– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi, April 17: Leaders and representatives of prominent Islamic madrasas convened for the Tahaffuz-e-Madaris conference at the headquarters of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (M) here Tuesday. The gathering focused on addressing recent challenges facing the madrasa education system, including a significant court ruling and government actions affecting madrasas in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
Maulana Mahmood Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, chaired the conference and emphasized staunch opposition to any efforts aimed at altering the fundamental character of madrasas. The event drew participation from over 100 distinguished madrasas, including Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur, and Darul Uloom Deoband.
Speakers highlighted the crucial role of madrasas in preserving religious traditions and nurturing spiritual leaders, stressing the need to uphold these values while adapting to modern educational standards. To enhance educational quality, suggestions were made to establish an independent education board similar to the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education).
Maulana Muhammad Sufian Qasmi from Darul Uloom Waqf emphasized the importance of constructing primary schools alongside madrasas and promoting financial transparency. The conference also addressed concerns regarding reliance on government funding.
The attendees condemned aggressive actions by government agencies against madrasas and urged collective efforts to safeguard their significance and autonomy. They proposed forming a committee to explore the creation of a dedicated education body and a permanent supervisory committee for madrasa operations.
Key recommendations included operating madrasas under trusts or societies, conducting thorough property ownership verification, complying with hostel regulations, and prioritizing basic modern education for children aged 6 to 14.
Overall, the conference underscored a commitment to preserving the independence and integrity of madrasas amid ongoing challenges to their traditional role in education.
Participants included Maulana Shah Abdul Rahim from Madrasa Riaz Uloom Guraini Jaunpur, Maulana Rahmtaullah Mir, Maulana Niaz Ahmad Farooqui, and Maulana Afzalur Rahman from Madrasa Ashraf Al Madaris Hardoi. The proceedings were overseen by Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, General Secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.
