Darul Uloom Deoband

Darul Uloom Deoband

Type Islamic university

Established 30 May 1866 (155 years ago)

Founders Muhammad Qasim

Nanautavi, Sayyid Muhammad
Abid, Fazlur Rahman Usmani and
others.

Chancellor Majlis e Shura

Students Approx 5000

Location
Uttar Pradesh
,
India

Campus Urban; 70 acres

Nickname Darul Uloom

Darul Uloom Deoband

The Darul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic seminary in India at which the Sunni Deobandi
Islamic movement began. It is located in Deoband, a town in Saharanpur district, Uttar
Pradesh. The seminary was established by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, Fazlur Rahman
Usmani, Sayyid Muhammad Abid and others in 1866. Mahmud Deobandi was the first
teacher and Mahmud Hasan Deobandi was the first student.
The executive council of the seminary appointed Arshad Madani as the Principal on 14
October 2020, and Abul Qasim Nomani was appointed as the Shaikhul Hadith.
History
Darul Uloom Deoband was established on 30 May 1866 by Fazlur Rahman Usmani, Sayyid
Muhammad Abid, Muhammad Qasim Nanotawi, Mehtab Ali, Nehal Ahmad and Zulfiqar
Ali Deobandi. Mahmud Deobandi was appointed as the first teacher, and Mahmud Hasan
Deobandi was the first student who enrolled in the seminary.
In 1982, during the Vice Chancellorship of Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi, administrative disputes
occurred in the seminary which led to the formation of Darul Uloom Waqf.
The spread of the Deobandi movement in the United Kingdom has produced some criticism
concerning their views on interfaith dialogue and values including democracy, secularism, and
the rule of law. In September 2007 Andrew Norfolk of The Times published an article titled
"Hardline takeover of British mosques" about the influence of the Deobandis whom the author
called a "hardline islamic sect".

In February 2008, an anti-terrorism conference organized by the seminary denounced all forms
of terrorism.[8]
Program
The school teaches manqulat (revealed Islamic sciences) according to the Hanafi school
of Islamic jurisprudence. In this seminar, Nanawtawi instituted modern methods of learning
such as teaching in classrooms, a fixed and carefully selected curriculum, lectures by academics
who were leaders in their fields, exam periods, merit prizes, and a publishing press. Students
were taught in Urdu, and sometimes in Arabic for theological reasons or Persian, for cultural
and literary reasons. The curriculum is based on a highly modified version of the 18th century
Indo-Islamic syllabus known as Dars-e-Nizami. The students learn the Quran and its
exegesis; Hadith and its commentary; and juristic rulings with textual and rational proofs.
They also study the biography of Muhammad, Arabic grammar, Arabic
language and literature, and Persian language.
The syllabus consists of many stages. The five-year Nazirah (primary course) teaches Urdu,
Persian, Hindi and English. The next level is the Hifze Quran. This involves the memorization of
the Quran over two to four years. A few students will then choose Tajwid e Hafs (melodious
recitation). The student is taught the detailed recitation rules of the Quran as laid down by
Arabic Hafs. Still fewer will take up the next course, the Sab'ah and 'Asharah Qira'at (study of
all the ten Quran recitations).
A post graduate studies equivalent is the Fazilat course taken over eight years. It commences
with Arabi Awwal, in which the basics of the Arabic language is the main aim, and finishes
with Daura e Hadith, in which the main books of the saying of the Holy Prophet are taught. A
prerequisite for this course is completion of primary education. Memorization of the Quran is
also recommended. Students who complete the Fazilat may use the title Alim or Maulvi.
The Daurae Hadith (final year) class is taught in the basement of "an under construction seven
storied building". In the 2017 - 2018 academic year (1438-1439 AH), 1664 students attended
the Daurae Hadith class.
Almost a quarter of the students who complete the Daurae Hadith continue their studies. These
advanced courses include Takmil Ifta (Jurisprudence); Takmil Adab (Arabic literature);
and Takhassus fil Hadith (Hadith).[10] Students who complete the Takmil Ifta take the
title Mufti.
Role in the Indian independence movement
The political ideals of Darul Uloom Deoband were founded up to ten years prior to its opening.
In 1857 (1274 AH), Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (a spiritual leader) and his
followers, Muhammad Qasim Nanautawio, Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi, Muhammad
Yaqub Nanautawi and others gathered at Thana Bhawan to protest against British rule and
continue their call for the independence of India.
In 1913 (1333 AH), Nanautavi's pupil, Mahmud al-Hasan was a leader in the independence
movement. He incited revolution through a scheme which the Rowlatt committee called
the Silken Letters. However, the scheme failed and al-Hasan and his followers were arrested
and exiled. In 1920 (1338), al-Hasan was returned from exile in Malta. His group, Jamiat
Ulama-e-Hind, which included Husain Ahmad Madani, Kifayatullah Dehlawi, Syed
Fakhruddin Ahmad, and later on, Hifzur Rahman Seoharwi, Ateequr-Rahman Usmani,
Minnatullah Rahmani, Habibur-Rahman Ludhyanvi, and Muhammad Miyan Deobandi joined
with the Indian National Congress.
In 1926 and 1927 (1345 abs 1346 AH), graduates of the school called for Indian independence
at Jami'atul-Ulama meetings in Calcutta and Peshawar. Madani opposed the suggestion of
the All-India Muslim League for the partition of India along sectarian lines. He also
advocated democratic government with religious freedoms and tolerance.
On 29 December 1929, Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam (Majlis-e-Ah'rar-e-Islam,Urdu: ‫مجلس احرارألسالم‬,
or Ahrar), a conservative Sunni Muslim Deobandi political party was founded
in Lahore, Punjab. The founding members of the party were Chaudhry Afzal Haq, Syed Ata
Ullah Shah Bukhari, Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi, Mazhar Ali Azhar, Zafar Ali Khan and
Dawood Ghaznavi.[14] The founding members were disillusioned by the Khilafat Movement,
which had aligned with the Indian National Congress.[15] The party gathered support from the
urban lower-middle class. It opposed Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the All-India Muslim
League and in the early years of Pakistan wanted Ahmadiyas to be declared non-Muslims.
Fatwas
A fatwa is “an issue arising about law and religion, explained in answer to questions received
about it” by Muftis (Islamic jurists).[17] Muftis at Darul Ifta (fatwa department), Darul Uloom
Deoband are responsible for giving fatwas.
On 31 May 2008, the seminary issued a significant public “Fatwa against terrorism” after a
public rally in Delhi with around 100,000 representatives from nearly 6,000 madrasas across
India, including those from different sects. The fatwa was a first of its kind in South Asia and
stated that "in Islam, creating social discord or disorder, breach of peace, rioting, bloodshed,
pillage or plunder and killing of innocent persons anywhere in the world are all considered most
inhuman crimes. The edict was signed by Habibur Rahman Khairabadi.
Controversial Fatwas
In January 2012, scholars from a Deobandi school issued a religious decision calling for the
author Salman Rushdie to be barred from entering India to attend a literature festival
because, in their opinion, he had offended Muslim sentiments.
In May 2010, clerics from a Deobandi school issued a fatwa stating that men and women
cannot work together in public offices unless the women are properly clothed.
In September 2013, scholars from a Deobandi school issued a fatwa banning photography as
un-Islamic.
Administration
The seminary's co-founder Sayyid Muhammad Abid was the first vice-chancellor.[29] Abul
Qasim Nomani succeeded Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi as the thirteenth VC of the
seminary on 24 July 2011.

Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama

Dārul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama

Other name DUNU, Nadwa

Motto ‫جدي د من اإل س الم إ ىل‬

(transl. Toward Islam with new
sprit)

Type Islamic University

Established 1894 (127 years ago)

Chancellor Rabey Hasani Nadvi

Vice-Chancellor Saeed-ur-Rahman Azmi

Nadvi

Students 6500+
 Undergraduates 4000

Postgraduates 1500

Address
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
India

Campus Urban

Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama translated to English as House of Knowledge & Assembly of
Scholars University is an Islamic institution & University at Lucknow, India.
This educational institution draws large number of Muslim students from all over the world.
Nadwatul Ulama fosters a diverse range of both scholars and students including Hanafis (the
predominant group), Shafi'is and Ahl al-Hadith. Additionally it is one of very few institutes in
the region to teach the Islamic Sciences completely in Arabic.
Nadwa means assembly and group, it was named so because it was constituted by a group of
Indian Islamic scholars from different theological schools. Darululoom is the educational body
of Nadwat-ul-Ulama which was formed in Kanpur in 1893. It was eventually shifted
to Lucknow in 1898 and the Islamic curriculum was updated with modern sciences,
mathematics, vocational training and the addition of an English Department.
Formation of Nadwa
On the occasion of convocation of Madarasa Faiz-e-Aam, Kanpur in 1893 (1310 AH), scholars
including Lutfullah Aligarhi, Shah Muhammad Hussain Allahabadi, Ashraf Ali Thanwi,
Muhammad Khalil Ahmad (Deoband), Sanaullah Amritsari, Noor Muhammad Punjabi, Ahmad
Hasan Kanpuri, Syed Muhammad Ali Kanpuri, Maulana Mahmud Hasan, Shah Sulaiman
Phulwari, Zahurul Islam Fatehpuri, Abdul Ghani Murshidabadi, Fakhrul Hasan Gangohi and
Hafiz Syed Tajammul Husain Desnavi agreed to form an organization of Ulema and convene
a gathering in the next annual convocation of Madarsa Faiz-e-Aam. They named the
organization Nadwatul-Ulema. The responsibilities of the organization were given to Syed
Muhammad Ali, who became the first Nazim of Nadwatul-Ulema. The goal was to bring
harmony and co-operation among various groups within the Muslim Millat, to bring about the
moral, religious and educational reform and progress.
Nadwatul-Ulema held its first convention on 22–24 April 1894 (Shawwal 15–17, 1311 AH) in
Madarsa Faiz-e-Aam. It was attended by a huge group of scholars from all sects of
the ummah and all corners of the sub-continent including Maulana Abdullah Ansari (Founder
Nazim-e-Diniyaat, MAO College) and Maulana Shibli Nomani, who were teachers of Arabic and
Persian at MAO College. Maulana Shibli Nomani proposed Maulana Mufti Lutfullah to chair the
opening session. According to Nawab Sadar Yaar Jang Maulana Habibur Rahman Khan
Sherwani, Maulana Ibrahim Aaroomi and Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalwi were
representing Ahle-Hadis (Salafi) delegation, Maulvi Ghulamul-Hasnain were
representing Shia delegation. Maulana Shah Muhammad Hussain presented the organization's
objectives and Maulana Shibli Nomani presented the working guidelines (Dasturul-Amal).[1]
On the recommendation of Maulana Muhammad Husain Batalwi, these working guidelines
were referred to a committee of scholars to discuss. On 23 April, after maghrib prayer, a special
session of 30 scholars convened and discussed and finalized each and every guideline. On the
next day, in the morning session under the chairmanship of Maulana Lutfullah of Aligarh,
Maulana Shibli Nomani announced the proposals:
The Present educational system needs a reform.
Principles or representative of all the Islamic Institutions (Madaaris) should attend the annual
