About Nawawi Center
We are a not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization that is dedicated to aiding the development of humanity through core Islamic values and principles and building positive relationships with our diverse communities.
The Nawawi Center is named after one of the greatest scholars of Islam, Imam Muhiyyuddin bin Sharaf An-Nawawi. Returning to his Lord at a relatively early age, his piercing intellect and deep knowledge nevertheless left behind works that have been accepted unanimously by the Muslims and their scholars for centuries. His message of unity is a responsibility we intend to honour.
Combining spiritual guidance with beneficial action, our projects broaden out to include a range of educational programs, community development and social activities.
To donate to our center or pay for class fees please direct all funds to: "Nawawi Center ltd." account 02-0810-0042771-000
FAQ
Questions
How can I help the Nawawi Center?
Are you a youth group?
Why don't you segregate your classes?
Why further divide the already divided Christchurch community?
Why do you charge fees for your educational events?
Why do you facilitate interfaith activities?
Why do I have to register?
Answers
How can I help the Nawawi Center? --TOP--If you are interested in helping us out in anyway, please introduce yourself to us by emailing info@nawawicenter.org.
If you would like to make a donation to our work please transfer your contribution to bank account: Nawawi Center ltd. account 02-0810-0042771-000.
If you do not have the time or money to help but would still like to help, register on our forum and contribute your ideas here.
May Allah bless your efforts done for His sake.
Are you a youth group? --TOP--Our team comprises mostly of young adults but only because they appear to have more motivation and time. Most of our educational activities however require adults above 20 due to the depth of material covered. The target market of the NC depends on the nature of the activity. The empowering women's workshop is targeted at women, the parents workshops are targeted at parents, the motivational workshop is targeted at young adults, the childrens' summer program is targeted at primary children!
Although these groups are targeted, all are welcome to all events regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion.
Why don't you segregate your classes? --TOP--We believe it is unislamic and against the way of our beloved prophet that women are not given full benefit and equal access to interaction with the teacher. Note that, as implied in the previous question, only mature adults are expected to attend events. Having said that, inappropriate inter-gender mixing is outlawed at our events and overnight events require signatures on a strict agreement to uphold high islamic standards on gender mixing. Based on authentic islamic teachings, we understand the difference between permissible, necessary and beneficial gender interaction vs unlawful, harmful and unnecessary gender mixing, we uphold the former and condemn the latter.
Please email us to further clarify this position at info@nawawicenter.org.
Why further divide the already divided Christchurch community? --TOP--We consider ourselves a bridge to unite muslims and all humans on knowledgeable action, not detrimental rhetoric. We work with whoever is working for a good cause regardless of political stances and personal grudges.
We only formed to fill the gap that is gaping in terms of muslim inaction, lack of outreach and authentic and structured knowledge. The current organizational structures did not allow for us to prosper with the goals we had for this community, hence its founder believed an independent organisation that specializes in beneficial activities and can stand independent from the muslims who nowadays seem to complain more than they contribute, had to be formed to forward the community.
We have a strict policy on duplicating good work that is already being done in the community and instead seeks to strengthen such work. In summary the NC considers itself a necessary specialisation within the community, not a division.
Why do you charge fees for your educational events? --TOP--None of the NC volunteers receive any monetary payment for their work with the NC. They are driven solely by their dedication to Islam and supported by their teammates. However, our charges are necessary:
- To fund the many other community projects in progress.
- To cover the many costs of hosting professional and quality events.
- To ensure the dedication of students. Just as our pious predecessors would go through many trials to reach knowledge, we consider the not-for-profit fees charged a small obstacle to prove the dedication of students, who mostly nowadays do not expect to give up anything in return for knowledge. We consider it hypocritical that thousands of dollars paid to universities for worldly education is not questioned but when it comes to structured islamic knowledge, people do not want to reach into their pockets or exert any effort for sacred other worldly knowledge.
This is not to say that those who cannot afford to pay are restricted access, on the contrary, the NC, it's affiliates and its sponsors financially support many students who cannot afford the fees charged. Even in the infancy stage of the NC this number has run literally into the thousands.
Why do you facilitate interfaith activities, I do not agree with it. --TOP--The prophet of Islam continuously reached out and established dialogs and alliances with peoples of other
faiths and communities.
It is especially relevant to do so in the west where muslims are commonly seen as a dangerous minority,
such dialog has been a means of interfaith harmony and understanding.
Online registration is necessary for some events and encouraged for all available events for the sake of:
- Budgeting for the event.
- Forecasting for future events.
- Communicating important information before and after the event.
- To keep you informed of other events.
