Contents

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Principal’sAddress

Editors’Letter

EditorialTeamAcknowledgements

AaminahAneeq

ZifraRizan

MaimunaRazoon

AzkaIrshad

ZainabIdrees

HanaAkram

NuhaAslam

AaishaNaeem

AaliyaEshak

AaliyaAmhar

AminaRushdy

AyanaSheriff

4C4

3C1

8N1

10N1

11C3

6N3

7N2

7C1

6C4

6N1

7C4

8N4

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AmeeraArshad

InzyraRauf

JameelaWaznie

ShahadahMurshid

AsharZahraa

RukayyaImran

Umaira

AneeqaRazack

AishaJemzeedSaraRumy

IzmaArsath

AyshaAli

FactsonSriLanka

SabeehaJiffry

AaishaRizwan

ImarahRahmathullah

3N3

7N1

7C1

7C2

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5N2

6C4

7C3

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3C1

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7C3

5N1

DearStudents,

Itgivesmegreatpleasureinpenningafewwordsforthe2ndeditionofourE-Magazine.Thethemeofthismagazineis‘MuslimswhoContributedtotheDevelopmentofourNation’.Ifindthisisaveryapttopicintoday’scontext.WeareallcitizensofSriLankaandasweallknow,SriLankaisamulti-ethnic,multi-culturalcountry.Whenweturnthepagesofhistoryandlookback,ourforefathershaveplayedmajorrolesinthedevelopmentandgrowthofourbeautifulmotherland;thisisbeautifullyrepresentedinthismagazine.Throughthismagazine,Ihopethatallofourstudentswillbeinspiredandmotivatedtomaketheirownindividualcontributionstoourcountry.IhopeandprayallofuswillplayaroleinamoreunitedandpeacefulSriLanka.

3

Principal’s Address

Iamamazedbythetalentsourstudentshavedisplayedduringthesepandemicyears.Theideaofamalgamatingallformatsofmediaintoane-magazineistrulycreative.Theresiliencethatyou,students,displayconstantlyamazesme.ManycongratulationstotheMediaandCommunicationSociety,bothpastandpresent.

Itakethisopportunitytothankallthestudentswhotooktimeouttosubmittheirprecioussubmissions.

YourPrincipal,Ms.AminaZuhair

4

Editors’ LetterReadytogobackintime?

Rememberthosewhocontributedtowardstheunityofthecountryandstoodduringthemostdifficulttimesofthecountry’sindependencemovement?

AmongthemweretheMuslimleaderswhoplayedasignificantroleintheCeylonNationalCongressbetweentheyears1919to1947.Fromfoundinginstitutionstoenhancetheeducationandmedicalsectortoassociatingwithvariousotherleadersinpromotingpeace,theseleadershavecontributedimmenselytoourmotherland.

Thee-magazineisourfirsteverprojectastheMediaandCommunicationSociety(2021/2022).Thingshappenedswiftly,becausewewereassignedtoworkon

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thisprojectrightafterwewereappointedastheassociatesoftheMediaandCommunicationSociety.Whenwewereinformedaboutthisproject,wetookthisasouropportunitytolearnnewskillsandshowcaseourteamwork.Brainstorming,thoughtsstreamedusallintoaworldfullofmagnificentideas.Wehadtopivotourthoughtsonthedevelopmentofourcountrybyourleaderswhichisatopicthatmostofusdon’tthinkabout.

Asateam,wefacedmanychallengessuchasdifficultiesinadaptability,technicalissues,timemanagementandsomuchmore.Yet,ourteamroseupagainstthesechallenges,workedalldayandnightcompilinganddesigningthemagazine.Ourobjectiveistohighlighttoyouhowourcountrywasdevelopedbythecontributionsofourgreat,courageousandintellectualMuslimleaders.Wehopetoenthralour audiencealongtheirlittlejourneyt throughoure-magazine.

6

Despitethechangesintoday’sschoolingsystem,theMediaandCommunicationSocietywassuccessfulinconductingthecompetitionrelatingtothisthemetoenrichtheknowledgeofourstudentsandallowthemtoexpressthemselvesinanywaytheirheartsdesired.Totriggerthecreativesideofouryoungjournalists,videoentrieswereacceptedaswell.

Thecompetitionwasheldonline,allowingbothPrimaryandSecondarySchoolstosubmitarangeofentries,showcasingtheirjournalismskills.Takeaglancewithusatsomeoftheamazingentrieswhichstoodoutfromtherest.

“Keepreading,it’soneofthemostmarvelousadventuresthatanyonecanhave”-LloydAlexander.Pleasantreadingtoouraudience!

-Nazahah Khalaf and Farah Rafic

(Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor)7

Teacher in ChargeMissMassShiaraUsuf

Society TeacherMissFaznaImtiaz

Editorial Student AdvisorsLiyaanahRauffAmnaZaheerAtiyyahThahirNabeehaJameel

Editor-in-ChiefNazahahKhalaf

Associate EditorsFarahRaficFaheemaSulaimanSumaiyaShabirSaudahAzmil

Editorial WritingKhizraHanifSamhaSanaNuhaJiffryNuhaMaryam

Design Team ZainabRahmathullahSafiyaMusthakDepartment EditorsLamhaLuthufullahAyshaAnverMahaynoorMunasShenayaS.Ramiz

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Editorial Team

AcknowledgementsWe,themembersoftheMediaandCommunicationSociety(2021/2022)wouldliketoexpressourutmostappreciationtotheschoolandtheteacherswhoconstantlyguidedusthroughouttheprocessofcreatingthee-magazine.

