Anti-terrorism conferences to spread Islamic teachings: Arshad

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi : The anti-terrorism conferences being organized in the country by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) or other Muslim organizations are not meant to clean the image of the Muslim community or madrasas, said Maulana Arshad Madani, ex-president, JUH on 10th May.

Rather, these conferences are just to spread the Islamic teachings of peace and brotherhood and also to expose hands that are hell-bent to tarnish the image of Islam and the Muslim community, said he who has been instrumental behind these conferences after the 25th February national anti-terrorism conference organized by Darul Uloom Deoband.

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Book review: Unveiling the Hidden History of Women Ulema

Book Review- Banat-e Islam Ki Dini Wa Ilmi Khidmat ('The Religious and Intellectual Contributions of Muslim Women') by Yoginder Sikand

Books in English and Urdu on Muslim history rarely, if ever, mention the role and contribution of numerous remarkable Muslim women scholars. Yet, as the author of this fascinating monograph, the late Qazi Athar Mubarakpuri (1916-1996), points out, early Muslim history records many such women, several of whose names are mentioned in contemporary Arab chronicles. Indeed, he asserts, many of these texts had separate chapters devoted to such women. Some early Arab Muslim writers even penned separate books dealing with women scholars.

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AMU to help link madrassas to mainstream education

Submitted by Tarique on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 09:20.

By Asit Srivastava, IANS

Lucknow : In an attempt to open up mainstream higher education in India to madrassa students, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has decided to accredit several Islamic seminaries across the country.

"The move intends to provide better opportunities to madrassa students to pursue higher education," Rahat Abrar, an AMU spokesperson, told IANS on telephone from Aligarh.

The effort will begin with Uttar Pradesh, where AMU is located and which has over 1,900 madrassas recognised by the state Madrassa Education Board. Around 170,000 students study in these seminaries - the figure being highest among all Indian states.

"For granting accreditation to madrassas, a committee has already been constituted. Our move will help raise the number of madrassa graduates considerably."

The committee will review the syllabi of madrassas and recommend changes in the education system. It has been directed to expedite its effort in Uttar Pradesh.

At present, there are only about 42 AMU-accredited madrassas in different states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

"Students of accredited madrassas will get lateral entry into bachelor courses offered by AMU. Thereafter, these students can also pursue master's courses offered by the varsity," said Abrar.

An AMU source said: "Initially, we will focus on reviewing the syllabi of madrassas in Uttar Pradesh, which have the highest number of madrassa students. Later, the same exercise will be adopted for seminaries in other parts of the country."

Initially, the committee will review and accredit the madrassas in Mau, Basti, Siddharthnagar and Azamgarh - all in Uttar Pradesh.

The state Madrassa Education Board has welcomed the move by AMU, but said a separate university should be set up to for their students due to their high numbers.

Board registrar Shoaib Ahmad told IANS, "Taking into account the number of students presently enrolled in different madrassas of the state, the government needs to set up a university to ensure higher education for such students."

He said a proposal to set up an independent university for madrassa education has already been submitted to the state government.

Officials at the madrassa education board said that AMU's move will help madrassa students join mainstream education and many avenues would open up for them.