About 7.2
percent of
Guyana's
population is
Muslim,
representing
54,050
individuals,
many of whom are
descended from
indentured
labourers
from
India.
The largest
Islamic
organization in
the country is
the Guyana
Islamic Trust.
Until the
1970s, Muslim
holidays were
not officially
recognized. A
number of non-Christian
religious days
are now public
holidays.
Muslim holidays
include
Eid al Fitr,
the end of
Ramadan, the
sacred month of
fasting;
Id al Adha,
the feast of
sacrifice; and
Mawlid, the
birthday of
Muhammad.
The dates for
these holidays
vary according
to the
Islamic calendar.
Central Islamic
Organization of
Guyana (CIOG)
The Central
Islamic
Organization of
Guyana is the
oldest Islamic
group in Guyana.
They are
involved in
relief work and
orphan
sponsorships.
Guyana Islamic
Trust
The Guyana
Islamic Trust (GIT)
is a
multi-faceted ,
not for profit
organization
which has been
established
since 1978.
The GIT has
dedicated itself
to the process
of bringing
about
intellectual,
moral and
spiritual
improvement to
individuals,
families and
communities in
Guyana.
Our
fundamental
approach is
education, since
ignorance is the
root cause of
the intolerance,
racism,
immorality and
criminality that
pervades our
society and our
world. Our
belief that
Islam holds the
perfect
solutions to man
kind's woes is
demonstrated in
our of program
of Da'wah, to
bring Allah's
message to each
and every
Guyanese.
The Guyana
Islamic Trust
manages its
grass root work
through fourteen
Administrative
Districts. Some
of the areas of
operations of
the districts
include:
- Organize
Classes to
educate the
Muslims-young
and elderly-
on Islam
- Regular
Family
forums and
Social
activities
- Organize
and Manage
Islamic
Societies in
schools
- Youth
Programs
-
Partnership
with
Jamaats
-
Da’wah
to
Non-Muslims
- Social
Welfare
programs
- Women’s
Skills
Enhancement
and
Educational
Activities
- Medical
Programs
National
Islamic Sisters
Association
The National
Islamic Sisters
Association (NISA)
is the women's
arm of the GIT.
General areas of
NISA's work
include:
-
Promoting
the
teachings
and values
of Islam
among the
women of
Guyana
- Reviving
the
practices of
the
Qur'an
and
Sunnah
in the lives
of Muslim
women
-
Providing
assistance
to Muslim
Women in
helping them
fulfill
their
Islamic
Obligations
-
Advocating
the Islamic
family
values and
the rights
gifted by
Islam to
women in the
process of
reorganization
of Islamic
life in
Guyana *and
in National
policy
formation
-
Providing
counseling
where
necessary
and
providing
orientation
in jobs and
role
enhancement
skills to
women
- Raise
funds to
carry out
its projects
by
investment,
soliciting
donations
and
executing
fund raising
activities.
Guyana Islamic
Institute
The Guyana
Islamic
Institute (GII)
remains one of
the Caribbean's
premier Islamic
centers of
learning.
Since its
establishment in
1986, scores of
students from
Guyana and the
Caribbean have
graduated from a
wide range of
courses
including Arabic
Language,
Qur'anic
Sciences and
Islamic Studies.
Many of these
graduates have
since become
Shuyukh, Imaams
and Du'at and
today are
serving the
Ummah in Guyana,
the Caribbean,
North America
and other parts
of the world.
The GII will
continue to
orient and equip
its students to
be Du'at in
their respective
communities, and
for further
studies at
higher
institutions of
learning; will
inculcate in
them a sound
exposition,
understanding
and knowledge of
the Islamic
concepts of
life, death and
the Hereafter;
will imbue in
them mannerisms,
attitudes and
social graces
which will
encourage
Muslims to
improve
themselves and
will invite
Non-Muslims to
Islam; will
enhance the true
understanding of
Islam based on
the Qur'an and
Sunnah; will
offer the
resources and
training
opportunities
for Muslims to
improve their
understanding
and practice of
Islam.
Programs
offered The GII
concurrently
offers two one
year residential
programs: one
for secondary
school graduates
and the other
being an
advanced course
for students
completing the
initial one year
at the GII or
having the
necessary
prerequisite
knowledge base.
Students of
these programs
are given
in-depth
tutoring in the
areas of:
Ideology and
Concepts.
Co-curricular
Activities
Additionally the
curriculum is
complemented by
special studies
in Information
Technology,
enhancement
courses in
English language
and exposure to
basic research
techniques.
Students of
the GII are
given hands-on
experience in
- Teaching
-
Delivering
Khutbahs
- Da'wah
to
Non-Muslims
-
Organizing
and
participating
in youth
activities.
-
Scholarship