PRESENT STATUS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN JAMAICA NUMERICAL STRENGTH
The Muslim Community in Jamaica is a very young one in comparison to most other throughout the region. out of a population of 2.5 million people the community numbers only 2 thousand practicing muslims and a few thousand mainly of East Indian descent who have little knowledge and practice only fragments of Islam. Of course, from the historical data given the country is ripe for meaningful dawah.
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PLACE
Politically and economically we are very weak as most of those who have responded to the call are the poor and needy and also those whom the system have rejected. Nevertheless we have a few immigrants (who are professionals based here temporarily) who exert some influence on the political directorate. One brother has resided in Jamaica for over 25 years and is the Director of the International Bank of Jamaica.
Socially he have managed to exert some influence on the society through our Islamic life style as we are easily recognized and respected because of our mode of dressing, behavioral patterns and moral stand. There is however a great need for both secular and religious education.
PROBLEMS THE COMMUNITY IS FACING Our community whilst united faces problems in almost all aspects of our affairs, the major ones being lack of proper education, a sound economic base, trained personnel and dawah facilities.
EDUCATION
Jamaica, the largest English speaking country in the Caribbean, has a high illiteracy rate (30-40%, this is also evident among our community where the active participants are mostly first generation. As a result of the above a lot of our resources, ime and effort have to be spent in up-grading and raising the level of these Muslims.
We have instituted study circle sessions reading and writing of English Quranic studies, Tajweed, Arabic studies, Islamic etiquette, Tafseer, ect. Al-Hamdulillah, we are fortunate to have a Scholar amongst us. His name is Sheikh Musa Medina Tijani and he is from Nigeria (West Africa). He studied at the University of Medina for over seven years and is now based here under the auspices of Dar-ul Iftar. Our Immediate problems are (1) lack of adequately trained teachers (we have no indigenous scholar) and (2) properly trained field personnel to take on the work of dawah.
Although we are quite small we are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the Island and our few teachers have to travel throughout the entire Island to maintain the above programs. The problem we face in this area is that we haven't got any trans portation of our own - an area of concern that we are assiduously seeking to rectify. Our main teachers are Amir Mustafa Muhammad, Sheikh Musa Tijani, Talib ud-Din and Abdus-Sami.
We also have the problem of inadequate amounts of literature for our study circle and general classes. This problem is being somewhat alleviated by our constant contact with the international Islamic federation of Student Organizations(IIFSO) and we are l ooking forward to similar or other assistance from you or any other Islamic body or organization.
FUTURE PRIORITIES, PLANS AND PROJECTIONS OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN JAMAICA
To establish a Masjid, Madrasah, library, auditorium, dormitories, offices and minor recreational facilities.
Thanks for the info. THIS is spreading like some fungus; thanks most likely to our good buddies the Saudis.
FUTURE PRIORITIES, PLANS AND PROJECTIONS OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN JAMAICA: To establish a Masjid, Madrasah(Run by Saudi Wahabis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), library, auditorium, dormitories, offices and minor recreational facilities.