ToourPrincipal,MadamAminaZuhair;thankyouforgivingusthisgoldenopportunityofreleasingthee-magazineforthesecondconsecutiveyear.Havingreceivedthisuniquethemeaboutthedevelopmentofournation,withoutdoubtithasenhancedourknowledgeandopenedapathwaytoshowcaseourpatriotismtowardsourmotherland.

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ToMadamGneiSharmaleenGirsy(VicePrincipalSenior),MadamNasikaThoufeek(VicePrincipalAcademic),MadamSarahHussain(VicePrincipalTechnical),MadamAzminZiyard(VicePrincipalPrimary)andthesectionalheadsanddeputysectionalheads;thankyouforassistingandgivingusthisresponsibilityofmakingitpossibletopublishthee-magazine.

ToMissSaranyaAriharan(Coordinatoroftheco-curricularactivities);thankyouforapprovingourcontentandassistingusthroughoutthecompilationprocess.

ToMissMaleehaZubairandtheShariahCommittee;wethankyouforputtingyourimmenseeffortinmakingsurethecontentofoure-magazineisaccordingto

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theShariahguidelines.TotheteacherinchargeoftheMediaandCommunicationSociety,MissMassShiaraUsufandSocietyTeacherMissFaznaImtiaz;thankyouforbeingourpillarsofsupportwhopushedusinendeavoringourgoalsinthepreparationofthemagazine.

ToMissPraveenaDulpandanAniff,MissKhadijahImanHifathandMissMonaZaneefer;thankyoufortakingyourtimeineditingandproofreadingthecontentofthemagazineandaddingtoitsworthiness.

Tooursupportingstudentadvisors(2020/2021);weareextremelygladforyourendlessadviceandreassurancewhichsurelyprovedtoenlightenusduringthis wonderfulexperience.

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Lastly,toallthosewhoparticipateddedicatedlyanddesignedthemagazineremarkablywiththeirpersonalcreativeskills,wewouldliketoextendourunfeignedgratitudetoyou.Yourentriescertainlymadethismagazinecomplete.

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SriLankaisanislandlikenootherRace,caste,religiondoesnotmatter,Inhelpingtobuildthelanduphigh,

Lotsofeffortsdidmanytry.Ahomeformanypatriots,

Neverdidtheythinkofthat!Knownnottomanypeople,untoldAlegendleftforustobehold.

Manyreligionsdidunite,Untoldhistoryforustotakepride

Somegaveinsilenthonour,Letusnotforgetthemforeverandever.

Inupliftingourmotherland’ssoul,Muslimstooplayedanimportantrole.

Sri Lankan Pride

Aaminah Aneeq 4C4

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A. M. A. AZEEZ

A.M.AAzeez,areputedSriLankanMuslimsintellectual,wasborninVannarponni,JaffnaonOctober4,1911.

HejoinedasthefirstMuslimcivilservantandworkedinvariouspositionsindifferentpartsofthecountryfor13years.In1948,hebecametheprincipalanddevelopedZahiraCollege.

AzeezthoughtthatmoderneducationistheonlytoolfortheprogressandupwardsocialhabilitationoftheMuslimcommunityfromitsbackwardness.HeformedtheCeylonMuslimfundin1945thathelpedthousandsofneedyMuslimstudentstocontinuetheireducation.

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HegavestrongleadershiptotheMuslimcommunityinSriLankaformorethanthreedecadesfromtheearly1940sandhewillberememberedforever.

HepassedawayonNovember26th,1973atageof62.HewasverymuchrespectedbybothMuslimsandTamilsandalsobytheSinhaleseforhisservicetothecommunitiesandthenation.

Zifra Rizam 3C1

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Maimuna Razoon 8N1

Azka Irshad10N1

16

The Life of T. B. Jayah

Contributions of T. B. Jayah

Muslims who contributed to the development of Sri Lanka

Muslimshavebeenlivinginserenityandunanimityinthispicturesqueislandforoveracentury.TheyhavebeencollaboratingandfortifyingforthesolidarityandhonourofSriLankasincethepre-colonialtimes.TheEuropeancolonialrulehadbeenputtoanendin1948,whendifferentcommunities,includingtheMuslimsunanimouslyfoughtagainsttheBritish.ManystillremembertheservicerenderedbythefollowingMuslimleaders;Dr.T.B.Jayah:TuanBurhanudeenJayahwasaSriLankaneducationalist,politician,diplomatandaleaderoftheMuslimcommunity.HewasaschoolteacheratfirstandthenretiredasaprincipalofZahiraCollege27yearslater.HehadstudiedatSt.Thomas’CollegeandtheUniversityofLondon.Moreover,hebecameapartoftheUnitedNationalPartyin1946. 17

SirRazikFareed:FareedwasaCeyloneseproprietor,politician,diplomatandaphilanthropist.HewastheformerCabinetMinisterofTrade,Senator,MemberofParliamentandStateCouncil.HehadalsoservedasCeylon’sHighCommissionerinPakistan.Furthermore,hestudiedatRoyalCollegeandwaspartoftheUnitedNationalPartyin1965.Dr.M.C.M.Kaleel:DeshamanayaDr.MohamedCassimMohamedKaleelwasaCeylonesephysician,philanthropistandpolitician.HestudiedatSt.Thomas’CollegeandwasapartoftheUnitedNationalPartyin1950.Hehadalsowrittenbookssuchasthe‘PoliticalWindsofChange:LegislativeSpeechesofDr.M.C.M.Kaleel’.

