Islamic Seminaries (Madāris-e-Islāmiyyah)
Mufti Muhammad Ibrahim Aasi
Jamia Qadria Ashrafia, Mumbai
Undoubtedly, Islamic seminaries (Madāris-e-Islāmiyyah) are among the greatest institutions for the propagation and preservation of Islam. There is no difference of opinion that these institutions render invaluable services through writing, preaching, teaching, and religious outreach. Today, in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries, there are not merely thousands but hundreds of thousands of Huffaz (memorizers of the Qur’an), Qurrā’ (expert reciters), scholars, Muhaddithīn (specialists in Hadith), and Muftis who are actively engaged in serving Islam according to their respective fields of expertise. All of them are products of Islamic seminaries.
It is the remarkable contribution of these seminaries that they produce such dedicated servants of Islam who, whenever the faith is challenged, are prepared to sacrifice their lives, wealth, and every possession for its protection.
The history of Islamic seminaries is extremely ancient. In fact, it would not be inaccurate to say that during the Prophetic era, the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi) itself served as the first Islamic school, where the Noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ personally taught his Companions. Although the structure and methodology of education later evolved, curricula were developed, and teaching methods changed, the fundamental objective has always remained the same: to spread the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith and provide authentic religious education.
From the era of the Companions, the Tābi’īn, and the Taba’ Tābi’īn until the present day, countless students have pursued religious knowledge with sincerity and enthusiasm, thereby preserving and promoting Islamic learning. Even today, a large number of students are enrolled in Islamic seminaries.
However, with the passage of time, people’s thinking and attitudes have changed, and the standard of education has also declined to some extent. The spirit of sincerity and dedication is no longer as evident as it once was. The paternal affection formerly shown by teachers and the respect and reverence students had for their teachers have noticeably diminished.
It has frequently been observed that many students discontinue their education before completing their studies and enter the workforce. There are several reasons behind this. Some students belong to families suffering from financial hardship. Economic difficulties negatively affect their mindset, compelling them to abandon their education in search of livelihood.
Others leave their studies despite having financially stable families because they become overly attracted to wealth and material success, making worldly gain their primary objective.
One of the major causes of students’ declining interest in religious education in the modern age is the widespread use of mobile phones. Based on my personal experience as both a teacher and administrator of a well-known Islamic institution, I can confidently say that multimedia smartphones are particularly harmful for students. They adversely affect their education, moral character, and productive use of time.
Through these devices, immoral and unethical content is readily accessible. Internet connectivity has made the problem even more serious. Watching movies, exchanging or receiving inappropriate messages, indulging in entertainment, and listening to songs have become effortless. In earlier times, access to such activities required considerable effort, but multimedia smartphones have made them instantly available while sitting at home.
All these factors clearly indicate that smartphones can be extremely detrimental to students. Some even become so addicted to them that they prefer abandoning both their education and the seminary itself. Many have unfortunately done so in practice. Therefore, the administrators of Islamic seminaries must pay serious attention to this growing challenge.
Another concern occupying the minds of many students is uncertainty about employment after graduation. They often worry whether they will be able to secure positions in teaching or as Imams. Such concerns naturally lead to anxiety and mental stress. It is essential that scholars, educators, and policymakers also address this issue.
Islamic seminaries should make appropriate arrangements for teaching modern and contemporary subjects alongside religious sciences. In addition to academic education, vocational and professional skills should also be taught so that students can earn a lawful livelihood with confidence and without anxiety.
There is also a pressing need to review the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum in light of contemporary requirements. Philosophy and logic should not be completely removed from the syllabus, but their proportion may reasonably be reduced to create room for modern disciplines. This would enable students to become proficient in both religious and contemporary knowledge.
Students should also receive regular instruction in Islamic spirituality (Tasawwuf) so that love for worldly wealth does not dominate their hearts and minds. Such spiritual training strengthens trust in Allah (Tawakkul), purifies one’s thoughts from immoral influences, and nurtures sincerity, devotion, and concentration in the pursuit of religious knowledge. As a result, students will graduate with a genuine passion to serve Islam.
They should also be introduced to the lives of the righteous predecessors (Aslāf), who devoted themselves to preserving and defending Islam. They must understand that throughout history, it was the graduates of these very seminaries who sacrificed their lives for the protection and survival of the religion. Even the greatest empires and governments were unable to buy their loyalty or compromise their principles.
The leaders and influential members of the Muslim community should therefore give serious attention to these matters. They must strive to create a strong, healthy, and supportive environment for Islamic seminaries and their students so that, while responding effectively to the challenges of the modern world, they may continue to render outstanding services to Islam with knowledge, wisdom, and sincerity.