‘A da’wah movement in Mauritius: A study of the Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen’ is based on qualitative research and its objective is to examine the socio-cultural factors that may hinder the processes of da’wah in Mauritius. The study is placed in the context of a well-known national Islamic organisation, the Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen whose founder is Mr. Muhammad Cehl Fakeemeeah, a Member of the National Parliament. The movement is also associated with a political party, the FSM (Front Solidarité Mauricien) or the Mauritian Solidarity Front. The Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen seeks to propose an alternative da’wah program in order to promote understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims and to accelerate the progression of conversion in Mauritius. The movement is involved in politics and mass media in order to reach the maximum number of people in the island. Emphasis is put on the urgent need for each individual to understand the concept of God as well as reading the Qur’an in order to avoid falling into the traps of traditional da’wah which has prevailed in Mauritius for decades.The present thesis analyses data provided in face to face interviews with a number of Mauritian converts as well as observation and discussions with other born Muslim members, all adherents of the said organisation. The Mauritian society is well-known for its multi-religious and multi-cultural background, influenced mainly by the majority, the Hindu community which consists of more than 50 % of the whole population. According to Soonita Kistamah 1, the percentage of Muslims is only 17, 3 % of the whole Mauritian population and this demonstrates a large gap concerning the work of da’wah in the island. Therefore the thesis will investigate factors that hinder da’wah by focusing on one particular movement – the Jamaat Ul Muslimeen. After having scanned the available literature, no specific study on da’wah in Mauritius was found. There is therefore a gap in the knowledge of da’wah especially issues such as socio-cultural factors that may affect da’wah progression within the Mauritian context. This thesis is a contribution to filling this gap. Since the thesis wishes to understand the socio-cultural factors which hinder the progress of da‘wah in Mauritius a qualitative approach was deemed most appropriate to explore this issue. The thesis begins providing my motivation for writing on the topic of da‘wah, a statement of the problem, research objectives, significance of the study, and the theory and methodology applied. Chapter II provides an overview of Mauritius and its history. Emphasis is given to the events of the 12th March 1968, that is, the civil war which occurred between Christians and Muslims which led to ethnic tensions. Another communal crisis which occurred in February1999 between Black Creole and the Hindu community is also examined. Chapter III will provide a biography of Cehl Meeah, the founder of Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen, his broader religious and political outlook and the history and da‘wah methodology of his organization. Chapter IV examines this methodology in the light of certain theoretical considerations with regard to da‘wah. Chapter V discusses and interprets the results and findings that emerge from interviews and discussions with converts belonging to the Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen. Chapter VI concludes the dissertation and lists recommendations with regard to da‘wah methodology in Mauritius. / Religious Studies & Arabic / M.A. (Islamic Studies)

Cette recherche propose d’étudier et de présenter des supports susceptibles d'améliorer le processus d'apprentissage des personnes malentendantes et sourdes par la médiation de nouveaux outils comme les tablettes tactiles. La question est de savoir si l’introduction de ces nouveaux outils, pourrait permettre la création de didacticiels adaptés aux spécificités cognitives des enfants sourds.Dans le contexte actuel, notre hypothèse est que les nouvelles technologies informatiques et les outils numériques (comme les tablettes tactiles) influenceraient positivement le processus d’apprentissage des élèves sourds et malentendants.En conséquence, nous avons créé un logiciel éducatif, Digisthésia, qui a été conçu et adapté aux besoins des élèves sourds et malentendants. Le but de cet outil était de développer et d’améliorer 4 des principales potentialités cognitives : l’attention, la mémoire, la vitesse de traitement et la résolution de problèmes.Notre protocole a mobilisé 80 élèves de 7 collèges de Lyon et de la périphérie lyonnaise : 40 élèves avec différents degrés de déficience auditive, des sujets implantés et appareillés (20 participants ont utilisé le logiciel éducatif Digisthésia / 20 personnes ont fait partie du groupe de contrôle) ainsi que 40 élèves sans déficiences auditives (20 participants qui ont utilisé notre logiciel éducatif sur tablette tactile / 20 élèves ont fait partie du groupe témoin). Les résultats indiquent que la médiation par les nouvelles technologies a renforcé les potentialités cognitives des élèves sourds et malentendants. Nous avons observé un progrès au niveau de l’apprentissage des participants