Juma Masjid sets up Family First Guidance Centre

Harmony in every heart. With this motto, the iconic Juma Masjid, sitting on an ancient living pond near Crawford Market, has started the Family First Guidance Centre on its premises. Arguably the first such facility from a mosque premises in India, it helps mitigate distress in society.
“A mosque is not just a place of worship. It is a beacon of hope too.With this idea in mind, we provided the space to start the guidance centre. So, apart from religious and spiritual guidance, you can say, this mosque enables the distressed souls to get counselling in psychological, psychiatric and careers too,” said Shoeb Khatib, trustee of Juma Masjid of Bombay Trust which manages many institutions in the city, including Juma Masjid and Bada Qabrastan at Marine Lines.
Senior cleric Mufti Ashfaque Kazi, who heads the centre, said it focuses on and renders services in three areas: prevention and resolution of marital discord, guidance on handling finance and counselling to acquire good mental health.
“We are here not to increase the number of divorces. Our aim is first to prevent a divorce. For this purpose, we carry pre- and post-marital counselling for couples. Marital disputes can be resolved if both parties are heard properly and genuine efforts are made to mediate and bring in reconciliation,” said Kazi.
Citing the case of a couple on the brink of split, he said the girl’s father was adamant that he wanted divorce for his daughter as he had exhausted all efforts to bring about a reconciliation between the wife and husband. However, Kazi said he wanted to speak to the husband once. “I called the man to my office and heard him. After a counselling session, both agreed to forget whatever had happened in the past and began a new chapter. Now they are a happy couple,” said Kazi.
Trained psychologists and psychiatrists have been roped in to guide teenagers and youngsters who face emotional issues. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Syeda Ruksheda, advisor to the Family First Guidance Centre, said it is a “welcome” initiative thst needs to be replicated in other places of worship where people, especially youngsters, can get guidance. However, she wanted more people in the locality to benefit from the centre. She said misunderstanding between parents and teenage children happens because of the environment they grew up in.
The initiative is being applauded widely. "Even the holy Quran commands and the holy Prophet said that disputes should be resolved through arbitration and mediation. This is a nice initiative and I think every mosque should use its premises to start such a facility," said Bandra businessman Pervez Lakdawala.
These days youngsters are ending their lives over trivial issues such as a smartphone besides love and exam failures. Such centres can go a long way in preventing the suicides.