Maunatul Islam Association of Fiji (MIAF) represents approximately 30% of the Sunni Muslims in Fiji who are mostly followers of the

Shafi The Shafii ( ar, شَافِعِي, translit=Shāfiʿī, also spelled Shafei) school, also known as Madhhab al-Shāfiʿī, is one of the four major traditional schools of religious law (madhhab) in the Sunnī branch of Islam. It was founded by ...

school of jurisprudence. The followers of Imam Shafi in Fiji are the descendants of Muslims of

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

origin who came to Fiji under the indenture system from

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territ ...

between 1903 and 1916. The other Sunni Muslim organisation in Fiji, the

Fiji Muslim League Fiji Muslim League (FML) is an organisation founded in 1926 in Fiji. Following its foundation the organisation set up branches across the country. Most of the Muslim schools in Fiji are operated by the Fiji Muslim League. History Formation ...

, represents all other Sunni Muslims in Fiji who are mostly followers of the

Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named a ...

school of jurisprudence.

History

The organisation originally operated under the name of Then India Maunatul Islam Association of Fiji since it was officially formed in 1942. The key original officials were: One of the most prominent past President and Speaker of the Association was the late Hon S.M. Koya, who was the leader of the

National Federation Party The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party. Though it claimed to represent all Fiji Islanders, it was supported, in p ...

and

Leader of Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

in Fiji for a number of years. The name of the Association was changed in 1982 to Maunatul Islam Association when a new constitution was drawn.

Structure of the Association

National Council

Maunatul Islam’s head office is situated at 72 Vomo Street, Drasa/Vitogo, Lautoka at the Lautoka Branch

Mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

. The Association is managed by the National Council and the working committee elected every two years at AGM of the Association. The current office bearers elected in 2010 are as follows:

Office Bearers and Trustees

Branches

MIAF has three main branches at Lautoka, Ba and Tavua and each branch has a Mosque and other properties. The legal ownership of all the properties are vested in the Trustees of the Association.

Lautoka Branch

The Lautoka Branch Mosque is situated at 72 Vomo St, Drasa /Vitogo, Lautoka. The Branch is managed by a Branch Committee elected every two years. Apart from the Mosque, the branch also owns a priest's quarters, 2 other residential properties and a Madrasa which can accommodate 30 students. The branch has approximately 1200 registered and 2000 unregistered members.

Ba Branch

The Ba Branch Mosque is situated at Maururu, Ba. The Branch is managed by a Branch Committee elected every two years. Apart from the Mosque, the branch also owns a priest's quarters, a {{convert, 16, acre, m2, sing=on cane farm and a Madrasa which can accommodate 40 students. The branch has approximately 800 registered and 2000 unregistered members.

Tavua Branch

Tavua Branch Mosque is situated at Tabavu St, Tavua Town. Branch is managed by a Branch Committee elected every two years. Apart from the Mosque, the branch also owns a priest's quarters, a 2 flat house residential property. The branch has approximately 400 registered and 1000 unregistered members

Prospective Branches

Followers of Imam Shafi are spread all over Fiji and there are plans to form Branches at

Nadi Nadi (pronounced ) is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. A 2012 estimate showed that the population had ...

, Suva and

Nausori Nausori () is a town in Fiji. It had a population of 57,866 at the 2017 census. This makes it the fourth most populous municipality in the country. Situated 19 kilometers outside of Suva, it forms one pole of the burgeoning Suva-Nausori corrid ...

Training and Education

MIAF has education and training centers at its mosques at Lautoka, Ba and Tavua. The priests at each mosque provide Islamic teachings to children as well as the adults. The National Council has formed an Education Board responsible for all educational matters of the Association. Adults are provided Islamic training and education on two evenings every week.

External links

miafiji.ning.com
Islamic organizations based in Fiji Fiji Indian organisations