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Zainab Idrees11C3

Dr.Badi-ud-dinMahmud:DeshamanayaAl-HajBadi-ud-dinMahmudwasaSriLankanpolitician.Heservedfor10yearsastheMinisterofEducationand2yearsastheMinisterofHealthandHousing.HewasapartoftheSriLankanFreedomPartyin1972andhadstudiedatZahiraandWesleyCollege.

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Prominent Muslim figures of Sri Lanka

SriLanka’sMuslimcommunityisspreadacrossthecountry.TradersfromtheMiddleEastarrivedinSriLankainthe7thcenturyAD.IslambegantoflourishinSriLankafromthepasttopresent.ManyMuslimshavemademanycontributionstothedevelopmentofourmotherland.

SirRazikFareedisoneofthosewhoincreasedtheeducationstandardsamongtheMuslimcommunity;heestablishedtheMuslimLadies’Collegeinhisownland.HestartedtheTeacherTrainingCollegeinAlthikama.

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DeshabanduJezimaIsmailisaSriLankaneducatorandasocialactivistwhohasalsoservedasanadvocateforhumanrights.Shehasworkedinseveralinternationalorganizationsonhumanrights.

Mr.A.M.A.Azeezwasaneducatorandasocialworker.AzeezhelpedlandlessMuslimsintheEasternprovincebecomeprosperous,makingitthegranaryofCeylon.

M.R.LatiffisaSriLankanseniorpoliceofficer;heisspecializedincounterterrorism.Histenure,asacommandantofthespecialtaskforce,sawamajoranti-drugcampaign.

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MadamFareedaWahabisoneoftheinspiringwomenwhohasworkedforourcountry.ShehasworkedintheEducationMinistryandasaprincipalofmanyschools.

OurMadamRashidaMohideenwasaleadingladyinthesphereofeducationalservicesofSriLanka.

So,thesearesomeoftheMuslimswhocontributedtothedevelopmentofSriLanka.

Hana Akram 6N3

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Madam Jezima IsmailMadamJezimaIsmailwasbornin1935inthevillageofSainthamaruthu,avillagewhichisabouttwoandhalfmilesawayfromKalmunai,Amparadistrict.Herfatherwasanirrigationengineer,hermotherwasahomemakerandhergrandfatherservedasatrusteeofamosque.Jezimacamefromaconservativefamilyandherfatherencouragedhertopursueeducation.ShereceivedherprimaryandsecondaryeducationatStBridget’sConvent,Colombo.Hermother’ssideofthefamilywasheavilyinvolvedinlocalpoliticsandduringelectiontimes,hermotherworkedasapollingagent.ShegraduatedfromUniversityofPeradeniyaandUniversityofCeylonattheageof20in1955.AftergraduatingfromUniversityofCeylonin

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1955,shestartedtoworkinseveraldiversefieldslikeeducation,humanrightsandbroadcasting.ShejoinedthestaffofDeviBalikaMahaVidyalayaunderPrincipalDr.WimaladeSilva’sguidance.Later,shewenttoCanadaandobtainedhermaster’sdegreeineducationfromMcGillUniversityandcompletedherpostgraduatediplomaatUniversityofSydney,Australia.In1980,shebecamethefirstwomantobeappointedastheheadoftheSriLankaBroadcastingCorporationandhasworkedasabroadcasterfortheSLBC.MadamJezimaIsmailwasappointedasoneofthemembersofthecommitteebytheSriLankanpresidentbackthen,MahindaRajapakse,tostudyandrespondtothereportsrelatedtotheMullivaikkalHospitalbombingsin2009.SheisalsothefounderofSriLankaMuslimWomen’sConference(SLMWC)andhasserved

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Nuha Aslam7N2

astheformerViceChancellorofEasternUniversity.ShetooservedasthechairpersonofPeople’sActionforFreeandFairElectionsMadamJezimahasnotablyaddressedsomeofthenation’smostcriticalissuesincludingdevelopmentofyouth,women’srights,peaceanddemocracy.In1989,shewasawardedthetitleofDeshabandubytheSriLankangovernment,whichisthethirdhighestnationalhonourinSriLanka.MadamJezimaIsmailisconsideredasoneofthemostinspirationalandgreatestmodernwomenintheIslamiccommunityforherimmenseservicestowardsthesociety.“Historianshavetraditionallybeenattractedbywarsandrebellionswhereasthepeacefulco-existenceofgroupsofpeopleoverlongperiodstendstobeoverlooked”-MadamJezimaIsmail

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To the Muslim Heroes of Sri LankaLongbeforeinourcountry

Invaderscameuptothedozen.Therewasnohopeatall

Forthecitizens,theirhopefrozen.LightariseninsomeheartTheystoodup,allstrong

Foughttheirwaytofreedom.ForweallknowtheinvaderswerewrongTheycamewithheartsashardasstone,Andkilledpeoplewhowanttheircountry.Ourheroesworktomakeourcountryknow

Sowemustthankthemforwar.TheSriLankanMuslimleaders

Too,broughthopetoourcitizens.Moreofthemhadtoarise

Afterall,ourcountryhadaprize.Aprizenotofgoldorlead,

It’sofwhichcountrycomesfirstForfightingthathadtobeneed,

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Andourcitizenshadmuchofthatandlessoffear.

