Al-Qarawiyyin Centre was founded in March 2017 to promote traditional moderate Islam by engaging Muslims and non-Muslims through multiple social venues. When Dar-ul-Ihsan Centre for Islamic Education was closed in 2016, the need for an institution that would build on the momentum created by its 15 years of educational activities was clearly felt. It was in response to this need that the new centre was established by Abdollah Vakily, who had also co-founded Dar-ul-Ihsan Centre.

Whereas some of the previous programs such a girls’ school, home-schooling support program, and Islamic daycare had to be discontinued, due to the lack of necessary funds, other services are still ongoing.

1.       Daily Quran classes
Several Quran classes are being taught by our teachers at different locations throughout Cornwall with more than 45 students currently enrolled.

2.       Sunday Islamic studies class

Starting on March 2nd, 2017, we are offering a class on “how to achieve an Islamic character according to the Quran and Sunnah.” This class is intended for boys and girls ages 13 and over and aims to teach youth not only how to develop an Islamic character but also how to preserve and safeguard it in the face of challenges they encounter in our secular society.

3.       Publication of regular articles about Islam and the issues facing contemporary Muslims in the Cornwall Standard Freeholder. This work is further extended by writing letters to the editor whenever an uninformed criticism of Islam is publishes, or when a smear campaign against Islam and Muslims is launched by biased and prejudiced readers of the paper.

4.       Presentation of Islam in high-schools, churches and other social institutions.

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In 2020 all the activities of the centre came to a halt as a result of the Covid pandemic except for the publication of the regular columns on Islam in the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder. After the pandemic, however, we have gradually started to activate some of the previous programs. Currently the centre is operating the following programs:

  • Four daily after-school Quran classes.

  • Creation of a much-needed “Youth club” for girls aged 13 and above. The centre runs a series of bi-monthly classes offered on every other Friday under the title of “Deepening our understanding of Islamic Principles”.

  • Continuation of regular column about Islam in Standard-Freeholder.

  • Publication of Letters to the Editor in the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder when the need for clarification of some misunderstandings about Islam arises, or Islamophobic material is published in the newspaper.

In 2020 the centre established a YouTube channel to share the videos produced by the centre instructor, as well as the videos of presentations by prominent Muslim scholars. The progress of the channel has been slow, though, due to some technical problems. We are hoping to overcome the problems, and start uploading more videos soon inshaAllah. The videos could be accessed at Al-Qarawiyyin Centre.