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History of Islam and Muslims in Trinidad
- By Mohammed Rafeeq
- Published 12/30/2009
- Trinidad Muslim League
- Unrated
THE AGE OF ENQUIRY
In 1930 Moulvi Ameer Ali returned from India after having graduated in Islamic theology and toured Egypt and more than half the continent of Asia. He was given a warm reception by the Anjuman and shortly after was appointed Mufti, under the presidency of Mr. Salamat Ali of Arima. Questions poured forth from all quarters to test the Moulvi's ability and grave doubts were entertained by certain sections as to whether he belonged to the Kadiani Mirzai party or to one of the Imams of the Sunnat-al-Jamaat. The Moulvi was a non-sectarian Muslim, but having spoken certain words at a meeting on December 29, 1931, at the Liberty Hall, Port of Spain relative to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad without condemning him wholesale it was deduced that he was secretly a supporter of the Mirza. Henceforth waves of opposition were instituted against the Moulvi Sahib and it was propagated in every corner of the Island that Ameer Ali was a Kadiani and his supporters Kafirs, despite the fact that denials were published from time to time by the Moulvi Sahib that he was not an Ahmadi, that he had not taken the pledge of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam of Lahore, nor had he any particular beliefs on Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, one way or another.
Moulvi Ameer Ali had already ushered in a new era of enquiry and no one cared even to believe the word of God without thorough examination. A great scholar of Islam, he possessed the advantage of knowing Arabic, English and Urdu over his adversaries who had to depend upon translations in Urdu to support their contentions. The Moulvi Sahib taught Islam in conformity with new thought and scientific discoveries. He propagated the idea that Jesus was dead, that he was not taken up to Heaven alive and therefore would not come back; that the Ascension (Miraj) of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) was not in conformity with the Spirit of Purdah as propounded by the Holy Qur'an. He advocated that women should work side by side with men and be given equal privileges in the social development of the community.
These ideas and several other reforms struck the older heads like a thunderbolt from the blue. The storm of opposition can better be imagined than described for it was repetition of history, the same as when any great man introduced a new thought and suffered untold misery and martyrdom at the hands of the vulgar only to be idolized after his death. So as time went along the persecution which at first was done in the name of religion became quite a personal matter and the feeling developed that Ameer Ali must be annihilated at any cost.
In June 1935 Moulvi Ameer Ali was made Life President of the Tackveeyatu1 Islamic Association of which he was already Mufti. A strong committee rallied around him, among them his two most ardent supporters and co-workers, Mohammed Hakim and Mohammed Rafeeq. The trio had so consolidated themselves for the sake of Islam that their names became synonymous with one another and so it could undoubtedly be stated that whatever progress was made by the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association was made by the combined efforts of these three gentlemen.
The Tackvceyatul Islamic Association was incorporated as a non-sectarian body and was the first Muslim body in Trinidad to be incorporated; the Ordinance is cited as No. 39 of 1931. It is no exaggeration to say that the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association was always actively engaged in the welfare and social development of Muslims generally, despite the stiff opposition it got from its sectarian rivals.
Moulvi Ameer Ali had already ushered in a new era of enquiry and no one cared even to believe the word of God without thorough examination. A great scholar of Islam, he possessed the advantage of knowing Arabic, English and Urdu over his adversaries who had to depend upon translations in Urdu to support their contentions. The Moulvi Sahib taught Islam in conformity with new thought and scientific discoveries. He propagated the idea that Jesus was dead, that he was not taken up to Heaven alive and therefore would not come back; that the Ascension (Miraj) of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) was not in conformity with the Spirit of Purdah as propounded by the Holy Qur'an. He advocated that women should work side by side with men and be given equal privileges in the social development of the community.
These ideas and several other reforms struck the older heads like a thunderbolt from the blue. The storm of opposition can better be imagined than described for it was repetition of history, the same as when any great man introduced a new thought and suffered untold misery and martyrdom at the hands of the vulgar only to be idolized after his death. So as time went along the persecution which at first was done in the name of religion became quite a personal matter and the feeling developed that Ameer Ali must be annihilated at any cost.
In June 1935 Moulvi Ameer Ali was made Life President of the Tackveeyatu1 Islamic Association of which he was already Mufti. A strong committee rallied around him, among them his two most ardent supporters and co-workers, Mohammed Hakim and Mohammed Rafeeq. The trio had so consolidated themselves for the sake of Islam that their names became synonymous with one another and so it could undoubtedly be stated that whatever progress was made by the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association was made by the combined efforts of these three gentlemen.
The Tackvceyatul Islamic Association was incorporated as a non-sectarian body and was the first Muslim body in Trinidad to be incorporated; the Ordinance is cited as No. 39 of 1931. It is no exaggeration to say that the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association was always actively engaged in the welfare and social development of Muslims generally, despite the stiff opposition it got from its sectarian rivals.