StellaWindsor21 at 19:26, 28 April 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Islamic scholar and educationist from Kerala}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri
| native_name = അബ്ദുൽ ഹക്കീം ഫൈസി ആദൃശ്ശേരി
| native_name_lang = ml
| birth_date = {{circa|1958}}
| image = Portrait of Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri.jpg
| caption = Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri in Kerala, India
| birth_place = Adrisseri, [[Malappuram district]], [[Kerala]], India
| citizenship = Indian
| signature = Signature of Hakeem Faizy.svg
| signature_size = 120px
| signature_alt = Signature of Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri
| occupation = [[Islamic scholar]], educationist
| known_for = Wafy and Wafiyya integrated curricula; pioneer of women-only Islamic seminaries in Kerala
| organisation = [[Coordination of Islamic Colleges]]
| awards = IOL Star of the Year (2009); OnIslam Muslim Star of the Year (2011); Azhari Thangal Excellence Award (2022)

}}

'''Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri''' ([[Malayalam]]: {{lang|ml|അബ്ദുൽ ഹക്കീം ഫൈസി ആദൃശ്ശേരി}}; [[Arabic]]: {{lang|ar|عبد الحكيم الفيضي}};) is an Indian [[Islamic scholar]], and educationist from [[Malappuram district]], [[Kerala]]. He is the chief architect of the '''''Wafy''''' and '''''Wafiyya''''' integrated academic programmes combining advanced [[Islamic studies]] with state-university secular degrees and the pioneer of women-only Islamic higher education seminaries in [[Kerala]].<ref name="qantara2017">{{cite web |url=https://qantara.de/en/article/islamic-education-india-all-female-madrassas-women-women-and-women |title=All-female madrassas: Of women, by women and for women |publisher=[[Qantara.de]] |date=23 August 2017 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref name="studyint2017">{{cite web |url=https://studyinternational.com/news/female-madrassas-tradition-science/ |title=For women, by women: All-female madrassas mixing tradition with science |publisher=Study International |date=25 August 2017 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

He is a co-founder and serves as General Secretary of the [[Coordination of Islamic Colleges]] (CIC), an academic confederation administering over 90 affiliated Islamic colleges, including nearly 40 all-women institutions across [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]].<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref> In January 2018, he became the '''first Indian''' to be appointed to the 21-member Executive Board of the Cairo-based [[League of Islamic Universities]] (LIU).<ref name="twocircles2018">{{cite web |url=http://twocircles.net/2018jan26/420277.html |title=Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri: The first Indian to join the governing body of League of Islamic Universities |publisher=TwoCircles.net |date=26 January 2018 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref> He also serves as India's representative at the General Secretariat of the World Muslim Communities Council in [[Abu Dhabi]].<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

In late 2022 he attracted national and international media attention when he was expelled from the [[Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama]] following a dispute over his reformist educational programme.<ref name="manorama2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/11/10/samastha-expels-reformist-leader-faizy.html |title=Samastha expels reformist leader for 'working against principles of Sunni Islam' |publisher=Manorama English |date=10 November 2022 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref name="hindu2022">{{cite news |title=Abdul Hakeem Faizy's expulsion exposes divide within Samastha as Sunni orthodoxy prevails |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Abdul Hakeem Faizy was born around 1958 in Adrisseri, [[Malappuram district]], [[Kerala]]. He was raised in a clerical family and left formal school in the first standard, pursuing traditional dars education for approximately eight years.<ref name="twocircles2018" /> In 1977, he enrolled at '''Jamia Nooriya Arabic College''', Pattikkad, Malappuram, for a two-year religious studies course, subsequently graduating from a seminary affiliated with the [[Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama]].<ref name="newageislam2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/muhammed-thaiparambil-new-age-islam/how-sunni-orthodoxy-kerala-seeks-witch-hunt-progressive-scholar/d/130872 |title=How Sunni Orthodoxy in Kerala Seeks to Witch-Hunt a Progressive Scholar |publisher=New Age Islam |date=11 October 2023 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

