Madrasas and Yeshivas Have a Common Objective
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
2 May 2023
New Age
Islam and a host of publications have reported that British
Muslim gangs are telling inmates to convert or get hurt and offering
protection to new prisoners if they take up Islam. But barring NAI, no Indian
publication has even fleetingly mentioned the name of Yeshivas as Mr Bloom's
report also suggests religious schools such as Yeshivas should be regulated. By
the way, the report also mentions that ' Sikh extremism' and ' Hindu
nationalism ' are growing threats in the United Kingdom.
Either the Indian
publications are not aware of the word, Yeshiva, or they may have ignored it
deliberately.
For the
unversed, Yeshivas are equivalents of Islamic madrasas. A Yeshiva is a
traditional Jewish Educational Institution, focused on the study of Orthodox Rabbinic
Literature, primarily the Talmud and Halacha (Jewish Law).
CIA's Strafford
Giles opined in 2000 that Madrasas and Yeshivas had the same intention all over
the world and that was: Churning out fanatics. He further added that if Islamic
Madrasas were medieval in their mind-set, so were Yeshivas in imparting hard-core
Talmudic teachings.
Coming back
to the news of Muslim gangs in the UK prisons threatening and insinuating
non-Muslim inmates to embrace Islam, one can but say that this is ingrained in
the hearts and minds of 50 per cent Muslims to convert others to their faith (
read Islam).
Do sane and
sensible Muslims ever think that when goons, jail-birds and bad guys instigate
others to take up Islam, will that help build Islam's image of a universal
religion, committed to peace?
Does
pristine Islam approve of such criminals and prisoners, spreading Islam
resorting to cajoling, force or coercion? Certainly not.
In fact,
one hardly finds an intrepid Muslim who openly condemns the practice of
conversion. Stop this charade of Dawah. There's a Hindi adage, 'Tujhe Parayee
Kya Padi, Apni Nabed Tu' (Instead of interfering with others, you had
better attend to your own issues).
At the same
time, it must be stated with a sense of concern that religiosity is fast
polluting the British way of life. A fortnight ago, all newspapers reported
that Hindu students were facing religious discrimination at British schools.
Their Christian and Muslim counterparts were making fun of their innumerable
deities and vegetarianism. The Muslim and Christian students were suggesting
that the Hindu students should accept Islam or Christianity to avoid
persecution. This is sad. That the kids are getting indoctrinated is really
alarming. Schools in Europe must do away with the mandatory religious studies.
Instead, the impressionable minds should be taught how to become good humans
sans god and religion.
Once every
Muslim or Christian understands that other faiths are equally valid, a bulk of
problems plaguing mankind will automatically subside. But the problem is that
mankind is still not mature to envisage a world without any stupid religion,
meaningless screeds and a battery of gods.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/madrasas-yeshivas-common-objective/d/129682
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