Mufti Shakeel Ahmed Sitapuri is a graduate of Dar-ul-uloom Deoband. He has taught Quran tafseer and the science of Hadith, for more than ten years. Presently he is a professor of hadith and tafseer at Dar-ul-Aslamia, Basti, UP.
He has many publications in his name and has traveled widely and internationally including to Pakistan, Britain, and Canada.
Shadab Hussan of IndianMuslims.org interviewed him in Bangalore. Original interview was in Urdu, translation by Shadab Hussain.
Q. What is the standing of worldly education in Islam and near ALLAH?
The Quran has not ignored the world and has given due attention to worldly things. That humans have a role to play in this world is implicit in the Quran. However, as the religion was in danger, the Quran talks mostly about religion and belief only. However, the Quran does highlight the importance of worldly things to its readers in an Ayat of Surah Qasas Allah says:
"And seek by means of what Allah has given you the future abode, and do not neglect your portion of this world, and do good (to others) as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek to make mischief in the land, surely Allah does not love the mischief-makers." (Surah Qasas, 20:77)
There is a hadith which states "Prepare for the hereafter as if you have to leave today and prepare for the world as if you are to stay forever." (Meaning of hadith)
shadab: And there is one hadith about the aftermath of the war of Badr, prophet (saw) ordered that whomever of the non-believers can teach muslims will be freed ...
Yes, it was after the war of Badar, many of prisoners of war were freed after taking compensation, but many literate prisoners of war were given an offer that if they teach Muslims how to read, then they would be freed. So prophet (saw) actually laid the foundation of education and literacy in 2nd Hijrah itself.
shadab: And there is another popular hadith narration, but it is called Mawdu (fabricated). That hadith states "Learn, even if you have to go to China for it". But I have learnt that this hadith is fabricated...
Yes, the words of this hadith are not authentically traced back to prophet (saw), but similar intent is found in other hadith. The words are different but the intent is similar to the mentioned narration. We are interested in mangoes and not in counting trees. We need a pearl and not its shell. This meaning is found in hadith which says "Wisdom and knowledge is a lost property of Muslims. Wherever you find it, you should reclaim it".
2. Will it be a source of reward to promote and support modern education or will it be a worldly deed which will remain in the world?
Certainly it will be a source of reward to promote and support modern education, because poverty can lead to disbelief and wellness instills self-esteem. One who is not poor defends his esteem as well as protects his religion. Secondly, a great form of worship is to fill a Muslim's heart with happiness and has been included by Allah as one form of worship and it is reward bearing. If one becomes well to do, then one will get happiness, and if he learns worldly knowledge then he would have stronger character. It has often been observed that people return to religion after achieving worldly things, when they see other followers defending and preaching their own religion. So even through worldly gains, one can return to religion.
3. What do the Ulema expect us professionals to do for the Ummah?
Professionals well versed in modern education are expected to help the Ulema by your intellect & speech wherever required, and money wherever required. But those Ulema are different who are not working to achieve worldly gains. It’s important to remember here that there are innumerable organizations, just like there are innumerable insects that crawl on the earth after the rains, and it’s important to use one's wisdom in choosing such an organization. We should work for and help only those organizations whose patrons do not take gains from the organization and have devoted their life and property to the organization. And what they take, it is only for their obvious living requirements, and other people are witness to their righteousness. Help only such true Ulema otherwise there are many “Ulema� in every corner of the street.
4. How can we and the Ulema complement each other in improving the state of the Ummah?
One way is that the people of secular education need to provide their intellect and means while Ulema provide guidance towards right Islamic path. To work in a population of non-Muslims of this country, you are more exposed to the mentality of people and the non-Muslims. So they will provide the means, but the leadership will be provided by the Ulema. This way, inshaallah, the organization will be on the right path. It is important for it to succeed so that the Ulema and the professionals complement each other. The Ulema consider one thing very distasteful; some people trained in secular education consider themselves as having more money as well as more education. They see Ulema as poverty stricken and ignorant; this is detrimental to the organization. It should be that religion and religious knowledge is better and held at a higher grade than possessions, and so the Ulema possess a better thing. If there is no spirituality and religion then however huge a worldly thing one may possess, it is of no use. Consider Christian missionaries who have many worldly possession, but since they lack spirituality, they are not as successful.
5. Does 'Kuntum Khairum minannaas' cover worldly problems removed as well through education and literacy?
Invitation to good and prevention from bad will be possible only when one has influence over people enough to stop them from bad. Influence would be possible only when you are helping people with their poverty or other problems. So opening an organization which imparts education, teaching skills to Muslims children and helping them to attain jobs, would bring influence over common masses. If the common mass is influenced then they would follow you, otherwise nobody obeys an unrelated person. The best example of it is the 'Muslim Brotherhood' of Egypt which helped the masses with employment by opening up many industries and thus they commanded a huge influence over people. However, that group has been banned and I am not inviting you to join that group, I am only citing as an example.
6. There is one controversial topic about Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. He laid the foundation of AMU and contributed immensely to Muslims in modern education. However, he had some differences with the Ulema, and I understand that of course the differences were not regarding education but about something else. So what was that we should not repeat or get into? What should be our limits?
Let me tell you first of all that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan marhoom (late) was a very concerned and caring person, he benefited Muslims a lot, otherwise Muslims would have been more downtrodden. However, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan made a mistake in understanding that the Muslim mass will not come to English education until they are free from religious tightness and influence of Islamic scholars. So when he attacked the domain of Islam, it was like disturbing a sleeping lion, I feel it was against his intellect to do that. No intelligent man who wants to improve the common mass would do so. He denied Angels and Houris as well as ridiculed Paradise and Hell. That is the reason why the Ulemas got angry with and turned against him, otherwise as far his worry and love for Muslims was concerned, the Ulema have a great regard for that.
Even in his lifetime, people used to commend him. Akbar Allahabadi, who was a renowned poet as well as a scholar, and who had attacked English education, said "We only talk but Syed used to work". Na bhulo farq jo hai kahne wale karne wale mein. (Don’t forget the difference between the one who only talks and the one who takes action).
So we are not against Sir Syed, but my message is that please don’t step into Aqeedah by saying 'There is no miracle', 'Angels do not exist', 'Satan has no existence and if it does why cant we see' or 'Paradise and Hell are not a reality' etc. If you ridicule religious beliefs then religious people will not be by your side, as Muslims strictly believe in their religion.
Your deeds and character should be good. Keep away from greed and be punctual with prayers. If you pray five times a day, keep away from any greed and stand right next to each other in community if any incident occurs, then people will listen to you and it would bring results InshaALLAH.
7. What should be our hudood in promoting and encouraging worldly education?
You should focus more on making this work deeper rather than wider. If you make it deeper then it will automatically and gradually take a wider coverage. As it happens gradually, you will be able to tackle the growth and manage the work. If you make the work widen too quickly, then you will not be able to manage the work properly.