Center for Islamic Studies CIS
The Centre for Islamic Studies is the leading Sri Lankan Islamic organization engaged in reaching out to those of other faiths. It was established in 1985 and has since helped thousands see Islam in its true light. It undertook the following activities in 2014:
1) Awareness Through Mosque Tours (ATMT)
Awareness Through Mosque Tours is a unique inter-cultural concept where Islamic religious places are opened to the public. The program is spearheaded by the CIS in association with Discover Islam, Bahrain.
ATMT in Sri Lanka was launched at Wekanda Jumu’a Mosque in Slave Island, Colombo on 31st August 2014 with the first tour group comprising of three distinguished visitors from the US embassy in Sri Lanka including its Cultural Affairs Officer, Dawn Suni, Press Officer, Joshua Shen and Mickie Crume.
ATMT…
Initiatives were also taken to commence ATMT in other historical mosques including the Red Mosque in Pettah and Masjidul Abrar in Beruwala. Moves were also made to commence the program in a mosque in the historical Dutch Fort in the Southern Coastal town of Galle, a well known tourist site.
ATMT at Wekanda Mosque. Progress made so far:
i) Training: Five workshops and one lecture program on ATMT were held in 2014.
a) Training Workshop on Mosque Tours at Wekanda Jumma Mosque on 19th January 2014 conducted by Director of Discover Islam, Mohamed Zuhair, CIS Dawah DirectorAsiff Hussein and Tour guide Leader Osama Zaid. Number of participants: 8
b) Awareness Workshop on Mosque Tours at Wekanda Mosque on 2nd February 2014 by Sheikh Kamarudin Abdullah of Malaysia. Number of participants: 40
c) Awareness Workshop on Mosque Tours – The Malaysian Experience on 12th April 2014 by Sister Normah Sulaiman and team from Malaysia. Number of participants: 50
d) Training Workshop at Wekanda Mosque on 17th May 2014 conducted by Asiff Hussein. Number of participants: 10
e) Training Workshop at Wekanda Mosque on 7th June 2014 conducted by Asiff Hussein and Osama Zaid. Number of participants: 8
f) Lecture on Mosque Tours by Syed Ali on 23rd November 2014. Number of Participants: 20
ATMT…
Initiatives were also taken to commence ATMT in other historical mosques including the Red Mosque in Pettah and Masjidul Abrar in Beruwala. Moves were also made to commence the program in a mosque in the historical Dutch Fort in the Southern Coastal town of Galle, a well known tourist site.
ATMT at Wekanda Mosque. Progress made so far:
i) Training: Five workshops and one lecture program on ATMT were held in 2014.
a) Training Workshop on Mosque Tours at Wekanda Jumma Mosque on 19th January 2014 conducted by Director of
Discover Islam, Mohamed Zuhair, CIS Dawah Director Asiff Hussein and Tour guide Leader Osama Zaid. Number of participants: 8
b) Awareness Workshop on Mosque Tours at Wekanda Mosque on 2nd February 2014 by Sheikh Kamarudin Abdullah of Malaysia. Number of participants: 40
c) Awareness Workshop on Mosque Tours – The Malaysian Experience on 12th April 2014 by Sister Normah Sulaiman and team from Malaysia. Number of participants: 50
d) Training Workshop at Wekanda Mosque on 17th May 2014 conducted by Asiff Hussein. Number of participants: 10
e) Training Workshop at Wekanda Mosque on 7th June 2014 conducted by Asiff Hussein and Osama Zaid. Number of participants: 8
f) Lecture on Mosque Tours by Syed Ali on 23rd November 2014. Number of Participants: 20
2) Publication of booklets, pamphlets and newsletters
1) Booklets
a) Translated abridged edition of Muhammad Pocket Guide by Dr.Sam Taglow into Sinhala. To be laid out and printed.
b) Sponsored Sinhala translation of booklet Tolerance in Islam by Asiff Hussein published by MWRAF. 1000 Nos printed for free distribution
2) Pamphlets
a) Pamphlet on Prophet Muhammad translated into Sinhala and printed. 2000 nos.
b) Pamphlet on One God, One Humanity translated into Sinhala and printed. 2000 nos.
c) Pamphlet on Qur’an printed translated into Sinhala and printed. 2000 nos.
3) Newletters
CIS commenced publishing a newsletter of its own, titled Choice, mainly meant forthe edification of New Muslims. 2 issues published in 2014
3) Production of Outreach posters
35 e-posters under the name of Islamic Outreach covering a variety of topics such as basic Islamic beliefs, equality, tolerance, rights of non-Muslims, women’s rightsand animal rights were produced and distributed free of charge to websites and email databases to be freely circulated, downloaded and printed. 12 flyers on Islamic topics were also produced to be posted on websites.
4) Distribution of free Islamic literature
CIS has a good stock of Islamic literature from all parts of the world including the Middle East and Malaysia which it distributes free of charge. These include the pocket size Quran Translation by Wahiudin Khan, Muhammad Pocket Guide, A brief Guide to Understanding Islam, Science in the Quran, Christ in Islam and Women in Islam. Over 1000 books and booklets in both English and Sinhala languages were distributed
free of charge in 2014. This included:
1) 147 copies of Holy Qur’an English translation
2) 215 copies of Prophet Muhammad Pocket Guide
3) 40 copies of Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam
4) 48 copies of Muhammad. Natural Successor to Christ
5) 250 copies of Questioning Islam pamphlets containing posters produced by
Discovery Islam
CIS also distributes Sinhala translations of the Holy Qur’an as well as booklets in Sinhala language such as Islamaye Hendinvimak (Introduction to Islam) and Islamaye Kantava (Women in Islam). 250 such booklets in
Sinhala were distributed in 2014 besides 117 Sinhala pamphlets on One God, Muhammad and Qur’an.
5) Islamic hotline
Commenced Islamic Hotline Service with the support of renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Mansoor Dahlan to clear prevailing misconceptions about Islam. E-banner already posted on local websites. Stickers of the same to be printed and distributed for pasting in public transport shortly