==Career==
===Imam in Abu Dhabi===
After his religious studies, Faizy served as an [[Imam]] in [[Abu Dhabi]], [[UAE]], for approximately a decade.<ref name="newageislam2023" />

===Return to Kerala and curriculum reform===
In the mid-1990s, Faizy returned to Kerala and took charge of '''Markazu Tharbiyyathil Islamiyya''' at [[Valanchery]], Malappuram, where he developed an integrated, multidisciplinary curriculum combining classical Islamic learning with modern secular disciplines including comparative religious studies, modern research methodology, and English language.<ref name="newageislam2023" />

===Founding of the Coordination of Islamic Colleges===
In 2000, Faizy co-founded the [[Coordination of Islamic Colleges]] (CIC), registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, as an academic confederation initially associated with the [[Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama]].<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref> The CIC grew to encompass over 90 affiliated colleges, including nearly 40 all-women institutions.<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref> It has signed memoranda of understanding with the [[University of Cairo]], [[Al-Azhar University]], [[League of Islamic Universities]], and [[Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo]].<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

===Wafy and Wafiyya integrated programmes===
Faizy played a leading role in developing the '''Wafy''' (for men) and '''Wafiyya''' (for women) integrated programmes, successors to the Al-Muthawwal course of the traditional [[Nizamiyya]] syllabus.<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref> Wafy is an eight-year programme combining two-year Higher Secondary, four-year undergraduate, and two-year postgraduate Islamic studies with a state-recognised secular university degree. Wafiyya is a five-year integrated undergraduate programme for women, combining advanced Islamic theology with a [[Bachelor's degree]] from a recognised university.<ref name="qantara2017" />

===Pioneering women-only Islamic seminaries===
The first women-only Wafiyya seminary was established at [[Valanchery]] in 2008.<ref name="twocircles2018" /> By 2018, over 1,300 female students were enrolled across 24 Wafiyya colleges in Kerala.<ref name="twocircles2018" /> Graduates earn the title ''al-Wafiyya'' ("the committed women"). The initiative received international coverage from ''[[Qantara.de]]'',<ref name="qantara2017" /> ''Study International'',<ref name="studyint2017" /> and the ''[[Saudi Gazette]]''.<ref name="muslimmirror2016">{{cite web |url=https://muslimmirror.com/indian-scholar-underscores-need-to-promote-islams-moderation/ |title=Indian scholar underscores need to promote Islam's moderation |publisher=Muslim Mirror (citing Saudi Gazette) |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

[[File:CIC coordinator.jpg|thumb|Abdul Hakeem Faizy, General Secretary CIC, attending a workshop in [[Cairo]] (2018).]]
===League of Islamic Universities===
In January 2018, Faizy was appointed to the 21-member Executive Board of the [[League of Islamic Universities]], the first Indian to hold such a position.<ref name="twocircles2018" /> He attended the Fourth Executive Conference and Tenth General Assembly of the LIU in [[Alexandria]], April 2018.<ref name="twocircles2018" />

===World Muslim Communities Council===
Faizy serves as India's representative at the General Secretariat of the World Muslim Communities Council in [[Abu Dhabi]].<ref name="cic-official" />