Theyweretheoneswithhopesmeared,Theheroestheinvadersfeared.

AssassinationonlystoppedNizamMuthalliffButonlythatwouldstopafewmore.Gatheringpeopletogetherthey’dcry,“Attackforourcountry,ourcounty”

NearthegrasstheywouldlieFortheyknewadaywouldcome

Adayofgladness,wewouldhaveaflag.Aflagonlyofourown

Freedomourpeoplewouldknow,AndtheirharvesttheywouldshowWarisover,ourhappinessatlast.

AllthememoryislongpastLonglaterourglasswillberaised

AstheMuslimleaderswillbepraised.

Aisha Naeem 7C1

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Aliyah Eshak 6C4

Aliya Amhar 6N1

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A few Inspirational Muslim Leaders

Facets of the Life of some Muslim Leaders

Back in time Onefinedayinclass,Misssaid,

“Wellclass,youlookveryboredanddead!”“Nevermind!”shesaid.“I’llsooncheeryouup.Of

course,I’ddo”.“Beforelongyou’llbesaying‘Hiphooraywoohoo!’

“Wherearewegoing,Miss?”weasked.Withfacessoflat,

Onewouldmistakeusforcowpats.“Backintime!”shecried.

“Tomeettheheroeswhoservedourcountryintheirday.”

Andwithmanyamoanandgroan,Didsheshoveinthetimemachineourlazy

bones?Shespunafewdials,Tappedafewkeys.

Offlikeabulletwewent-whee!Finallywescreechedtoahalt.

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“Offnow!Oneatatime!”saidshe.“Firstwe’regoingtomeetMr.Bad-ud-Din,

Andwhateveryoudo,DONOT,”shesaid,

“Wander‘roundthatdarkcorner,Oryouwillbedead.

Understand?”“YesMiss,”togetherweallcried

Andfollowedhertillthemachinewasoutofsight.Wesoonsawamanstanding,Wewentupandhesaid,

“I’mMr.Bad-ud-DinandIonceaddressedagathering,

Andtoldthemthat,Justlikethem,likeeveryotherSinhalaandTamil

insight,Itoowantedpeace,andforthemIwouldfight.”

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“Upnext,”yelledMiss,“We’regoingtomeetMr.T.B.Jayah.”

Thenweroundedacornerandtherewasthemanhimself,

Lookingsmartinhisshortblackcap.“I’mBurhanuddinJayah,”saidhe.

“AndinmytimeasamemberoftheStateCouncil,

IadvancedMuslimeducation,Andestablishedmanyschoolsaroundthecountry.”

Aaminah Rushdhy 7C4

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Outstanding Muslim heroes of Sri Lanka

Heroesarepeoplewhocontributetothedevelopmentofnationsandtheworld.Aheroisalsoknownassomeonewhodoessomethingforthesafetyofothers.Theseheroessacrificethemselvesforthefreedomofacountry.Heroeshelpmakeourlivesbetter.Manyheroesdiddifferentheroicthingswhichchangedourlives.

Someheroeshelpedusbyfightinginwarstoachievefreedom.Someheroescontributedtothedevelopmentoftheeducationsystembysettingupgreatschoolstoproducepro-ductivecitizens.Theseindividualsareknownas‘heroes’astheyarecourageous,brave,strongandtheymakesacrificestoachievegreatmilestoneswhichimpactmanylives.

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TherearemanyMuslimswhocontributedtothedevelopmentofSriLankasuchasMadamRasheedhaMohideen,Dr.TuanBurhanuddinJayah,Ms.AyeshaRauf,M.C.SiddiLebbeandSirRazikFareed.MuhammedCassimSiddiLebbewasbornontheEleventhofJune1838anddiedontheFifthofFebruary1898.SiddiLebbewasawriterandalawyerbyprofession.Hewasalsoknownasthe‘FatherofMuslimEducation’.SiddiLebbefoundedmanyMuslimschools.Heprintedbooksandgaveitforfreewhilstworkinghardtowardstheimprovementofeducation.

MadamRasheedhaMohideenwasthefounderofIlmaInternationalGirls’School.HerdreamwastobuildaschoolforMuslimgirls.Shedidnotgiveuponherdreaminsteadmadeherdreamcometrueby

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openingherownschoolinTalakotuwaGar-densinColombo05.

