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| Moulana Abussabah |
The Muslims in North Kerala, The Malabar Muslims, were on the helm of freedom struggle from 19th Century and they fought with all might and vigour in the 1920s. The Malabar Revolt started in 1921 was an important milestone in the freedom movement. Many of the Malabar Muslims lost their lives in the Revolt. The community was an inseparable part of the national movements like Khilafath and Non Co-operation Movement, Salt Sathyagraha, Quit India Movement etc.
Muslims kept themselves away from Modern education as a protest against the British Rule. As a result they remained backward in the field of education. In this context, a renowned personality, Moulana Abussabah Ahmed Ali Saheb, who was educated from Al-Azhar University, Egypt, returned to India. He was inspired by the freedom struggle going on in India. He had an intimate acquaintance with national leaders like Moulana Mohammed Ali, Abul Kalam Azad, Allama Iqbal, Moulana Shoukath Ali etc.
Being part of the national movement, Moulana Abussabah was very much concerned about the bad condition of Muslims in the field of education. With the help of some local leaders and educational reformers, he established an Arabic College, Rouzathul Uloom Arabic College, in the year 1942. Some of the contributors of the land for the college premises were active members of Indian National Congress. Later it became a Niche of Knowledge and a ground for many freedom fighters. The students of this Institution had contributed much to the freedom struggle. They actively took part in Quit India Movement. They also took part in many reform movements and strengthened the hands of Maulana Abussabah in his crusade for socio educational development of the community. The late K.M. Seethi Saheb, Pocker Saheb, Adv. M.V. Hydrose Saheb were some of the distinguished personalities closely associated with the working of the College.
But even after independence the community was not free from the impacts of the freedom struggle. The community remained backward in socio educational and cultural arena. To uplift the community several reform movements came into being. Rouzathul Uloom Arabic College became the hub of these activities. It showed new direction to the community which was oppressed and suppressed. Education for women was a mirage until then. Moulana Abussabah urged the Muslim women to obtain religious as well as modern education. Due to his effort, within a short span of time, Muslim women also became a part of the learnt society.
The establishment of Rouzathul Uloom Arabic College in 1942 was a great landmark in the history of modern Arabic education in North Kerala. It served as the mother institution to many educational establishments like Farook Higher Secondary School, Farook College, Farook Institute of Management Studies. it helped students to get educated from lower primary classes to complete research leading to Ph.D. The College got affiliation from Madras University in 1945 and got accreditation for its Afzalul Ulama Course. Thus it became the first affiliated Arabic College in Kerala. Later it was affiliated to the Kerala University in 1957 and when the University of Calicut was established in the year 1968, the college got its affiliation. In the year 1984 the College gained the status of a Post Graduate Study Centre. The college is now recognized by the UGC under Section 2(f) & 12B.
Hostel facility for the boys has been arranged from the very beginning. A girls’ hostel is also functioning from 1987. Admission is not restricted to Indian nationals. The students from countries like Malaysia and Singapore also join the college.
The college offers a degree course, BA Afzalul Ulama and a Post Graduate course, MA Post Afzalul Ulama. The College also offers a beginner course, Preliminary which is equivalent to Higher Secondary course.
