ASK MAULANA — Your Questions, Answered

ASK MAULANA Your Questions, Answered On Madrasa Education and the Ulema How do you look at the madrasa system? There is much talk about the need for reforms in the system? Unlike some others, I am not critical of or opposed to the madrasas' as such. Muslims need both types of education — religious as well as secular. Muslim children should have knowledge of both their religion as well as secular subjects. There is, of course, no need for all Muslim children to go to full-time madrasas' to train to become ulema. However, some children must do so in order that the tradition of religious learning can be carried on. We need madrasa-trained ulema who have knowledge of the Quran, Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic. As far as the question of madrasa ‘reforms’ is concerned, I really don’t believe in this talk of ‘modernisation’. You certainly cannot ‘modernise’ the Quran and the Hadith. So, I think the word ‘modernisation’ in this context is uncalled for. While on this subject of ‘reforms’, I must say that the ‘modern’ schools and universities are also in urgent need of reform, a point often neglected by vociferous advocates of madrasa ‘reform’. Some people argue that madrasas' teach some outdated centuriesold texts on Greek philosophy and logic and hold that against them. But we must also note that departments of English in universities also teach English classics, written centuries ago, which have no value in the outside world. For me, these texts are a minor issue. The basic issue is the need for good, committed teachers. So, are you arguing that madrasa students must not be made familiar with basic ‘modern’ subjects? No, I am not saying this at all. What I am suggesting is that separate institutions can be established where some madrasa graduates can later enrol to learn ‘modern’ subjects, particularly different languages