T.B.Jayahwasanationalhero.Hewasexcellentinhisstudies.HewasateacherandtheprincipalofZahiraCollegefortwenty-sevenyears.T.B.JayahwasaveryinspiringpersonformanyasevenamidsttheJapanesebombing,hetookpartinaneventwhichwasorganizedbyhisstudent.HewasthefirstMuslimcabinetminister.ThesewonderfulheroescontributedalottoSriLanka.Weshouldalsocontributetoourcountrytomakeitanamazingnationtolivein.LetusallbeheroesofourcountryandmakeSriLankaanamazingplacetolivein. Ayana Sheriff

8N4

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Ameera Arshad3N3

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T. B. Jayah MuslimsinSriLankahavebeenlivinginpeaceandharmonyinthisbeautifulcountryformorethanonethousandyears.MuslimsofSriLankasupportedintheprocessofSriLankagainingindependencefromtheBritishin1948.ManystillremembertheleadingroleplayedbyMuslimleaderssuchasDr.T.B.Jaya,SirRazikFareedandDr.Badi-ud-dinMahmud.InthisessayIshallwriteaboutDr.T.B.Jayah.TuanBranudeenJayahwasbornonJanuary1st,1890,inGalagedera.HisfatherwasCassimJayah,aPoliceSergeantandhismotherwasNonaJaya.HewasanoldboyofSt.Thomas’Collegeandexcelledinhiseducation.T.B.JayawasthesolerepresentativeofMuslimsamongthebrilliantyoungmenofothercommunitieswhoobtainedhisBachelorofArtsdegreefromLondonUniversityin1911.Forthenextthirty-fiveyears,hewasintheprofessionofteachingthatwasdearesttohis

38

heart.TheschoolsinwhichhetaughtwereAnandaCollege,PrinceofWales,MoratuwaandDharmarajaCollege,Kandy. In1921,attheageofthirty-one,heassumeddutiesasthePrincipalofZahiraCollege,Maradana.Hetransformeditfromatotteringelementaryschoolwithsixteachers,fifty-nineboystoapremiereducationalinstitutionwithoverthreethousandfivehundredstudentsandaroundonehundredandfiftyteachers.HealsointroducedsportssuchasRugby,FootballandBoxingbeforehandingoverdutiestoA.M.A.Azeez. JayainhistimewasanEducationist,StateCouncilor,MemberofParliament,MinisterofStateandAmbassadortoPakistan.WhenCeylongainedindependencein1948,hewasappointedasCabinetMinisteroftheD.S.SenanayakeGovernment,andthefirstMuslimtoholdsuchaposition.

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Likeeveryhumanbeinghashisend,TuanBranudeenJayatoopassedawayonMay31st,1960,whileworkingtosetupaPilgrims’RestinMeccaforCeylonesepilgrimsperformingHajj.HewasburiedatJennathulBaqithefinalrestingplaceofmanyCompanionsandmembersofthefamilyofProphetMuhammed(Sal).

Inzyrah. Rauf 7N1

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History of Muslims in Sri Lanka

IslambegandevelopinginSriLankawiththearrivalofArabtradersinthe7thcenturyA.D.ArabmerchantsandtheirnativebrideswerethefirsttoembracetheIslamicfaith.ArabtradershadacquiredcontrolofmuchoftheIndianOceancommerceincludingSriLanka’s,bythe8thcenturyA.D.Manyofthemsettledingreatnumbersontheisland,encouragingthespreadofIslam.

WhenthePortuguesearrivedinthe16thcentury,manyofthedescendantsoftheseArabtraders-nowidentifiedastheSriLankanMoors-werethemajorspicemerchants,withnetworksreachingallthewaytotheMiddleEast.

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TheSriLankanMoorsettlements,warehousesandbusinessnetworkshadbeenattacked,per-secutedanddestroyedbyPortuguesecolonists.ManydefeatedMoorssoughtrefugeinSriLanka’sinteriortoavoidpunishment.DuetotheextremerevoltsagainsttheMoors,thepopulationofSriLankanMoorsdramaticallydecreasedduringPortuguesecolonialrule.InthecentralhighlandsandEasternProvinceofSriLanka,theSinhaleseking,KingSenaratofKandygaveprotectiontosomeMuslims.

Duringthe18thand19thcenturies,theDutchandBritishrulersbroughtoverJapaneseandMalaysianMuslims,whocontributedtoSriLan-ka’sgrowingMuslimpopulation.Theirdescend-ants,nowknownasSriLankanMalaysadoptedseveralSriLankanMoorIslamictraditionswhiletransferringtheirownculturalIslamicpractices

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tootherMuslimgroupsontheisland.Theen-tryofMuslimsfromIndiatoSriLankathrough-outthe19thand20thcenturiesfurtheraidedthespreadofIslam.

PakistaniandSouthIndianMuslimsinparticular,haveimportedtheShafi’iandHanafischoolstoSriLanka.ThemajorityofMuslimsontheislandfollowSunniIslam’straditionalcustoms.Incurrenttimes,theMuslimReligiousandCulturalAffairsDepartmentisinchargeofMuslimsinSriLanka.Itwasfoundedinthe1980stoavoidtheMuslimcommunityfrombecomingisolatedfromtherestofthecountry.

Jameelah Waznie 7C1

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Shahadha Murshid 7C2

Ashar Zahraa4N1

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Great Souls who contributed to our Motherland

Insight into the Life of Dr. Badiud-Din Mahmud

Our Great Muslim Leaders of Sri Lanka.

SiddieLebbe1stMuslimlawyerinSriLanka.In1882,heintroducedZahiraCollegeinMaradana.Hepublishedthe1stMuslimjournal“MuslimNesam”.Hedistributedpreschoolbooksfreely.

ArasiMarikarWapchieMarikarHewasthebuilderofthegeneralpostofficeinColombo,theColomboMuseum,theColombocustoms,theoldtownhallinPettahandtheGallefacehotel.

