.
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33. M.A. IlahiBaksh, History of Jamia Arabia Manbaul Anwar Lalpet, M.Phil Thesis, University of Madras, October 1995P.48.
34. Mahallah, Neighborhood.
35. Interview with Moulvi M.Y. Mohammed Ansari Manbayee on 11th November 2019 at Lalpet.
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