Darul Uloom Deoband, the Islamic seminary of North India located in Saharanpur district, in an unusual order has barred its students from learning and reading English and any other language while studying in the Islamic seminary.
The order, issued by Maulana Hussain Haridwari, the in-charge of the education department, emphasises strict adherence to the order and warns of expulsion on non-compliance. Under the directive, students are prohibited from learning English throughout their tenure at the madrasa.
“Any student found violating this restriction, or secretly engaging in language study, will face expulsion from the institution. Also, the students found absent from classrooms or leaving before the completion of their classes will face severe consequences,” the order stated.
The order is a big setback for the students, who, along with ‘Dinee Talim’ (religious education) were also learning English for pursuing higher studies and were preparing for competitive examinations after completing religious education at Darul Uloom Deoband.
Criticising the management’s decision, a student, requesting anonymity, said, “While we acknowledge that Darul Uloom is dedicated to Islamic studies, preventing students from learning English or any other language seems unreasonable. The management should reconsider their decision,” the student said.
Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama e-Hind, who controls the Islamic institution, said. “Madrasa is our religion, the students first become ‘Alim-e-din’ (religious scholar) then they should pursue other courses like medical and engineering'.”
He added, “A person riding two boats can never get success in life.”
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Shafiqur Rahman Barq, has opposed celebration of Yoga Day in madrasas, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party government wants “madrasas not to impart religious education so that Muslim children do not get religious education”.
Barq said, “Yoga is a good thing and not bad. Every person can do yoga in their home. What is the meaning of (celebrating) Yoga Day (in madrasas)?”
“Madrasas are not part of the Yoga Day events, but are meant to impart religious education... Talim Divas (education day) should be celebrated in madrasas,” he said.
Barq pointed out that earlier there used to be wrestling arenas where wrestlers used to go to do exercise. “Various Muslim bodies in the past have opposed the Yoga Day celebrations, saying that recitation of shlokas during Yoga interferes with core beliefs of Islam.
The minority cell of the BJP unit in UP has announced that it would organise Yoga Day celebrations in hundreds of unrecognised madrasas in the state on International Yoga Day on June 21.