==Controversy with Samastha Kerala==
Tensions between the CIC and the [[Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama]] escalated over the CIC's constitutional amendment, Faizy's attempt to standardise the ''dars'' curriculum, and the Wafiyya marriage policy.<ref name="manorama2022" /> In November 2022, Samastha formally expelled Faizy, citing anti-organisational activities.<ref name="manorama2022" /><ref name="hindu2022" /> In February 2023, Samastha withheld cooperation with the CIC pending Faizy's removal as General Secretary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Samastha not to cooperate with CIC until Hakeem Faizy's removal as general secretary |publisher=[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=15 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manoramanews.com/news/breaking-news/2023/02/21/abdul-hakeem-faizy-adrisseri-will-resign-cic-post-21.html |title=Hakeem Faizy to resign CIC post |publisher=Manorama News |date=21 February 2023 |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref> Faizy denied the allegations and said he would "focus on the future."<ref>{{cite news |title=Hakeem Faizy says he will focus on future, will not bow to Samastha diktats |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |date=25 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="newageislam2023" /> Students and parents protested against proposals to discontinue the Wafy and Wafiyya courses.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Kerala: Students, parents slam scrapping of Wafy, Wafiyya courses
|url=https://www.edexlive.com/news/kerala-students-parents-slam-scrapping-of-wafy-wafiyya-courses-35221.html
|website=EdexLive
|publisher=The New Indian Express
|date=15 May 2023
|access-date=26 April 2026
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=All eyes now on Samastha meet in Kerala as CIC backs Faizy |publisher=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

==Recognition and awards==
* '''IOL Star of the Year (2009)''' — [[IslamOnline]]<ref name="cic-official">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>
* '''OnIslam Muslim Star of the Year (2011)''' — OnIslam.net<ref name="cicgov2024">{{cite web |url=https://wafycic.com/governance |title=Governance – About Prof. Abdul Hakeem Faizy |publisher=Coordination of Islamic Colleges |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>
* '''Azhari Thangal Excellence Award (December 2022)'''<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/azhari-thangal-excellence-award-to-abdul-hakeem-faizy-adrisseri-1103022
|title=അസ്ഹരി തങ്ങൾ എക്‌സലൻസി അവാർഡ് അബ്ദുൽ ഹകീം ഫൈസി ആദൃശ്ശേരിക്ക്
|publisher=Madhyamam
|date=3 December 2022
|access-date=2024-01-10
}}</ref>

==Views and philosophy==
Faizy advocates for a synthesis of Islamic and secular knowledge, arguing that seminary graduates must understand "the scientific, cultural, political and intellectual currents that shape our modern world."<ref name="qantara2017" /> On women's education, he has stated that "there is no better way of empowering Muslim women than to educate them and give them access to all streams of knowledge."<ref name="qantara2017" /> He is an advocate of interfaith dialogue and religious pluralism, having organised international conferences on multiculturalism in Kerala.<ref name="muslimmirror2016" />

==See also==
* [[Coordination of Islamic Colleges]]
* [[Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama]]
* [[League of Islamic Universities]]
* [[Islam in Kerala]]
* [[Indian Union Muslim League]]
* [[Madrasa]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://wafycic.com/governance Official CIC biography of Abdul Hakeem Faizy]
* [https://qantara.de/en/article/islamic-education-india-all-female-madrassas-women-women-and-women "All-female madrassas: Of women, by women and for women"] – ''Qantara.de'', 2017
* [http://twocircles.net/2018jan26/420277.html "First Indian to join the governing body of League of Islamic Universities"] – ''TwoCircles.net'', 2018
* [https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/muhammed-thaiparambil-new-age-islam/how-sunni-orthodoxy-kerala-seeks-witch-hunt-progressive-scholar/d/130872 "How Sunni Orthodoxy in Kerala seeks to witch-hunt a progressive scholar"] – ''New Age Islam'', 2023
* [https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/11/10/samastha-expels-reformist-leader-faizy.html "Samastha expels reformist leader"] – ''Manorama English'', 2022
* [https://studyinternational.com/news/female-madrassas-tradition-science/ "All-female madrassas mixing tradition with science"] – ''Study International'', 2017

[[Category:Islam in Kerala]]
[[Category:Islamic universities and colleges in India]]
[[Category:People from Malappuram district]]
[[Category:Indian educationists]]
[[Category:Muslim reformers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]

Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri - Revision history

StellaWindsor21 at 19:26, 28 April 2026