MuhammadCassimAbdulRahman(1829-1899)Heservedasacounselorandalsoappointedasunofficialmunicipalmagistrate.

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SirRazikFareed(1893-1934)HewastheformercabinetministeroftradealsoservedasCeylon’shighcommissionertoPakistan.

A.M.A.Azeez1stmoorcivilservant,formerGAofeasternprovinceandlateZahriaCollegeprincipal.

Dr.A.C.M.SulaimanFounderoftheGrandpassmaternityandnursinghomein1942.

VidyaJyothiProfessorResviSheriffHeadofthedepartmentofclinicalmedicineatthefacultyofmedicine,universityinColombo.

MohammedJunaidMohamedLafir(1930-1981)HewasaformerworldchampionsnookerplayerfromSriLanka.

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T.B.Jayah1stcabinetministeroflaborandsocialserviceintheindependentCeylon.HewasconsideredoneofSriLanka’snationalheroes.

RushdiJabirMotivationalspeakerwhohasmotivatedthehighestnumberofmilitarystaffinSriLanka.

MadamRasheedaMohideenFounderprincipalofIlmaInternationalGirls’SchoolforMuslimgirls’education.

Rukayya Imran 5N2

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Past Muslim Leaders to be ReveredMuslimsinSriLankahavebeenlivinginpeaceandharmonyinthisbeautifulcountryformorethanthousandsofyears.TheyhavebeencooperatingandsupportingthemajoritySinhalesecommunitiesthroughoutthehistory.

TheMuslimcommunityinSriLankahavebeencontributingtotheunityandintegrityofSriLankanotonlyintherecenttimesofwarbutsincepre-colonialtimes.MuslimsofSriLankawellsupportedtheprocessofSriLankagainingindependencefromtheBritishin1948andhelpedforalmostfourandahalfcenturiestoestablishindependencefromtheEuropeancolonialruleinourcountry.

TheleadingroleplayedbyMuslimleaderssuchasDr.T.B.Jayah,SirRaazikFareed,Dr.M.C.M.Kaleel,SiddhiLebbeandDr.Badi-Ud-Din

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Mahmudintheconstitutionalreformsofthiscountryandtheirenthusiasticsupportforthedemandofthedominionstatusofindependence.Theyneverobstructedthepoliticalprogressofthecountry.T.B.JayahemergedasaleaderoftheMuslimcommunitytothecountry.Heenteredpoliticsandbecameaprominentfigureinpre-independ-encepoliticsofSriLanka.Hewaselectedtothelegislativecouncil,statecouncilandpar-liament.Hewasalsoafoundingmemberoftheunitednationalparty.Sir Razik Fareed was a Sri Lankan proprietor,politician,diplomat,andphilanthropist.Hewasaformercabinetministeroftradeandsenatormem-beroftheparliamentandstatecouncil.Althoughwecelebrate72yearsofindependence,westillhavealongwalktoprogressasanation.Soletusgettogetherasonenationtowardsthepros-perityandprogressofourmotherland.

Umaira 6C449

Aneeqa Razack7C3

Aysha Jemzeed5C1

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Mulsim Heroes of our Land

A Chat with Professor Rezvi Sheriff

The Nation’s Heroes

In1948,independencedidwegain.Freedomfromthecolonisers,Freedomfromeverypain.

Thenation’sheroesstroveforliberty,Sacrificedtheirlives,

Andstroveforprosperity.

Muslimscontributedequally,AlongwiththeBuddhists,TamilsandCatholics,

Whofoughtforourrightsfearlessly.

Dr.T.B.Jayah,SirRazikFareed,Dr.BadiudinMahmud,Dr.M.C.M.Kaleel,

Ourstreetsnowscreamyournameswithimmensepride.

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Sara Rumy4C2

Foryouareourprotectors,FromthemightyEuropeanrulers,

Foryouarethenation’sfreedomfighters.

Wenowliveinpeaceandlivewithmight,Ourbeautifulcountryyoudidunite,

Wesaluteyouforthispride!

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Contributions by Muslims Leaders to Develop Sri Lanka

SriLankanMuslimshavebeenlivinginpeaceandharmonywithothercommunitiesformorethanathousandyears.Theyhavebeenco-operatingandsupportingothersthroughoutSriLankanhistorysincethepre-independenceandpre-colonialtimes.MuslimpeopleinSriLan-kahavebeencontributingtowardstheunityandintegrityofSriLanka.

MuslimshavegreatlycontributedtoSriLankainmanyfields.ItisthedutyandresponsibilityoftheMuslimcommunity.Inpre-colonialtimesMus-limsinSriLankaintroducedSriLankanspices,diamondsandgemstotheArabworldandtheyactedasmediatorsbetweenthelocalpeopleofSriLankaandArabtradersoftheMiddleEast.Muslimshavegreatlycontributedtothesafety

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andsecurityofthecountrysinceancienttimes.Muslimshavecontributedeconomicallysincetheylandedontheislandand,contribut-ededucationallyandculturallytoo.

AmongIslamicscholarsandpioneers,MuhammedCaseemSiddiLebbewasaCeyloneselawyer,educationalist,scholar,philosopher,writer,pub-lisher,andasocialreformertoo.WehaveknownhimsinceSriLankanindependencetoo.Dr.BadiudinMahmoodservedasministerofeducationfortwotermsandtheschoolsinSriLankawerenationalizedduringhisterm.HecontributedtothedevelopmentoftheSriLankaneducationsystem.

