Azamgarh: Concern is growing among Muslims across India as BJP-ruled states intensify actions against madrasas. In response, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind organized a major conference on June 1 in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, under the banner of “Tahafuz-e-Madaris” (Protection of Madrasas), where strong opposition was voiced against the arbitrary notices being served to Islamic seminaries, with calls for immediate action to stop these measures, reported the Dawat News.
Addressing the gathering, Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, said, “This is not a celebratory event. Madrasas across Uttar Pradesh are being served unjustified notices, and many are being forcibly shut down.”
He further revealed that states like Assam, Uttarakhand, and now Haryana have begun issuing similar notices to madrasas, with institutions in Panipat and surrounding areas becoming new targets. Maulana Madani reminded the audience of the significant role madrasas played in India’s freedom struggle, saying he would continue to resist any unjust actions against them till his last breath.
He emphasized that mosques are places of prayer and Quran recitation, while madrasas are centers where people are taught how to perform these religious duties. He criticized the use of bulldozers on madrasas, many of which once stood as bastions against colonial rule.
“This conference is not ordinary,” he stressed. “It is a crucial platform to discuss the protection of madrasas and determine the path forward.” He underlined that madrasas are not just places of education, but institutions aimed at shaping a generation to serve the nation and uphold its values.
Recalling history, Madani said, “These are the very madrasas that first raised their voices against British rule. In 1803, when India came under British occupation, it was Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlvi رحمه الله who, sitting on a worn-out mat in Madrasa Rahimiya in Delhi, declared that fighting for freedom was a religious obligation.”
He added that those who today label madrasas as centers of terrorism forget that these were the institutions where the spirit of independence first took root. “Madrasas were destroyed, and scholars were persecuted — yet they remained steadfast.”
Speaking strongly against religious discrimination, Maulana Madani declared, “In a secular and democratic country, targeting institutions purely on the basis of religion is unacceptable. It is a direct violation of the spirit of our Constitution.”
He also noted that the current actions against madrasas, under the guise of legality, contravene Supreme Court guidelines. The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, he said, has renewed its legal battle to protect madrasas, which he sees as synonymous with the protection of religious identity.
“We will continue our democratic and constitutional struggle to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and safeguard madrasas,” he affirmed. Maulana Madani also reassured madrasa administrators that they would not be left alone. “Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind stands firmly with you and will provide every form of legal and organizational support.”
