RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN MADRASAS' — Role And Importance

common knowledge that education was actively promoted in Muslim Spain, but this was done under the patronage of the Muslim rulers. Hence, when Muslim rule came to an end, so too, did the educational system that the Muslim rulers had supported. Because of this, future generations of Muslims were cut off from the tradition of Islamic education. Over the years, they gradually lost their identity, so much so that they even forgot that their ancestors had once been Muslim. Ideally, Islamic madrasas' should prepare scholars who, once they graduate, should engage in dawah, besides providing religious guidance to Muslims. In the 19th century, when Muslim political power in India collapsed, the Indian Muslims were faced with the same danger. Here, too, the educational system had been under the direction and patronage of the rulers. Fortunately, at this delicate juncture, the ulema stood up and decided to establish a system of religious education for Muslims that would not depend on government assistance, but which, instead, would be funded by the community. With the grace of God, this project was successful, so much so that in a few years a large number of madrasas' were set up across the country. It was because of this that India was saved from meeting the same fate as Spain. It was due to the setting up and expansion of madrasas' that today Muslims in India can be said to have a vast and strong non-political religious and communitarian foundation, which is more important, useful and meaningful than political power was once in the past. All this happened through the use of peaceful and constructive means that focused on institution-building. Modernity made this possible, because modern developments have relegated political power to a secondary status. Today, the real concentration of power is in institutions, and through them much more can be done than was possible in the past through political power. Political empires are formed on the basis of military power, while non-political empires are based on institutions and organizations. While political empires serve the interests of individuals or small groups, such non-political empires can serve the entire community. Political empires are based on subjugation of others, while non-political empires can, through community-based institutions, work for the welfare of the whole of humankind. o