ITAUKEI people that want to learn more about the Islam faith are being encouraged to visit the new Suva City Islamic Centre at Robertson Rd in Suva.

Mohammed Ismail, who is a teacher at the new centre, says for the first time, the Islam faith will be shared in the iTaukei language.

“This centre is purposely for those iTaukei people that want to learn the basics of the Islam faith in the iTaukei language,” Mr Ismail said.

Mr Ismail said they were also happy to receive people from other races at the centre which opened two weeks ago.

“Another reason we opened this centre is because it is easily accessible to those living and working in Suva City.

“We pray five times a day and those that work and live around here that find it hard to get to the mosques in Samabula and Toorak on time, now have a centre they can go to for prayers.”

 

Footnote:

This is an encouraging sign given the stronghold of Christianity and an overpowering native Fijian culture and traditions interwoven into Christianity.

There has been a racial divide between the native Fijians and the indentured Indians of the tiny Island nation.

Although Ahmadiyya Jamaat was first to translate the Holy Quran in early 1960s under the guidance of first Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary the late Maulana Sheikh Abdul Wahid, Fazil, no significant conversion to Islam resulted.

The fact that this is a native Fijian-led initiative, there is hope Inshah Allah, Fijians will take a more serious note and study Islam in their own langauge.