Alternate Education
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Madrasah: The Intellectual History of Muslim India
This is a series of columns for the understanding of the history of centuries old Madrasah and Islamic Education System in South Asian perspective published in Muslims Weekly, New York, USA in a series of the weekly Column “Personal Notes in 2004.â€
The Intellectual History and Education System in Muslim India
By JAWED ANWAR This is a series of columns for the understanding of the history of centuries old Madrasah and Islamic Education System in South Asian perspective published in Muslims Weekly, New York, USA in a series of the weekly Column “Personal Notes in 2004.â€
Madrasa 1: The Purpose of Education
JAWED ANWAR We, humankind, are the earthly viceroys of Allah. "And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth (Al Quran-2: 30)." So if the viceroy is not well educated and highly knowledgeable and does not possess wisdom, what will happen to our governance on earth? So, as mentioned in Al Qur'an, everyone should be knowledgeable and educated.
William Dalrymple: The Madrasas of Delhi
William Dalrymple COLONEL William Sleeman, famous for his suppression of the Thugs and a leading critic of the administration of the Indian courts, had to admit that the Madrasa education given in Delhi was something quite remarkable: "Perhaps there are few communities in the world among whom education is more generally diffused than among Muhammadans [Muslims] in India," he wrote on a visit to the Mughal capital.
Madrasa 2: The Priorities of Education
JAWED ANWAR IF you think about Greece, your first thoughts are of its highly reputable philosophers. However, during the hey-day of these great thinkers, they were regarded as anything but philosophers. These philosophers had not received any respect from their nation.
Madrasa 10: Medical Education
SYED JAWED ANWAR DISEASE is of such concern among human beings that, from the beginning, Allah gave some prophets healing ability in the form of miracles so that the prophets would be recognized as legitimate, thereby validating their warnings of the hereafter. Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was given the capability to cure the blind and the leper (Al-Quran 5:110). Prophet Muhammad (saw) was given the knowledge of how to protect the body and to live a healthy life; and his wife Hazrath Aisha r.a, became a medical
Madrasa 18: Pakistan
SYED JAWED ANWAR MUSLIMS had their comprehensive education system during the period of their rule in India. The system was uniform, cohesive, and provided the people with in-depth knowledge with a holistic look in different fields of life. When British occupied India, they ruined the economy of Muslim education, de-educated the masses and massacred the intellectuals. After a gap of about a century, a small group of people was educated under the new policy of British educationalist Lord Macaulay in 1835. Th
Madrasa 16 & 17: Efforts of Merger of Two Systems
SYED JAWED ANWAR VARIOUS efforts have been made to merge the two systems --secular, Western education and Islamic education in India-- but unfortunately most of them failed. Here are two examples:
Madrasa 15: Deoband and Its Movement
SYED JAWED ANWAR AFTER British occupation, India was in a situation in which financial resources were completely under control of the new government and it was extremely unfavorable to run an Islamic educational institution. There was a danger of discontinuation of Imams and educators of Qur’an, Hadith and Fiqah. A group decided to establish institutions in which Imams and Mudarris (teachers) could be continuously produced. This group decided to separate itself from the affairs of politics and business a
Madrasa 14: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh
SYED JAWED ANWAR DURING the complete destruction and occupation of India under British rule in 1857, over 7,000 Muslim scholars and educationists were executed, and the rest were deported or forced to leave. This left an abnormal situation in which to revive the Muslim education system. The only alternative for remaining Muslims was to adjust and compromise as they accepted the harsh reality that Muslims were eliminated from government, politics, business, and education and that the Muslims of greatest ge
Madrasa 13: The Complete Destruction
SYED JAWED ANWAR WHEN the British first started controlling India, Muslims were the ruling power and the heart and mind of the society. They held intellectual and physical superiority over other communities. Therefore, the British East India Company instigated a policy to humiliate and degrade Muslims from all spheres of life. Governor General George Hilario Barlow (ruled from 1805 to 1807), in his letter to Lord Willington, wrote “I can’t shut my eyes to the fact that this race [Muslims] is basically
Madrasa 12: Western Educated Ulemas, Mullahs and Maulvis
SYED JAWED ANWAR IN GENERAL, people think that English and Western Education started in India after the British occupation and after the educational movement of Muslim scholars (for example, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan) who cooperated the British occupiers. Historically, however, this notion is not accurate. Several British historians have noted that only few nations throughout history can match the educational tradition that Indian Muslims had. The scholars of Muslim India were always trying to learn every knowl
Madrasa 11: Business and Technology
SYED JAWED ANWAR MUSLIMS had intellectual, moral, geographical, scientific, and industrial superiority and vast human and natural resources over the West before Muslim lands were occupied by Western powers. The West had no edge over the Muslim world other than that attributed to political and military conspiracy, lies, deception, and propaganda --all fueled by disinformation and misinformation. With no concept of selfish nationalism, Muslims allowed Western companies, businessmen, and professionals in
Madrasa 9: Women's Education
SYED JAWED ANWAR “…Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge…†(Al-Qur'an 35: 28). “They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the people of the Blaze†(67: 10). “…Say: ‘Lord, increase me in knowledge’†(20: 114). Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “The search for knowledge is a duty for every Muslim man and woman,†and, “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.â€
Madrasa 8: The Curriculum
SYED JAWED ANWAR WESTERN secular education is directed at the gathering of information. In contrast, Islamic scholars and educators consider the main purpose of education to be the character building. Therefore, fashioning each child with good etiquette and polishing the character was the focus of the primary education.