PORT-LOUIS, Mauritius, October 28 (IslamOnline.net) - The start of the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan on Sunday, October 27, brought to the fore the religious crisis of the 200,000-strong Muslim community of this Indian Ocean island.

Imam Hafiz Akbar Neeyamatkhan, of the Jamaah Naeemiah in Port-Louis, lamented that Mauritius Muslims lost enthusiasm in Ramadan.

"Fifteen years ago, Muslims were more religious, collaborated with each other, not only during Ramadan but during the whole year," he told IslamOnline.net.

"They were at the mosques for long hours. All this has disappeared. If the number of Muslims doing Ramadan has diminished, those who do it also are in a hurry to finish with it," he added.

This is due mainly, Neeyamatkhan asserted, to the lack of unity among the Muslim community which represents 18% of the 1.2 million population.

"Day by day, the Muslim is going away from Islam because his heart is getting attached to other materialistic things, most of them coming from the western civilization. He is living his religion with difficulty in such an atmosphere," maintained the Imam.

He recalled that in the past mosques were always full during the whole year. "Today, not many Muslims go to the mosques."

Another reason for the decline of Islam in Mauritius, Neeyamatkha underlined, is the lack of Islamic education despite "the large number of madrassahs and Islamic centers opened in several parts of the island."

"Islamic education has become less and less important for Muslims. Madrassas represent just a tradition for Muslim children. They do not learn Islam and its principles," he added.

Imam Neeyamatkhan said Muslim children were overburdened by private tuition which takes place after school hours, at a time when the courses at the madrassah start.

"Parents wish their children progress in western education and give less importance to Islamic values," he charged.

Imam Neeyamatkhan insisted that if such a situation persisted in the island, the future of Muslims would be worse.

"You just have to go around and look at the way young Muslim men and women get dressed these days. I do not force them to put the hijab or other Islamic dress, but they can at least cover their bodies conveniently. They are unrecognizable in their western dress," he said.

Maulana Jameel Chooramun, of Jamaat-ul-Ulama, also complained of lack of interest in Ramadan.

"It all depends on the family and how the children have been brought up by their parents. If parents have created a good image for roza (fasting) and the month of Ramadan, the children would definitely love Ramadan," he said.

On the beginning of Ramadan, Habib Ramhjeet, a resident of Plaine des Papayes, in the north of the island, replied: "Do it or not, it’s the same thing….though I know that it’s an important event in the Islamic calendar."

Goolhamid Beegun, an Islamic scholar in the island, maintained that most Muslims in Mauritius live Islam only during Ramadan.

"Ramadan over, they finish with their religion, until next Ramadan" he added.

Echoing similar position, Maulana Chooramun agreed: "Its the same routine, yes."

"However, we have discussed with the authorities so as to facilitate the task of Muslims in the island during Ramadan.

"There’ll be more police patrol to provide security for those going and coming from the mosques; we have reinforced the promotion of the environment by causing dustbins to be distributed in regions where Muslims live; we have called for better lighting facilities at night near and around the mosques," he elaborated.

However, some of the Muslim community member remain happy with and enthusiastic about the advent of the holy fasting month.

Last week-end, many of them accelerated their preparations for Ramadan by cleaning their homes, yards and painting the mosques.