Cambodia, December 14, 2016 – Twenty-two students of Nadi Thaqafah Club from the Faculty of Major Language Studies, USIM visited Cambodia and Vietnam as part of the The Integration of Naqli and Aqli expedition programme
The expedition explored major Cambodian Muslim communities in Chhnang district and nearby areas to learn the lifestyles and surrounding cultures of Muslim-majority community centres in Cambodia. Two villages were identified for the community outreach programme; Pritpih Village and Pakwabong Village.
“We chose Tarbiyatul Tullab Madrasah in Pritpih Village as our sister programme because it was close to the mosque, besides being the villagers’ community centre. The delegates held an Arabic literacy class with children aged seven to fifteen years old. The children were exposed to the basic Arabic knowledge as well as tutorials on ablution and prayer,” said Muhammad Azim bin Md. Fazli Nor, the head of the exhibition.
“The USIM undergraduates had also set up the installation of water pumps for a clinic in the village. Ten water pumps were provided for the clinic as it was going to be operating for two days in a week and the geographical factor of the land had made it easier to install the water pumps,” said Muhammad Azim.
The students also celebrated Maulidur Rasul with the villagers of Pakwabong. Although it was a modest celebration with a simple afternoon feast, the villagers were honouring their guests well, in accordance to what was taught by the Prophet Muhammad.
The faces of joy from a total of 100 families in need in Pakwabong Village were reflected as they received donations in the form of foods, school supplies, and clothes.
The community service was not only limited to knowledge sharing and manpower assistance but to material provisions as well. In conjunction with A Million Al-Quran Wakaf Project, al-Qurans were donated to the Muslim communities to assist with daily prayer.
According to the escort officer of the expedition, Puan Kartina Kamaruzzaman, Cambodia is one of the places occupied by a handful majority of underdeveloped Muslim communities. In the case of those two villages, they have been facing issues with clean water supply and limited electricity, apart from run-down schools and decrepit tahfiz madrasah. It is a form of reflection for USIM undergraduates to appreciate the comfort and complete facilities they have been benefited in their own country.
Prepared by:
The Secretariat of 2016 Nadi Thaqafah; The Integration of Naqli and Aqli Expedition.