The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A mosque’s record breaking feat

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Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

A mosque’s record breaking feat

J. S. Ifthekar

Session on Quranic exegesis took 11 years at Masjid-e-Azizia

The Friday sermons in this mosque are based on editorials in English dailies
Interest-free gold loans, counselling on careers, health are also provided

Setting an example: The Masjid-e-Azizia at Humayun Nagar.

Hyderabad: How much time does it take to make a detailed explanation of the holy Quran? Perhaps a couple of months or an year at the most. Hold your breath – it is taking all of 11 years to complete the scripture. The Masjid-e-Azizia at Humayun Nagar is set to achieve a record of sorts in conducting a marathon session on Quranic exegesis.

The lucid interpretation of 6,236 verses of Quran comprising 114 chapters has so far taken 2,500 sessions. The man behind this feat is Moulana Ghayas-ul-Islam Rahmani.

He undertook the ‘Dars-e-Quran’ in 1997, explaining not more than two to three verses of the holy book for a brief 15 minutes after the ‘Isha’ prayers every night from Monday to Friday. On April 5 he will be explaining ‘Surah An-Nas’, the last chapter of Quran to a large gathering bringing to end an explanatory journey commenced more than a decade ago.

Celebrations

To mark the occasion, the managing committee of the Masjid-e-Azizia has decided to celebrate the event in a befitting manner. A three-day programme beginning April 4 has been chalked out. Renowned Islamic scholars from Bangalore, Chennai, Bihar, Kerala, Aligarh apart from Hyderabad will throw light on various aspects of the Quran. The programme ends with a public meeting on April 6.

“It is necessary to bring the community closer to Quran, the word of creator. It is also important to tell the world what the Quran is all about”, says Sayeeduddin Masood, member, mosque managing committee.

Another distinctive feature of this mosque is its Friday sermons which are topical and often based on editorials of prominent English dailies. The ‘Khateeb’ holds forth on such topics as World Diabetic Day, Human Rights Day and World health Day – something unheard of in other mosques.

Interestingly, it is not just religious discourses alone here. Every month on the third Sunday a medical lecture is organised with power point presentation. For students tips on education and career are given. Besides, the mosque managing committee provides interest free loans against gold. It also has a good library, reading room and a separate section where women gather and pray.

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