Deeni Madressa
An outstanding feature of western institutions of education is the attitude of liberalism. This evil of liberalism simply means the assertion of the nafs ammaarah (the lowly bestial and carnal desire in man) and the elimination of all the restraints divinely imposed on man. Liberalism is the destruction of culture, morality and spirituality. It brings in its wake anarchy, strife, mischief, immorality-fitnah, fasaad, fisq and fujoor. In Islam there is no place for this baneful attitude which rudely severs man’s bond of obedience and love with Allah Taala. But, with heavy heart it must be observed that this evil of liberalism has crept into our Deeni Madaaris and have wrought havoc to the spiritual and moral lives of Deeni students.
The recent strikes and boycott of classes which occurred in some of our Deeni Madaaris are the consequence of this baneful influence of liberalism which has swept students from the bridge along which they were moving in the quest for true llm the Knowledge of the Deen. This book is an appraisal of the vile situation which has arisen in Deeni Madaaris. ln (his book, Hadhrat Maseehul Ummah sets out the causes, the motives, the evils, the destructive consequences and the final ruin of the spiritual and moral life of those who participate in such vile activity of anarchy and vandalism. The student activity of anarchy and mischief known as strikes and boycotts are examined
in the light of the Shariah and the pronouncements of the Quraan and Hadith on the vandalism perpetrated by the victims of liberalism are explained.
The true purpose and meaning of Islamic knowledge are explained and the correct attitude and motive for the acquisition of Deeni knowledge are clarified. Without an understanding of these, the attainment of true Ilm is impossible. Without knowing the meaning and purpose of llm-e-Deen the quest for knowledge will prove fruitless and wasted. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone who contemplates to embark on the quest of higher Islamic knowledge read and understand the contents of this book. A student who wishes to pursue the uphill task of Deeni Uloom, the path of which is littered with obstacles, impediments and dangers must as a necessity understand the meaning of his quest and must be able to set forth on the journey of llm in the light and spirit of the conception of the Shariah on this issue explained by Hadhrat Maulana Masihullah Saheb. If the one who desires to travel in search of higher Deeni Uloom, after having read this book, feels that he will not be able to subscribe to the conditions of acquisition of llm and that he will not be able to follow the austere pattern of life necessitated by llm-e-Deen, then let him remain at home. He should then content himself with a basic knowledge of the Deco, such knowledge requisite for the correct motion of the activities of his daily life.
It is vital to understand that Deeni Madaaris are not western colleges and universities. Western colleges and universities are institutions of liberalism and nafsaani pleasures. They are institutions of self-exhibition and self-assertion. They are places which are the antithesis of Shari Uloom…they are the negators of the Uloom which gushes from the fountain of Wahi which emanates from the Being of Allah Azza Wa Jal, passes through the medium of Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) and making its first repository in the heart of Muhammadur Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Deeni Madaaris are such institutions, which are links in the Chain, which is attached to that noble and illustrious Repository of Ilm-e-Wahi. Deeni Madaaris-or the true Madaaris of the Deen have necessarily to operate under the spirit and shadow of the austerity and privation of the Cave of Hiraa, the first Deeni Madressah where the first lesson of Deeni Ilm was given by the Divine Command IQRA’!.
Thus the searcher of Deeni knowledge must remember that if he wishes to take admission to a Deeni Madressah he should not go there and pollute the piety of the institution with his western attitude of liberalism. There is no room for extra-mural activity in a Madressah. There is no room for students associations in a Madressa. In a Deeni Madressah the relationship is and must necessarily be- one of master and slave. The Ustadh is the Master and the student his slave.
Thus if the seeker of knowledge is genuine and if he can comprehend this conception of Deeni Uloom and if he can execute the lofty conditions and demands of the relationship of llm then only should he embark on the quest of higher Uloom. If not, let him remain at home and not bring down crashing on his head everlasting deprivation and spiritual and moral destruction- let him not be unjust to his soul by deliberately destroying his dunya and his deen.
MAJLISUL ULAMA.
RABIUL AWWAL, 1403 DECEMBER, 1982
