RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN MADRASAS' — Role And Importance

Consequently, numerous madrasas' were established across India in the second half of the 19th century. This soon assumed the form of a mass movement for Muslim educational awakening. One could say that the madrasas' shifted the struggle of the community from violent conflict to peaceful educational activism. This represented the choice of a peaceful option over a violent one. The ulema reviewed their position, and, without terming it as such, issued what can, in some sense, be called a fatwa: declaring, as it were, that India should be considered as Dar ut-Ta‘leem or ‘abode of knowledge/learning’ and that now all Muslims must get involved in the field of education. This was an extremely important decision. One could say that the madrasas' shifted the struggle of the community from violent conflict to peaceful educational activism. After considering India as what can be called Dar ut-Ta‘leem, a vast number of madrasas' and other educational institutions were set up across the country, the result of the efforts of literally thousands of dedicated ulema. They sacrificed themselves so as to keep the community alive and to maintain the tradition of religious knowledge, surviving on meagre incomes and leading simple lives without expecting worldly rewards. The madrasas' they established provided free education, which helped the poor particularly. The ulema decided that they would depend on community donations, and not on government funding, so that they could retain their autonomy. They thus faced numerous hurdles, including financial, but yet they carried on with their work with a sense of mission and dedication. Peaceful Methods of Educational Activism This world runs on the basis of certain fixed laws. One of these is that non-violence is more powerful than violence. This is illustrated in a tradition attributed to the Prophet according to which he is said to have declared that God blesses gentleness with that which he does not give to harshness. This relates, in fact, to all actions, including the sphere of social or collective action. Problems always come along with opportunities. The correct approach is for us to ignore or not be intimidated by the hurdles in one’s path, and, through peaceful means, to make use of the available opportunities.