By M Rafi Ahmed , Muslim Mirror

Kozhikode: Jamia Markaz at Karanthur in Kozhikode is on a roll as the first batch of 20 Muslim religious scholars from Markaz Law College turned lawyers. Thanks to the mission of Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar alias Sheik Abubakr Ahmad, the founder and chancellor of Jamia Markaz in ensuring students overall growth– Intellectual, Spiritual and Social.

And rightly the Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan during an event at Jamia Markaz a week ago had eulogised the services of Aboobacker Musliyar by saying– Kerala Muslims are blessed as they have visionary religious leadership. Not just imparting education, the Markaz hones the skills of students in different spheres thereby making them face the challenges in life after their course.

Joy knew no bounds for the Musliyars turned lawyers clad in black pants and white shirts with the advocate gowns after they got enrolled at the Kerala State Bar Council in Kochi. Interestingly, the enrolment event was like a festival with family members, college management and scores of friends and relatives accompanying them. Markaz Law College is the first project launched under the Knowledge City of Markazu Saquafathi Sunniyya which is affiliated to the University of Calicut and is recognised by the Bar Council of India. The law college started in October 2014 at the markaz campus offers three year LLB course.

Notably, the religious scholars after completing their post-graduation in Islamic theology took up law course. Quite interestingly, fifty year-old Dr Hussain Saquafi C S,the vice chancellor of Jamia Markaz was one among the first batch of students to get enrolled as advocate at the bar council in Kochi. Enthusiam was writ large on the face of newly enrolled advocates, who are all set to begin their legal practice. Meanwhile, a few are preparing for governemnt postings as munsif cum magistrate while a major chunk of them are keen to specialise in criminology, human rights, corporate law and constitutional law.

Jamia Markaz (Islamic University) was established in 1978 in a sprawling campus at Karanthur in Kozhikode grew from strength to strength to emerge as a centre of social, cultural progress as well as educational excellence for the entire communities across the country as a whole Muslims in particular. Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad is the grand Mufti of India, who is also the General Secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama besides Chancellor of the Jamia Markaz and Chairman of the Siraj Daily and President of Islamic Educational Board of India.