Islamic Education

6. One of the distinguished teachers at Madrasa al-Islah was Maulana Muhammad Shibli Nadwi, under whom we studied texts on Fiqh and Kalam. Among these was Bi dayat al-Mujtahid wa Nihayat al-Muqtasid by Ibn Rushd. His classes offered me a significant religious insight. At first, the idea was somewhat unclear to me, but with continued study, it gradually became more defined. I eventually came to understand that, in Islam, war or conflict is a secondary option, not a primary one. When a disagreement arises with an individual or a nation, the first and foremost effort should be to resolve the matter through peaceful dialogue. All possible means should be employed to reach a resolution. In The Light of Experiences Studying in a religious seminary does not mean that one must remain ignorant of worldly matters. It is entirely possible for a person to formally study only in a religious institution and yet become acquainted with the knowledge and sciences referred to as secular. I am an example of this. My formal education took place in a religious seminary, but after that, by the grace of God, I have studied a wide range of secular disciplines. From palmistry to astronomy, there is scarcely a field I have not explored. The key to this achievement was that, after graduating from the madrasa, I made a personal effort to thoroughly learn the English language. Once I had mastered English, the doors to all branches of knowledge opened for me. At the