ThefirstMuslimjudgeinSriLankawasJusticeAkbarandhewasoneofthemaincontributorstowardsestablishinguniversities.HedevotedmostofhislifetoSriLankanlaw.

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NextgreatpersonalityisT.BJayah.Hewasoneoftheleaderswhofoughtfortheinde-pendenceofSriLankaandwasthefounderofZahiraCollege,ColomboandmanybranchesinotherpartsoftheIsland.

AnothergreatpersonalityistheIlmafounderprincipalMadamRasheedaMohideen.Weareheretodaywithagoodeducationandgooddisciplinebecauseofherstrength.Hermis-sionwastobuildstrongwomenfortheentireworld.

NextgreatpersonalityisDeshabanduJezimaIsmailwhoisaSriLankaneducator,broad-caster,andasocialactivisttoo.SheisoneofthegreatestwomenwhohascontributedtothedevelopmentofeducationinSriLanka.So,thesegreatpersonalitiescontributed

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Izma Arsath 5C1

towardsthedevelopmentofSriLankaandtherearemanycontributionsmadebyourpresentMuslimleaderstoo.MostofthemareconductingdevelopmentprojectstohelpinimprovingSriLanka’seconomyaswellasotherareasofdevelopment.AsthechildrenoftheMuslimcommunity,ourambitionshouldbetogetagoodeducationandrepayourmotherlandSriLanka.

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Al-Haj Naleem TodayIwouldliketowriteafewsentencesaboutMarhoomAl-HajNaleemwhocontributedhiswealthfortheeducationofSriLankanMuslims.Hewasbornon4thofApril1933atBeru-wala.Al-HajNaleemhasoneofthegreatestpersonalitiesoftheSriLankanMuslimcommunityandindeed,wecouldcallhimasanactivistforMuslimeducationinSriLanka.

HemadehiscontributionstoMuslimeducationthroughhisownmoneyandwealth.Hededicatedmorethan90%ofhisownearningsforeducation.MuslimsofSriLankamayhavephysi-callylostthiskind-heartedandbenevolentper-sonalityofourcommunity,buttheywillnevereverforgetthecountlesscontributionsandser-vicestimelymadebyAl-HajNaleem.Iamproudtobeagreatgrand-daughterofMarhoomAl-HajNaleem. Aysha Ali

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DeshamanyaMarhoomAlHajMohammadAbdulBakeerMarkarwasthefirstMuslimtoholdthepostofspeakerintheparliamentinSriLanka.

Thereareover1820masjidsfoundinSriLanka’scities,townsandvillages.

SriLankausedtobecalledCeylonwhichisthetransliterationofCeilao.

BeforeSriLankagainedindependence,thecountrywasknownasthedominionofCeylonwhichwasgivenbythePortugueseEmpire.

SriLankaisnicknamedas“ThePearloftheIndianOcean”and“teardropofIndia”.

SriLankaisthefirstcountryintheworldtohaveafemaleprimeminister.

Facts on Sri Lanka

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TheSriLankannationalflagisoneoftheoldestintheworld.

SriLankahasthehighestliteracyrateinSouthAsia.

Itishometotheworld’soldesthuman-plantedtree.

AbridgeoflimestoneshoalsbetweenIndiaandSriLankaisknownastheAdam’sBridgeandisvisibleonNASAsatelliteimages.Accordingtoscientists,itwasformedamillionyearsago.

Ayurvedaisoneoftheworld’soldestholisticwellnesssystems,forthepast5000years,basedonrestoringbalancebetweenmind,bodyandspiritpasseddownfromgenerationtogenerationinSriLanka.

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COLONEL TUAN NIZAM MUTHALIF

BorninSriLankaonJuly21th1966,TuanNizamMuthaliffstudiedatD.S.SenanayakeCollege,Colombo.Atschool,heexcelledin-bothstudiesandsportsalike.

MajorMuthaliffwasmarriedtoLieutenantColonelKumudiniMuthaliffAmarasinghe,com-mandingofficeroftheSriLankaArmyWomen’sCorpsandhasadaughter,Sarah,andson,Maalik.

Attheendofhisstudies,hisdesiretopro-tecttheunityofhismotherlandmadehimjointheSriLankaArmyasacadetofficerinJune1986.HefirstunderwenttrainingintheMilitaryAcademyofDiyatalawa 61

andsubsequentlyreceivedaCadetOfficers’TrainingatthePakistanMilitaryAcademy.

Followingthistraining,hewascommissionedasasecondlieutenantinthe4thGemunuWatchoftheSriLankaArmy.Hiscommitmentanddedicationtotheservicewerereward-edwhenhewaspromotedasalieutenantonJune2,1989.WhilegainingexperienceintheSriLankaArmy,hewasconstantlyat-tachedtotheMilitaryIntelligenceUnitfortheJoinOperationCommand.HewaspromotedtotherankofcaptainonJuly2,1992,andafterwardsasamajoronJuly2,1995.Dur-ingthattimehehadworkedasageneralstaffofficer(GSO)III(intelligence)atarmyheadquarters,officercommandingintheMICtrainingsection,groupcommanderIntelligenceSecurityGroupinJaffnaforaboutthree

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andahalfyears,groupcommanderattheDirectorateofMilitaryIntelligenceinCo-lomboforaboutthreeyearssince1997andgeneralstaffofficer(GSO)I(intelligence),Vavuniyafrom2000to2001.HebecamethecommandingofficerofSriLanka’sfirstMili-taryIntelligenceUnitinNovember2004.Atthetimeofdeath,hewasalsodirectoroftheColomboCell.

