In 1970, the concept of a Muslim orphanage was proposed by the Late Haji Amir Khan of Drasa, Lautoka. Supported by a group of dedicated individuals, this vision began to take shape.
A one-and-a-half-acre plot of freehold land on the outskirts of Drasa, along the King’s Road near Lautoka, was donated by four brothers: the late Abdul Karim Khan, the late Amir Khan, the late Abdul Kadar Khan, and the late Mehtab Khan, for the establishment of the orphanage. In 1972 (1391 C.E.), the dream became a reality with the generous funding and construction of the first hostel, dining hall, and kitchen facilities by the late Haji Ramzan Ali, owner of Sunbeam Transport Ltd., marking the largest donation to the organization at that time.
The orphanage began operations with a small group of students, primarily orphans and needy boys from various districts of Fiji, overseen by a single Islamic teacher. Support from within Fiji and abroad facilitated the construction of a double-story building in 1991. This building included a six-room boys’ hostel on the ground floor and four classrooms and an office on the first floor. Initially, students slept in a large hall adjoining the mosque. As the number of students grew, another building was constructed, comprising additional dormitories, a kitchen on the ground floor, and classrooms, a library, a computer lab, and another dormitory on the first floor.
Between 1988 and 1994, the institution expanded further by acquiring three adjacent 10-acre sugarcane farms. From 2011 to 2015, two staff quarters, a new dining hall, and a cooking shed were constructed. To advance the institution’s mission, eligible students were sent abroad for further Islamic studies, thanks to the efforts of Hazrat Maulana Taiyab Qasimi Saheb of Karachi, Pakistan. These opportunities were made possible by the support of donors and well-wishers, and the blessings of Almighty Allah (SWT).
Upon the alumni’s return in 1997, the institution established its first Alim and Hifz courses in 1998. The first Darul Hadith class was introduced in 2006, with the inaugural batch of students graduating as Alim that same year. Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan Saheb (Rahimahullah), founder and Principal of Jamia Farooqia, Karachi, Pakistan, was invited as the Chief Guest for the graduation ceremony.
In 2000, the institution successfully established Fiji’s first Darul Ifta’a, which continues to serve the Muslim community locally and abroad.
Since 2011, the courses have been recognized by the Higher Education Commission – Fiji (HECF), and in 2018, the institution was officially registered as a training center. The institution now offers Islamic education in the following fields: Diploma in Hifz-ul-Quran, Masters in Islamic Studies (Dars-E-Nizami), and Certificate in Deeniyaat course, alongside secular education at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, with some students generously sponsored by community members.
Additionally, plans to offer trade-based training for students led to the foundation of the Darul Uloom Vocational Centre in 2016, with Hazrat Maulana Bashir Ahmad Diwan Saheb laying the cornerstone. The Centre was officially opened by the Minister for Education, Honorable Aseri M. Radrodro, on December 10, 2023.
The completion of the Darul Uloom Vocational Centre is a monumental achievement, made possible by the unwavering support of the Muslim community locally and abroad. This project stands as a testament to the strength and dedication of the community, creating a beacon of knowledge and empowerment for future generations. United by a shared vision of progress and the pursuit of knowledge, the community has demonstrated the powerful impact of working together.