sourds et malentendants suite à l’utilisation du logiciel éducatif Digisthésia sur tablette tactile. / This research proposes to study and present materials that can improve the learning process for people who are hard of hearing and deaf by leveraging the use of new tools such as touch tablets. The question is whether the introduction of these new tools could allow the creation of software tools that more adapted to the cognitive specificities of deaf children.In the current context, our hypothesis is that new computer-base technologies and digital tools (such as touch tablets) would positively influence the learning process for students who are deaf and hard of hearing.As a result, we have created the educational software Digisthésia that has been designed and adapted to the needs of students who are deaf and hard of hearing. The aim of this tool was to develop and improve 4 important cognitive parameters such as attention, memory, processing speed and problem solving.Our protocol mobilized 80 students from grade schools from and near Lyon: 40 students suffering from different degrees of hearing impairment, with an without cochlear implants (20 subjects used the tablet/20 subjects were part of the control group). As well as 40 students with no hearing impairments (20 subjects who used the educational software Digisthésia and the tablet /20 subjects who were part of the control group).The results indicate that leveraging the new technologies has enhanced the cognitive potential of deaf and hard of hearing students. We have seen progress in the learning of deaf and hard of hearing participants as a result of the use of tablets and our software.

‘A da’wah movement in Mauritius: A study of the Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen’ is based on qualitative research and its objective is to examine the socio-cultural factors that may hinder the processes of da’wah in Mauritius. The study is placed in the context of a well-known national Islamic organisation, the Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen whose founder is Mr. Muhammad Cehl Fakeemeeah, a Member of the National Parliament. The movement is also associated with a political party, the FSM (Front Solidarité Mauricien) or the Mauritian Solidarity Front. The Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen seeks to propose an alternative da’wah program in order to promote understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims and to accelerate the progression of conversion in Mauritius. The movement is involved in politics and mass media in order to reach the maximum number of people in the island. Emphasis is put on the urgent need for each individual to understand the concept of God as well as reading the Qur’an in order to avoid falling into the traps of traditional da’wah which has prevailed in Mauritius for decades.The present thesis analyses data provided in face to face interviews with a number of Mauritian converts as well as observation and discussions with other born Muslim members, all adherents of the said organisation. The Mauritian society is well-known for its multi-religious and multi-cultural background, influenced mainly by the majority, the Hindu community which consists of more than 50 % of the whole population. According to Soonita Kistamah 1, the percentage of Muslims is only 17, 3 % of the whole Mauritian population and this demonstrates a large gap concerning the work of da’wah in the island. Therefore the thesis will investigate factors that hinder da’wah by focusing on one particular movement – the Jamaat Ul Muslimeen. After having scanned the available literature, no specific study on da’wah in Mauritius was found. There is therefore a gap in the knowledge of da’wah especially issues such as socio-cultural factors that may affect da’wah progression within the Mauritian context. This thesis is a contribution to filling this gap. Since the thesis wishes to understand the socio-cultural factors which hinder the progress of da‘wah in Mauritius a qualitative approach was deemed most appropriate to explore this issue. The thesis begins providing my motivation for writing on the topic of da‘wah, a statement of the problem, research objectives, significance of the study, and the theory and methodology applied. Chapter II provides an overview of Mauritius and its history. Emphasis is given to the events of the 12th March 1968, that is, the civil war which occurred between Christians and Muslims which led to ethnic tensions. Another communal crisis which occurred in February1999 between Black Creole and the Hindu community is also examined. Chapter III will provide a biography of Cehl Meeah, the founder of Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen, his broader religious and political outlook and the history and da‘wah methodology of his organization. Chapter IV examines this methodology in the light of certain theoretical considerations with regard to da‘wah. Chapter V discusses and interprets the results and findings that emerge from interviews and discussions with converts belonging to the Jamaat-Ul-Muslimeen. Chapter VI concludes the dissertation and lists recommendations with regard to da‘wah methodology in Mauritius. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Islamic Studies)