Imams in our mosques in Sri Lanka.

-By Dr Rifai.UK-

          Imams in our mosques in Sri Lanka are providing a wonderful community service. I have personally known many of them. I have had opportunities to listen to them and know the problems and challenges many of our Imams face in Sri Lanka. With grace of Almighty Allah they are working with dedication and determinations with little bit of salaries and wages. Yet, it has been customary habit of some people on different social networks to criticise them subjectively. Of course, no one is above criticism and yet, any criticism should be objective. 

         Those people who put forward some philosophical ideas about Kutbas should stand up and make some Kutbas before preaching to Imam How to make Kutbas. I know well that shortcomings in our kutba system is a universal problem not only in Sri Lanka.

          It has been claimed that some Imams are not qualified or semi -qualified to do any speeches. Even in London you could see only a few jummah bayan are read by Qualified Imam. Before we point our fingers at imams for their Kutaba, or criticising the quality of their bayans, we should think realistically about this issue.

           First and foremost, think about the background of Religious Education these imams get or think about the qualifications they had before they go to Arabic colleges. Think about teachers in Arabic colleges not only in Sri Lanka but also around Muslim world. The less qualified or rebellious children are sent into Arabic college (there are some exception). Most of Imams when they come out from Arabic colleges, they do not know arts of speeches and they even do not know how/ what topic to choose in modern time for Kutbas. You cannot blame them for this, this is the systems we have today. Most of them are not trained in delivering speeches. 

               Today, we have training institutes for all subjects. But not for Imams (universal problems). Even priests are today trained in chaplaincy course or phycology courses or counselling course to deal with human problems. But our imams do not have facilities to do these courses or to get these trainings. So, no point in blaming for any shortcoming in their kutabas. 

                 if you would like to have first class Kutbas send talented children to Arabic college( charity starts from Home), those who make a staunch criticism of Imams should send their children or brothers to Arabic colleges before they tell this to the world. Moreover, look at the syllabus of Arabic colleges, look at the teaching methods. We all know how outdated are system of teaching in Arabic colleges today.  I too deliver Kutbas in my work place in London, I know how difficult it is to choose topics to speak in front of professional groups of people. I know well how much time is consumed to prepare new topics.

            Moreover, we do we pay enough salaries and facilities for these Imams. While I was in Sri Lanka I had close connection with some imams. They had many times complained to me that they never wanted to be Imams in mosques in Sri Lanka. 

             First of all, they are not respected well as they ought to be.  Secondly they are not paid well, and thirdly, they do not have any job guarantee at all. They do not have fat salaries as in Gulf countries.  Yet, we are expecting hugely from them.   This is this the status of Imams among us. Of course for fear of Allah some worked with devotion and dedication and yet, most of them are working under immense duress. I have had personal experience in talking to some of Imams in different part of SL.

               One day, Prof A. Haleem when he was delivering a Jummah at London University, said to speak for Islam and to speak on Islam, we need a highly qualified team of educated people today in this modern age. Otherwise, Islamic teachings can be ridiculed and mocked in this rational world of ours. So, we should send talented children into Arabic colleges if you and me want to see vibrant Islamic scholars in modern world. Rather than making unviable criticism we should go back to basics and send our talented children into Arabic colleges. We could see thousands of Dr Zakirs in Muslim world.