Sixty years of Madhrasathun Noor and the rise of Maligawatte

Nearly 60 years ago, in May 1964, Madhrasathun Noor, a Quranic learning centre was founded in Maligawatte against the background of growing drug addiction and the spread of other vices, then prevalent in the area. Majlis-e-Islami was a civil organization in the area, which established Madhrasathun Noor to provide free religious education after school hours to the children, inculcating amongst them discipline, ethical conduct, accountability and responsibility.  
Over time, two batches per afternoon of nearly 300 students each, took back home the message of ethical conduct and disciplined living, thereby transforming the area with the support of the Mosque, the School, the local Police and the YMMA Maligawatte into a much better surrounding amidst an overcrowded Muslim majority area! The Madhrasa had been rendering a silent service over the past 60 years, conveying that every act of vice is a sin punishable if not in this world but in the next and emphasizing on the need to ensure responsible citizenship in this world to be rewarded with heavenly bliss!  
Majlis-e-Islami was headed by Dr Ashroff Marikkar, with M I M Zavahir as the Vice President and M M Zuhair as the General Secretary at the time in 1964, when the Madhrasa was established by the Majlis, in the M A M Azhar Memorial Hall of the Majlis. Management of the Madhrasa was entrusted by the Majlis to Vice President Zavahir who, and following his demise, his son Noor Reyaz Zavahir have been managing the Madhrasa over the years. On Thursday 27th March 2025, nearly 300 students of the Quranic school, Madhrasathun Noor, Maligawatte together with the teaching staff and senior past students welcomed and received in the Madhrasa premises, M M Zuhair, President’s Counsel, one of the original founders of the Quranic Madhrasa. He was accompanied by his daughter Ayesha Zuhair. The occasion was to distribute to every student a gift package of essentials collected by the old boys and girls of the Madhrasa from benefactors.   
Addressing the gathering Manager Noor Reyaz Zavahir said it was a great occasion for him to welcome former MP Zuhair who had spent his time and energy as a youth from the area not only in establishing the Madhrasa but also in many other area activities together with the Mosques and the YMMA. We are grateful for their attending this event in anticipation of the ‘Blessed Night’ the “Lailathul Qadr”.  
Zuhair speaking thereafter told the gathering that like Mosques and Schools, Quranic Madhrasas play a central role in the life of Muslims. We had seen how, after this institution was established, our children here initially became the models for most parents to emulate. We saw the quality of life of the people improve significantly, thanks also to other institutions. A large proportion of men and women of the area have over the past 60 years studied in this Madhrasa. We are grateful for the Zavahir family for running this institution successfully, almost always to full capacity.  
Addressing the students, Ayesha Zuhair urged them to prioritise both madhrasa and school education. She explained that Islam does not merely encourage the pursuit of knowledge but specifically calls on Muslims to seek beneficial knowledge and that knowledge becomes truly beneficial when it is actively used to serve others.“As students of a madhrasa in Sri Lanka, you have a special role: to grow in wisdom, kindness and good character so you can serve your community and country as upright, useful citizens,” she stated. She also thanked the administrators and teachers for their dedication in positively shaping the children’s futures.This is a simple presentation of sixty years of Madhrasathun Noor and the rise of Maligawatte in Colombo. ( B M Murshideen is a free lance writer born and bred in Maligawatte who participated in Thursday’s event).