The Realisation of
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah
A century after its initial institutionalisation, the legacy and honourable task of imparting knowledge and preparing souls was entrusted to the 51st dāʿī, His Holiness Dr Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA. His era was that of World Wars, colonial independence, movements of freedom, pan-Islamic caliphates and unheard of scientific discovery. Recognising the nature and magnitude of social change in his time he adjusted Aljamea’s teaching system in order to produce graduates that could thrive in the complex and changing world that now surrounded them.
A NEW CHAPTER
In 1381/1961, Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA constructed a new campus for Aljamea in Surat. The educational re-orientation and new campus heralded a fresh chapter in the history of the academy.
Reflecting current realities, beneficial educational practices and subjects were welcomed through the inclusion of courses in English, sciences and humanities. Preserving the old and enduring, whilst incorporating the new and beneficial yielded immediate and long-term results as Aljamea continued forward on its path of mutually imparting spiritual and temporal education.
It was appropriate that this transformation of Darse Saifee be commemorated with a modification to its name. Jāmiʿa, the Arabic word for university, reflects the university calibre education brought to the institution and Saifiyā pays due tribute to the efforts of both Syednas, the original founder Syedna Abdeʿali Saifuddin RA and Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA.
What was previously Darse Saifee now became Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah.
CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT
The 52nd al-dāʿī al-mutlaq, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA continued the development initiated by his predecessor. He widened the dimensions of teaching and learning and provided the campus with the latest technology to facilitate it.
In 1396/1976
His Holiness established an institute for the study of Quranic arts and sciences known as Mahad al-Zahra. He endowed Mahad al-Zahra with a state of the art language laboratory that was used for language improvement as well as for enhancing the quality of Quranic recitation, a first in Quranic education.
In 1404/1983
A new campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah was established in Karachi by His Holiness which mirrored the academic and structural components of its sister academy in Surat. During this period, a complete renovation and refurbishment process was also undertaken at the Surat Aljamea campus.
NEARLY THIRTY YEARS LATER
On the occasion of his 100th birthday celebration, His Holiness established a third campus of this historic institute in Nairobi, Kenya. The educational movement that traced its heritage to the Fatimi imams of North Africa and Egypt returned to the continent from whence it came.
THOUSANDS & HUNDREDS
With the passing of almost one thousand years since the seclusion of the imam and His Holiness’s reaching one hundred years of age, ‘thousands’ and ‘hundreds’ had united, indicating the exponential blessings that his tenure as al-dāʿī al-mutlaq had seen.
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE
Further indicative of his bountiful era, at the onset of his Golden Jubilee year, His Holiness’ shahzādā and successor, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS announced on his behalf during the discourse he delivered on the occasion of Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s RA urs mubārak (death anniversary) that yet another campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah would be constructed in the suburbs of the great metropolis of Mumbai, India.
His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS, the 53rd al-dāʿī al-mutlaq, is the benefactor of Aljamea-tus-Saifyah today. Like his father, His Holiness TUS consistently emphasises the importance of character and moral development alongside education and learning. He has indicated that the study of Fatimi texts and secular subjects in Aljamea should result in a student that is modest and humble yet confident in asserting the relevance and significance of Fatimi thought and culture in today’s world. He or she should be able to embrace traditional education and contextualise it with modernity rather than sacrificing its principles and ideals at the altar of notions of progress. Syedna Saifuddin TUS repeatedly mentions the students of Aljamea in his discourses and sermons indicating his deep affection for the academy and its children. Today, Syedna Saifuddin TUS upholds the legacy and Fatimi tradition of imparting knowledge.
Although the Fatimi educational movement, which has come to be embodied in Aljamea, spans a thousand years, it is still vibrant today due to the vitality of its philosophy and its assimilation of past wisdom along with contemporary knowledge. Locations have varied and circumstances continuously change, but the firm resolve to disseminate knowledge and enlighten the intellect has remained and continues to remain unshaken. Under the guidance of His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS, it is with this resolve that Aljamea positively looks towards the future.
