Ponnad Mahallu Muslim Jamaath
The name Venice of the East came to Alappuzha because of its commercial importance. Arabs were the main ones who came to trade through the Arabian Sea. This made Alappuzha the center of Muslim civilization. Many monuments that tell the history of that time can still be seen in the city of Alappuzha. Two of the forty mosques built by the followers of Malikib Dinar were in the city of Alappuzha. The historical document written about the emergence of Islam in Ponnad area is an agreement signed by the Nellikal family members on 8th May 1933 to establish a mosque on their family property. Hidayatul Islam Sangam was formed on January 14, 1938 in the year 1938 after the land was available for the construction of the mosque. There was also a bylaw with suggestions that there should be a committee of not less than 11 members including the President, Vice President and Secretary Khajanji.
…According to T Bylaws, Atakkoya Thangal has been elected as a permanent president, Maiteen Kunju Mehter Kochunni as Vice President, Manaytusseri Kunju Muhammad Abdul Kasim as Joint Secretary and Njaraveli Abdul Rahman Khajanji (Mission Uncle) has been elected. This is also seen as a covenant. In the early days, Abdu Kutti Sahib was the secretary for all the Mahals in Mannancheri. He was known as Secretary Sahib.
Established in 1938, Ponnad Mahal Muslim Jamaat has an eventful history of 85 years. Al Hidayah Education Complex has a great goal of equipping the present generation to face the challenges of the future while remembering all the predecessors who worked for the progress and religious consciousness of the Muslim community in Ponnad region by planting coconuts, collecting handfuls of rice and making many sacrifices in economically backward conditions. Through the 85th anniversary, we are making a start by creating a generation that knows our yesterday, is proud of it and is aware of it.
Ponnad Mosque, which was built 35 years ago, was a miracle of that time, Mecheri, Ambalakadav, Ayyaduparam Prayer Mosques, Munavvirul Islam, Hidayatul Islam Madrasahs, Al Hidaya Public School, etc. are all part of that blessed history. . Mahal activities such as interest-free loans and widow/old age pensions are particularly noteworthy.
Apart from being a center for some spiritual ceremonies, the mahal should also become a development center that will help the socio-economic and cultural development of the members in their day-to-day life. The Mahal is the lowest but most powerful group of the Muslim community. The Ponnad Mahal Muslim community’s activities are guided by the realization that radical social empowerment is possible only through Mahal empowerment. Ponnad Mahal is developing many innovative ideas including cluster system to self-employment association, a vision of a government job in every household with 2000 and 300 members and an emergency and contingency fund to help the members in urgent situations like need of treatment This goal is put first.
Al Hidayah Public School under Ponnad Mahal Muslim Jamaat aims to ensure the best performance of children in academic and non-academic levels and mold them into goal-oriented and good heroes of tomorrow. The need of the day is to overcome the limitations of traditional education and make learning a fun and creative experience. Al Hidayah follows the global Montessori method of education, which draws lessons from personal experience and brings them closer to nature, by providing educational materials that are suitable for learning and instructional materials that are directed taking into account the needs of children. Al Hidaya’s specialty is all-round personality development that recognizes children’s talents and interests. Al Hidayah offers a student-friendly learning method that includes all kinds of facilities including advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as smart classrooms and audio-video support.
It is the duty of the Mahals to mold a generation with religious consciousness and discipline. Our madrassa team is making sure to face the fascist challenges of atheism and neo-atheism in a visionary manner and the madrasa modernization and fiqh lab etc. systems under the leadership of Mahal Khatib Syed Jifri Twaha are a model for many other mahals. The madrasa education system should ensure that the madrasa education is at the same level as the school classes of today, which have brought revolutionary changes such as smart class and digitalization.