convention of Nadwatul Ulema.
A Federation of Madaaris should be formed so that all the madaaris should come under one
umbrella. To implement this scheme few large Madaaris should be started which will act as a
main Madrasah known as Nadwatul-Uloom and rest will be their branches. Nadwatul-Uloom
will keep an eye on the activities of the branches.
Expansion of Madarsa Faiz-e-Aam with Hostel facility.
Curriculum reform (This was proposed by Shah Muhammad Husain Allahabadi and seconded by
Maulana Shibli Nomani)
After this 12 scholars were named to develop curriculum. All the members of the curriculum
developing committee made their proposed changes in the curriculam but Maulana Shibli
Nomani presented the model of Nadwatul-Uloom. When Maulana Shibli's proposal of a Darul-
Uloom was accepted by the attendees, he requested to form a Managing group and so a panel
of 16 people was selected with consensus. The founding session was concluded with final
remarks and vote of thanks by Maulana Shibli Nomani.[5][1]
One of the main aim of the formation of Nadwa was to bring all the sects of Islam together
irrespective of some of their differences in beliefs.[1]
Initially the founders of Darul Uloom Deoband like Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi, Qasim
Nanotwi were against the Nadwa Movement but later they joined in.
Purpose of Foundation
It was founded with the following three distinct features:
and to serve as a bridge between the Old World and the new but firm and unbending in the
matter of fundamentals.
Aimed at producing an educated class of Muslims well versed in traditional learning and yet
actively involved with the ruling power.
Sought to give Arabic, both modern and classical, a central place in its system of education
besides facilitating links with Muslim West Asia.
Aalim/Shariah Course Syllabus
The Aalim/Shariah course in Nadwatul Ulama broadly deals with Arabic Language, Hadith and
its Usool (science), Fiqh and its Usool, translation of the Qur'an and Tafseer and its Usool.
The condensed five-year course (for college graduates) consists of:

Year Course Content

1st
Purely Arabic (Nahw, Sarf, Conversation etc.)
Year

2nd More Arabic literature, starts translation of Qur'an, starts Fiqh (Qudoori for Hanafi
Year students and there is provision for Shafi'i students), Hadith (Riyadhus Saaliheen)

Hadith (Mishkath parts 1&2), Usoolul Hadith (Muqaddimah Mishkath), More

3rd
Translation/Tafseer, Fiqh (Hidayah parts 1&2), Aqeedah (AsSunniyah), Some
Year
literature and Balaghah.

After 3 years, students join the 7th and 8th years (called Aaliyah Thalithah and
4th Aaliyah Raabi'ah) of the regular Aalim course in which they are taught the remaining
and Mishkath. Further books are taught in Usool Al-Hadith (e.g. Nukhbah) and Usool Al-
5th Fiqh (e.g. Usool al-Shashi), the remainder of Hidaayah, Usool Al-Tafseer (Alfawzul
Year Kabeer), Tafseer, Aqeedah Tahaawiyah. Finally the Sihah Sittah (6 books of Sahih
Hadith) are taught.
[4]

After the completion of the Aalim course, students generally go for Fadheelath in Arabic,
Hadith, Fiqh or Tafseer.
The 5 year courses do have one stream which are taught exclusively in Arabic
Role of Ali Mian in development of Nadwa
Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi (Ali Miyan) was born in Raebareli in 1914 in
family of Islamic scholars. In 1934, he was appointed as teacher in Nadwa,[6] later in 1961, he
became Principal of Nadwa and in 1980, he was appointed as Chairman of Islamic
Centre Oxford, UK. He has been awarded King Faisal Award (1980) given by King Faisal
Foundation and Sultan Brunei Award (1998) for his contributions.[7][6]
He was a prolific writer in Urdu and Arabic, his books are part of syllabus in various Arab
Universities, several books have been translated in English.[8]