About Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen
“Together WE Thrive”
“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you”
— Qur'an 49:13 — Motto of Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen
Who We Are
Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen (RN) is the official alumni association of the Naleemiah Institute of Islamic Studies (NIIS — Jamiah Naleemiah) in Beruwala, Sri Lanka. Established in 1997, Rabitha is far more than a conventional alumni network gathered for leisure; it is a living bond and a professional community that unites generations of Naleemiah graduates ("Naleemis") through shared knowledge, brotherhood, ethical values, and a lifelong commitment to service.
Because Jamiah Naleemiah welcomes students from every region and socio-economic background across Sri Lanka, Rabitha transcends the boundaries of a typical old boys' association. Driven by the rallying motto "Together WE Thrive," our services are not confined solely to our graduates, but extend across the entire Muslim community and the wider Sri Lankan nation as a shared pillar of educational, spiritual, and social progress.
Our Heritage & Alma Mater
To understand Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen is to understand the legacy of our alma mater, Jamiah Naleemiah. Founded in 1973 in Beruwala by the renowned philanthropist Al-Haj M.I.M. Naleem with the guidance of eminent Sri Lankan Muslim scholars, and incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1982, Jamiah Naleemiah marked a historic milestone in Sri Lankan education. It pioneered an integrated educational model that harmonizes traditional Islamic scholarship with contemporary human sciences, social-anthropological arts, and technology. Today, its graduates serve patriotically across Sri Lanka and internationally in education, academia, finance, justice, and public administration, embodying balanced, moderate Islamic thought and a commitment to pluralistic coexistence.
To bring all graduates educated under this vision beneath a single umbrella, Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen was officially inaugurated on August 28, 1997, at the Auditorium of Jamiah Naleemiah. The historic inauguration ceremony was graced by the Founder President of the Jamiah, Al-Haj M.I.M. Naleem, alongside the Director, Dr. M.A.M. Shukri, Board Members, lecturers, students, and alumni. Over nearly three decades, Rabitha has evolved into a dynamic global network of over 2,000 Naleemis dedicated to moving "from occasional contributions to sustainable transformations".
Our Vision
A strong and united alumni community advancing institutional excellence, balanced Islamic thought, and national harmony.
Our Mission
To foster solidarity and holistic growth among Naleemis, preserve and enrich the legacy of NIIS, and serve society and the nation through principled scholarship and transformative civic engagement.
Our Core Values
Unity & Brotherhood
We cultivate mutual understanding, brotherhood, and solidarity among Naleemis in times of both happiness and sorrow, maintaining a unified ethos and mutual respect even when expressing diverse perspectives or serving across different organizations.
Moderate & Balanced Islamic Thought
Rooted in the Qur'an and Sunnah, we champion a balanced understanding of Islam that avoids rigidity, addresses contemporary challenges, and fosters social harmony within Sri Lanka's pluralistic society.
Academic & Professional Excellence
We encourage continuous learning, postgraduate research, and professional competence so our members can contribute constructively to national development.
Sincere & Accountable Service
Guided by purposeful strategic planning, transparency, and accountability, we strive to serve our alma mater and society seeking reward solely from Almighty Allah.
What We Do: Our Five Strategic Pillars
Guided by our Constitution and our 2026–2029 Strategic Framework, Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen organizes its initiatives around five core pillars:
Institutionalization of Rabitha
We continually strengthen Rabitha's legal standing, organizational governance, financial sustainability, and global connectivity. Key initiatives include maintaining a verified central alumni database, operating a dedicated Head Office, sustaining the Rabitha Endowment Fund (Wakf) alongside systematic member subscriptions, and coordinating active grassroots engagement across all local and overseas branches.
Alumni Empowerment & Welfare
We invest in the spiritual, educational, professional, economic, and social wellbeing of our members. Our key programs include:
- Continuous Learning & Spiritual Growth: Conducting quarterly residential refresher courses, annual Ramadhan spiritual camps, and monthly spiritual talks.
- Academic & Career Support: Operating a dedicated Scholarship Fund for students and alumni, publishing outstanding final-year research projects, and maintaining a Career Guidance unit and Job Bank for recent graduates.
- Economic & Social Welfare: Advancing cooperative economic initiatives, providing emergency and welfare assistance, and strengthening family ties across the alumni community.
- Specialized Professional Forums: Channelling alumni expertise through dedicated bodies in various fields, including research and guidance, media and Journalism, arts and literature, business and economy.
Alma Mater Advancement
We stand as a dedicated partner in the ongoing progress of Jamiah Naleemiah. Rabitha actively promotes student recruitment and admissions outreach across regional branches, conducts quarterly motivational "Life Talks" and career preparation sessions for current undergraduates, provides financial and infrastructural support, and champions the Jamiah's flagship quarterly publication, Islamiya Sinthanai.
Community Upliftment
Committed to serving all levels of society without discrimination, Rabitha develops capable religious and educational leaders and responds to priority community needs. We conduct annual training, assessment, and follow-up programs to empower Naleemi Khateebs (sermon deliverers) to deliver effective Khutbahs that provide Islamic solutions to contemporary challenges. We also organize public seminars and educational camps clarifying practical issues such as Islamic finance, leasing, insurance, and Zakah, partner with other civil society organizations to deliver leadership development programs for school principals, and build second-layer school management leadership.
Nation Building
Anchored in our constitutional mandate of Nurturing Society and the Nation, Rabitha actively contributes to national development, civic leadership, and social harmony across Sri Lanka:
- Strengthening Public Administration & National Service: Building on a proud tradition of Naleemies serving patriotically in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), Education Administrative Service (SLES/SLEAS), Teacher Educators' Service (SLTES), Divisional Secretariats, Inland Revenue, Customs, justice, and diplomatic missions, Rabitha conducts structured preparation and mentoring sessions to guide eligible graduates into national administrative services.
- Civic, Legal & Governance Literacy: Through specialized workshops, we equip professionals and community leaders with practical knowledge of the national Constitution, public finance, administrative regulations, and new legislative bills, while collaborating with Jamiah Naleemiah to establish a National Resource Centre for the Arabic language.
- Promoting National Harmony & Pluralistic Coexistence: Reflecting the foundational ideology of Jamiah Naleemiah, which was selected by the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) to host a model Faculty of National Unity and Reconciliation, Rabitha champions moderate Islamic thought that fosters healthy relationships with followers of all religions and supports national prosperity amidst economic and political challenges.
Governance, Membership & Network
Rabitha An-Naleemiyyeen operates under a formal Constitution (most recently updated and adopted at the 11th Annual General Meeting on July 26, 2026) and is governed through a structured, democratic framework:
| Governing / Network Body | Role & Composition |
|---|---|
| Central Executive Committee (CEC) | Elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term, the CEC functions independently as the primary executive and administrative body of the Association. |
| Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) | Comprising distinguished senior alumni appointed by the CEC, the SAC provides strategic counsel, stability, and oversight to the executive leadership. |
| Regional Branches, Batches & Forums | Our network spans local regional branches across Sri Lanka (evolving from our five inaugural regional sections in Beruwala, Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, and Kalmunai), overseas branches (including long-standing branches in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), individual batch groups, and specialized forums. |
| Membership Categories | Ordinary Membership is open to all past students educated at Jamiah Naleemiah. Honorary Membership is conferred by the CEC upon patrons and distinguished individuals committed to the welfare and progress of Rabitha and the Jamiah. |
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