The motto of the Sunni Razvi Academy since its inception more than 35 years ago is:
"come in to learn, go out to serve"
A befitting function was organized for the laying of the Foundation Ceremony stone. A procession left the Jummah Mosque on 28th April 1967 after the Friday prayers and proceeded in a stately march with the recitation of Zikr to 28 Sir Edgar Laurent Street where the ceremony took place. Speeches were delivered by personalities of Mauritius and after his thought provoking speech, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar laid the foundation stone.
It was officiated in a very unique way, for never before had such a ceremony been performed thus like. A stone from the Holy Hill of Meena and water obtained from the baths taken at the Kaaba together with water from Zam Zam, Madina and Bagdad, mixed with cement. His Eminence performed the sacred ceremony with Zikr on his lips, accompanied by resounding voices of the audience.
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The Sunni Razvi Academy was founded on 28th April 1967 to serve the educational and spiritual needs of the community. Apart from celebrating Islamic events, it trains Muslims in the fields of ‘Imamat’ (priesthood) or ‘Hafiz’ (memorizing the Holy Quran by heart). In the past it housed a madrassa within its precincts. It now proposes to re-institute courses in Arabic and Urdu for those who want to gather some pebbles from the vast shore of knowledge. The Academy is a three-story building with a residence for the spouse of the late Maulana Ayub Razvi, the brother of Hazrat Maulana Ibrahim Khushtar, within its precincts.
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The first floor houses a hall for ladies activities, led by Begum Ayub Razvi. Every Friday after Jummah prayers, the Muslim ladies are assembled there to do recitals (wazifahs). On special nights such as Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, Shab-e-Baraat, Lailatul-Qadr and other special occasions, ladies pass the entire night in prayer.
The first floor also houses a big hall where all kinds of Islamic functions are held. Apart from the five times daily prayers, Taraweeh Ramadaan prayers are regularly read there, most of the time led by His Eminence himself. On Monday nights, Halqa Zikr is being regularly recited and this has been going on since 1967 until today. It is to be noted that on this floor, there are mural paintings of the sacred mausoleums of Ghaus-ul-Azam, Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti (may Allah be pleased with them) and other Saints of Islam. Other religious functions celebrated there are Igyarween Shareef on the 11th of each Islamic lunar month in memory of the Polestar of Saints, Hazrat Sayiduna Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be pleased with him), the Yaum-e-Ashura in memory of the Great Martyrs of Karbala and the Urs Shareef (birth anniversaries of the Saints).
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The two photos above show the second floor of the Sunni Razvi Academy viewed from the inside and the outside.
The Qadiriyya also recite Zikr on the eleventh of each month of the Muslim calendar, especially the eleventh of Rabi-ul-Akhir, the day Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be pleased with him) breathed his last on Monday, 11th Rabi-ul-Akhir at the ripe age of 91 years. This is called Igyarween Shareef in Urdu (the blessed eleventh night) in the Indian sub-continent. Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be pleased with him) was profuse in sending salawaat (prayer for Mercy and Blessings) and salaams (salutations) on the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). His most famous salawaat is called Durood Ghauthiyya and his Qaseedah is universally popular amongst the Qadiriyya.
The third floor houses the office of His Eminence and place of residence with His Eminence personal library which is perhaps unique in Mauritius as none can match the number of rare volumes of books on the life and teachings of Alahazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (may Allah be pleased with him). There are also numerous dormitories for visiting guests. Hence the reason the Academy was chosen as the World Headquarters of the Sunni Razvi Society International.
From the Academy the Sunni Razvi Society extended by creating branches throughout the island of Mauritius and then extending itself abroad internationally. At Mesnil [Phoenix] a Khanqah, the first spiritual center in Mauritius was erected. Today students of this Academy are pursuing higher studies at Bareilly Shareef, India while others are working as Imams in Mauritius itself. The Academy also succeeded in lodging students from both Mauritius and abroad. A growing number of dignitaries and laymen that call at the Academy for guidance and spiritual knowledge give clear indications of the fulfillment of the aims and objectives for which this Academy was created. It is a 24-hour functioning body, ready to help any one in need of spiritual enlightenment.
The Academy has also been successful to the full measure in propounding the religious views of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat. Students of the Sunni Razvi Academy have founded in their localities branches of the Sunni Razvi Society with a view of combating irreligiousness and preaching peace, unity, spirituality and inter-communal fraternity, which form the themes of almost every sermon of His Eminence.