Inaddition,hehasfollowedseveralcoursesoverseaswithdistinctionsuchastheIntel-ligenceStaffCourseBangladesh,CounterIn-telligenceCourseBangladesh,mJuniorCommandCourseIndia,SouthAsianPeaceKeepingCourseHawaii,USAandInternationalIntelli-gencecourseUSA.

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MajorMuthaliffwasshotdeadatPolhengoda,Colombowhenhewas onhiswaytotheKotelawala DefenseAcademyonMay31,2005 attheageof38(thishappenedafterbetrayalincidentofMil-lenniumCity).Inrecogni-tionofhisservicetothearmy,hewasposthumouslypromotedtotherankoflieutenantcolonelon1May2005andthenhewaspromotedasacolonelon31May2005.

Sabeeha Jiffry 9 N2

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Dr . A. C. S. Hameed’s service to our nationAbdulCaderShahulHameedorA.C.S.HameedwasborntoareputedfamilyinKurugoda,AkuranaonApril10,1928.HewasElectedasthesecondmemberofthe

parliamentfromAkurana.In1977,hewasappointedasthefirstfor-eignministerbyPresidentJ.R.Jayawarden’sgovernment.Dr.HameedwasamemberoftheUnitedNationsAdvisoryboardonDisarmamentstudies.AsaforeignMinister,hehadtheOpportunityofmeetingmanyworldleaderstosolveproblems.Headmiredotherreligionswithgreatrespectanddignity.

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Dr.HameedhelpedwithworkrelatedtoBuddhistandHindutemplesaswellasmosquesinHarispattuwawithoutanyreli-giousbarriers.Healsocontributedtobuild-ingaBuddhistSeemaMalekeyaatWa-ratenne,Hallouwa,whichistheonlyplaceusedtoordainnovicemonksintheCentralprovince.

Dr.HameedheldtheportfolioofforeignAffairsMinisterfor12yearsandthereaf-ter,servedindifferentportfolios,asJus-ticeMinisterandHighereducationMinister,undertheR.Premadasaadministration.HeservedasforeignMinistertill1989,becom-ingthelongestservingforeignMinisterinSriLanka.

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Dr.HameeddevelopedAkuranabypavingroads,andsupplyingthevillagewithelec-tricityandwaterconnections.Heprovidedjobstomanyunemployedpeople.HefoundjobopportunitiesforSriLankansinforeigncountries.Hearrangedforeignscholarshipsforstudents.HealsotookpartinpeacetalkswiththeLTTE.

Dr.Hameedtraveledtoforeigncountriesrequestingforforiegnemploymentanded-ucationforSriLankans.Hehadtheop-portunitytobuildcloserelationshipswiththeUnitedNationsandalsobegantoworkcloselywithothermembercountriesofthenon-alignedmovementduringaturbulentperiodinSriLanka’shistory. DRA.C.S.Hameedmygranduncle Aaisha Rizwan 7C3

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Siddie Lebbe and T. B.Jayah

M.CSiddieLebbewasbornin1838.HecomesfromagenerationofArabs.HewasthefirstMuslimtobeappointedasalawyer.HewasalsospokenofastheleaderofMuslimsintheSriLankanmag-azine,‘CeylonAlmanac’.

SiddieLebbewasnotsatisfiedtoonlybealawyer.Helovedtoengageinsocialservice.HefeltsorrytoseethestateoftheMuslimsandtheireducationandtheirlackofreligiousobligations.Thispromotedhimtopublishamagazine called‘’MuslimNation’’.Inithe wroteabouttheimportanceof educationandhowitdeveloped thesociety.

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Alltheseeffortsledhimtoestablishingtheschool,‘ZahiraCollege’inColombo. Hedidnotlimithisservicesonlytobuild-ingschools.Healsoprintedtextbooksandmadesyllabusesforschools,therebydevel-opingthesocietyandthecountry.Inhon-ourofhisservices,theSriLankangovern-mentreleasedastamp.T.BJayahalsoknownasTuanBadurdeenJayahwasbornin1890.HewasoneofthefamouslearnedmeninSriLanka.WhileteachingatAnandaCol-lege,heputinalotofefforttodeveloptheMuslimcommunity.

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Theexperiencehegotfromtheschoolasateacherwasbeneficialtohelphimdevelopthecommunity.

In1921hebecametheprincipalofZahi-raCollegesinGampola,Aluthgama,MataleandPuttlam.HewastheMinisterofLa-bourinthegovernmentofD.SSenanaya-ka.Hiseffortsweresuccessfulinbuildingagoodcommunity.

Aswecansee,thesetwopeoplehelpeddevelopSriLankaimmensely.Theyarehonouredfortheirhardworkandef-fortstillthisday.Otherthanthesemen,therearemanyotherrolemodelswhocontributedinthedevelopmentofSriLanka. Imarah Rahmathullah 5 N1

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“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and (thus) lose courage and (then) your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed Allah is with the patient. ““ SurahAnfal8:46

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