Deobandi Islam in India Has Influence of Indian Ethos and Culture, Imbibing with Diversity and Plurality
By Asad Mirza, New Age
Islam
15 July
2024
Demystifying Indian Madrasah and Deobandi Islam
Author: Asad Mirza
Publisher: Vitasta Publications, N Delhi
Pages: 280
ISBN: 978-81-19670-76-5
Price: INR 595
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Deobandi
thought in India has been influenced by the Indian ethos and culture, imbibing
it with accepting diversity in plurality, and yet maintaining the pristine form
of Islam. Thus, due to its Indian ethos, it has gone not in favour of extreme
ideologies and syncretism. And the manner in which it has grown over the years
and affected and guided millions of Muslims in India and across the world is an
acknowledgement of its uniqueness and universality.
The same
reasoning could be attributed to the fact that in recent years, in spite of
extremist Islamic ideologies being espoused by various scholars and
organisations, the ordinary Indian Muslim has not fallen prey to their negative
influences.
The book
under review besides tracking the evolution of madrasahs in India, also traces
the origin, evolution and growth of Darul Uloom and contribution of its leaders
to the Indian polity. Various unknown aspects related to this august
institution have been dealt with in depth by the author. Further, he has
treated and covered these ideals or thoughts by conducting in-depth interviews
with prominent Muslim scholars, academics and religious leaders, like: Maulana
Wahiduddin Khan (Late), Maulana Abu Qasim Nomani, Maulana Arshad Madani,
Maulana Asrar-ul Haq Qasmi (Late), Maulana Mahmood Madani, Maulana Syed Rabey
Hasani Nadwi, Maulana Saeed-ur Rehman Azmi, Prof Akhtar-ul Wasey, Maulana
Rashid Kandhalwi, Maulana Kahlid Saifullah Rahmani, Ajay Upadhyay, John Butt,
Prof Ebrahim Moosa, Maulana Sufiyan Qasmi, Prof Azam Qasmi, Maulana Nadeem-ul
Wajedi, Dr Waris Mazhari and Dr Faheem Akhtar Nadvi, over the years.
Through
these interviews the author has successfully brought out those aspects of Darul
Uloom and its Ulema, which to a certain extent remain hidden from a common man.
These interviews have been instrumental in delving deep into the Ulema’s psyche
on how it shaped and built the Darul Uloom, as a centre of anti-colonial forces
and how it worked shoulder to shoulder with political organisations like the
Indian National Congress.
Further, in
a succinct manner the author has also brought to fore the role of Deobandi
Ulema in movements or campaigns like The Silk Letter Movement (Tehreek-e Reshmi
Rumal) or their constructive role in establishing the first Indian
Government-in-Exile in 1915 in Afghanistan.
In a lucid
and nuanced manner, the author has also delved into the evolution of Indian
madrasahs since the beginning and the role played by them, in contributing to
the spread of education not just amongst Muslims but also amongst non-Muslims.
It is an
irony that Muslim institutions like Darul Uloom, Deoband often resist efforts
to highlight their contribution to the Indian polity. The last authoritative
book on the topic was written in 1962 and much water has flown under the
bridge, and in between a false narrative and idea of Darul Uloom has been formed
in the public’s mind about this august institution. The author has
painstakingly given a completely fresh perspective about the institution,
through the insightful interviews with leading authorities on the subject.
Moreover,
Darul Uloom has not remained unmarred by controversies, the most important of
which the division of the Darul Uloom into two separate institutions led by two
different families of the founders of the Darul Uloom. Much less has been
reported about this in the Urdu press what to say about the English press. But
the author has candidly covered this controversy also, an issue on which most
Muslim Ulema adopt an ambiguous stand or keep mum.
All in all,
the book provides a completely unknown or lesser-known picture of the Indian
madrasahs, Darul Uloom and Deobandi Islam. It also does not shy away from
discussing the contentious issues like Madrasah reform and curriculum.
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Asad Mirza is a Delhi-based senior political and international affairs
commentator.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism