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8/1/2006 - Reform School: Madrassa Education and the Charade of Reform by Nicholas Schmidle

Reform School Madrassa Education Charade Reform By Nicholas Schmidle August NOT FAR FROM LAHORE S galleries class session Darul Uloom Al Muhammadia Acouple hundred crouched ankle bookstand gathered sunken crusty cinder blocks sprouting rebar rocking rolling sound Quran They reciting Islam chapter chapter original though speak understand words Arabic Collectively their voices bunker mimic Gregorian chant AAAMMAALLAA BAKHAALLAMM AAAMMAALLAA HAARRAALLAAMM AAAMAALLAA In order awake through these marathon memorization sessions forth weighted metronome Meanwhile conditioned office upstairs principal Al Muham madia Hafiz Amanullah boasting about ornaments progressive educa strung throughout madrassa stocked conditioned library subscriptions English Urdu language newspapers students dozen computers equipped Windows XP Guest Book complete complimentary scripted ranking U S diplomat American Consulate Lahore Amanullah meticulously sculpted hugging beard doesn average madrassa teacher His father founded Al Muhammadia When Amanullah inherited family business One minute typical fashion blasting American policies Muslim world The waxing philosophical Islamic cosmology Quran conquered while modern science later conquered conquered That because Allah conquered He advertises madrassa times salesman But after begrudging American incursions Afghanistan Iraq grovels money Now could convince Institute Current World Affairs please donate money school In twisted convoluted already I Al Muhammadia teaches Islam known Ahle Hadith ideological cousin Wahhabism Wahhabism ultra puritanical version Islam practiced Saudi Arabia Be cause Ahle Hadiths Wahhabis similar Islam hundreds Ahle Hadiths Pakistan India including Hafiz Amanullah father attended renowned Saudi institutions Islamic University Al Madinah For Ahle Hadiths another these close doctrinal bonds inflow Saudi petrodollars When trace money comes Americans standing That bunker classroom shoots rebar It dilapidated falling apart It under renovation Perhaps reason Amanullah unbothered I mention Wahhabism considered West Osama Laden September bombers Saudis Wahhabi backgrounds There Students Karachi Jamia Binoria taking break after lunch difference between Wahhabis Amanullah eventually takes break pouring Coca Cola finish three Liter bottles contemplating Islam Universe order madrassa Upstairs dozen teenage students finding their public speaking voices rectangular classrooms simulate congregation halls All students reciting Quran downstairs attend Darul Uloom Al Muhammadia Regardless student cioeconomic background madrassas thumb cover board It their allure As NGOs madrassas doing around Ijaz Haq Minister Religious A ffairs point dealing madrassas Pakistan And In essay Dr Tariq Rahman author Denizens Alien Worlds A Study Education Inequality Polarization Pakistan claimed percent madrassa students surveyed belonged poorer sections society Occasionally madrassas provide students clothes cases stipends extremely students bring their families vacations breaks Looking packed classrooms Amanullah describes oration Sunday ternoon tradition It encourages students stand front crowd speak their minds It practice other words becoming We defend various positions including other sects sometimes I assign defending United States Government congratulatory smile In rooms dolescent whiskery hairs peach mustache explains Urdu hypocrisy President George W Bush democracy rhetoric In other captivated audience listens gangly teenager playing field venomous preacher soapbox crisp Eng You jihad If jihad cannot defeated Not Jews Hindus anyone Despite desire listen Amanullah suddenly seems Come There JEWS AND THE HINDUS however cause concerned about going inside Pakistan madrassas Earlier I spent several months touring madrassas around Pakistan I visited almost dozen seminaries several small towns throughout North West Frontier Province No exactly alike Some totally benign teachers explained respected United States Washington trying defeating terrorism Those NES mittedly minority They United States short gotten result War Terror business Other seminaries however admitted propagating sectarian teachings sending students fight Americans Afghanistan Regardless their politi differences hardly ready enlist government effort reforms When I brought madrassa teachers either railed against encroach ments their independence confident nonplussed bunch rolled their smirked mention major madrassa reform Most Taliban bigwigs madrassas scattered throughout North West Frontier Province NWFP Technically talib means schoolboy though parents describe their madrassa children talibs anymore because connotation acquired recent years Mullah Omar brave courageous person Maulana Hasan Jan Jamia Imdad Uloom Islamia Peshawar longtime friend Taliban leader I Afghanistan before U S invasion started discuss things He Muslim added Before founding Jamia Imdad Hasan Jan fleshy eyeglasses Petri dishes spent years teach Darul Uloom Haqqania Haqqania sprawling seminary hours drive Afghan border Of madrassas perhaps responsible churning mujaheddin Taliban The seminary there Maulana Sami Haq boasted journalist Eighty percent commanders fighting Russians during Soviet Afghan War Pashtun areas studied Haqqania In interview recorded Ahmed Rashid selling Taliban Sami Haq explained advisor Taliban Before I Mul Omar because studied Pakistan those around Haqqania students frequently discuss I start student movement When Taliban movement began I ISI Inter Services Intelligence Pakistani intelligence agency students Afghanistan Omar later given honorary degree Haqqania Those students eventually established Islamic state Afghanistan hosted Laden Qaeda network After terrorist attacks September American military busted Taliban government Kabul Khandahar Taliban thinking never American policymakers stuck inside madrassas anything could counter their influence Moreover really responsible filling ranks Islamic tants comprised America number enemy Global War Terror In widely publi Pentagon October Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wrote Are capturing killing deterring dissuading terrorists every drassas radical clerics recruiting training deploying against The public became convinced these Islamic schools source world Madrassa reform became another buzzword And Islamabad Washington prized War Terror pledged Years later little changed Then July bombers three Pakistani origin themselves London transport system during morning Fifty people Two bombers apparently arrived London fresh weeks immersion program madrassa Lahore The event transformed madrassa debate addition Washington London Europe voiced concerns Shortly thereafter President Pervez Musharraf banned foreign students madrassas promised crack extremist teachings The West these statements evidence Musharraf finally coming around dangers posed madrassas Contrary common understanding however Musharraf campaign reform madrassas began months after seized power October almost years before Taliban Qaeda madrassas became topic dinnertime discussion American homes September Model Madrassa Scheme Dr Mehmood Ghazi Minister Religious Affairs Musharraf government early until August During period Ghazi spearheaded comprehensive madrassa reform program The Model Madrassa Scheme proposed build handful ideal madrassas would eventually monopolize thing madrassas official recognition their degrees However Ghazi suggests these government serious about introducing reforms purely illusionary The aftermath September resulting pressure West clamp madrassas retarded rather sparked drive reform ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR three story house Lahore neighborhoods Hafiz Hasan Madni stretched chair stiffened crossed ankles Madni Managing Director Jamia Lahoria Islamia Editor month journal Mohaddas sports beard boyish He chatty Minutes conversation describes recent United States behalf State Department International Visitors Leadership Pro Your cities cleanest streets nicest restaurants Really United States nation citizens unfortunately Americans think Americans humans That powerful values yours Like Darul Uloom Al Muhammadia across Madni Jamia Lahoria Islamia follows Ahle Hadith tradition The Ahle Hadiths notoriously quick criti other Muslims innovative practices They regard diversions strictest Sunni Islam innovative blasphemous Our emphasis Madni explains original texts original purity Our teaching completely dependent Quran Sunnah sayings Prophet corded hadith And about Shia Shi followers Holy Prophet If someone Quran Holy Word God Shi proper Muslims Also Amanullah Madni spent consider amount studying Islamic University Al Madinah Saudi Arabia proper Islamic society Its education system judicial system society follow Islamic codes Madni The purpose judicial system legal system peace If Saudi Arabia there little crime You Because those graduate madrassas automatically appointed judges They implement Islamic This I proper Islamic system About later muezzin calls faith Madni other people floating NES around research center Jamia Lahoria Islamia mosque alarm fashion leaving alone browse magazines stacked adjoining There literally thousands recent titles choose Madni later brags institution subscribes almost Islamic magazines published Pakistan But apparent order I covers something catches One jumps The glossy front cover shows decaled Indian American Israeli flags crushing field flowers symbolizing Islam It Voice Islam Lashkar Tayyaba LeT English language publication LeT labeled terrorist organization December subsequently banned Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf I article entitled Jihadi activities Mujahid Jammu Kashmir The story first person account mujaheddin crossed India launch attacks against Indian Minus myriad typos reads John Carre novel The protagonist author terrorist killed soldiers wounded himself eventually limped crawled sneaked safety Pakistan When Madni returns after prayer I about magazine He shrugs shoulders This library trademark innocent We screen content But doesn agree There scholars supporting jihadi thinking This jihad This growth education On other handful young students Jamia Islamia Lahoria around flipping through bulky volumes hadith One Asim Javed nervous habit cracking knuckles Like others working research project His assignment To discover hadith about taharat according Asim proper purging And I Madni interrupts explain If instance holding happens obliged entire before praying But urinates hadith sprinkle water where while Asim along The Prophet obviously aware scientific facts medically shown female urine different chemical compositions Modern science proves female urine acidic Asim slouches chair looks I question I Asim himself What decide originally madrassa In beginning parents wanted complete Hifz INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS first Islamic education It involves memorizing Quran takes anywhere between three years The students Memorization Bunker Darul Uloom Al Muhammadia students According Maulana Pir Saifullah Khaled Jamia Manzoor Islamia madrassa Lahore those students completed become ultimate defenders faith During their Occupation India British sometimes caught throwing Qurans rivers burning tearing pages In instance cleric called young hafez successfully memorized Quran You pages cleric while pointing written chest When Asim first madrassa village Punjab older brothers Their parents weren motivated grand designs family mullahs They simply mouths every night The financial factor explains Amir Rana primary reasons recent surge madrassa attendance Rana Director Pak Institute Policy Studies PIPS author The A Z Jehadi Organizations Pakistan One reason attending madrassa there special schol arships offered poorest parents could Rupees U S month Apoor family Rupees month alone Such thinking probably compelled Asim parents least first their three madrassa But enough income brothers I helping parents their saysAsim older brothers Because I youngest I After completing Asim enrolled advanced madrassa program known nizami Dars nizami dates hundreds years current curriculum contrived Darul Uloom Deoband Deoband India The madrassa Deoband birthed Deobandi school thought widespread influential Pakistan major sects which include Ahle Hadith Shia Barelvis Jama Islami The nizami curriculum covers eight which after completion propels madrassa students being known taliban being Islamic scholars ulema Asim seventh He taken courses Arabic grammar Islamic jurisprudence hadith English logic philosophy Unlike anyone family reads writes Urdu Arabic English Now I teach people about Islam Dr Syed Husain M Jafri finds Asim answer worrisome indication future drassa studies Jafri professor Islamic Studies Aga Khan University Karachi former madrassa student himself madrassas simply longer caliber fifty years Back producing scholars A nizami graduate instance could always become fatwa suing member ulema equally qualified academia become engineer To career madrassa student fixed preach mosque teach madrassa mosque madrassa But doesn necessarily someone dynamic education Take Asim Javed Every afternoon after completes several hours madrassa studies changes mental gears starts thinking about comput That because several other advanced dents Jamia Islamia Lahoria pursuing Bachelor degrees privately professors tutors Punjab University At nizami other words Asim speak several languages college degree state institution Madni final edits Ph D thesis Islam Computer Science Computer Science Department Punjab University Similarly provide their students religious skill Darul Uloom Al Muhammadia works closely Techni Vocational Training Authority TEVTA While secondary education programs Asim Punjab University TEVTA undermine criti cisms madrassa students inevitably parochial narrow minded Dr Mehmood Ghazi former Minister Religious Affairs thinks debate misses point Graduates still contends robust grasp world These after school programs never actually leave confines seminary The biggest problem madrassas point Ghazi their aloof mainstream their creation continuance class society distant culture country inconsistent national unity One obvious examples madrassas fostering culture distant incon sistent national unity their propagation sectarian teachings Sec tarianism discrimination hatred killing basis The often describe violence between Shi Sunnis primary sects Islam Jafri charge against madrassas today producing parochial narrow minded sectarian people No madrassa teaches Islamiat Islamic studies anymore teach their maslik Barelvi teaches Barelvi Salafi teaches Salafi Shia teaches Shia Deobandi teaches Deobandi All sectarianism Jafri continues started Binori Town madrassa They started Sunni Shia fighting Karachi today greatest centers jihadi teachings country THE MINARET AND THE walls Binori Town sandstone color dried petals The madrassa located corner intersection A students about front seminary Binori Town talibs reputedly tempera mental When school respected teachers assassinated student spilled streets throwing bricks torching tires sacking nearby police station On spring morning I dodge couple fruit carts sidewalk sellers clogging entrance otherwise encounter resistance Like Sami Haq madrassa Binori Town rounded jihadi folklore Hundreds students reportedly fight alongside Taliban autumn Then following escape Tora Bora December Osama Laden purportedly received medical treatment Do medical facili anywhere around headmaster And Daniel Pearl Wall Street Journal reporter abducted later beheaded Islamic militants Kara apparently stashed somewhere premises before being taken another Dr Abdul Razzaq Sikander principal Binori Town He henna beard shows roots leans Despite physical frailty Sikander sharp unswerving ments He makes attempt advertise reforms madrassa might adopted recent years There reason madrassas should reformed We doing hundreds years teaching religion believe religion Article UN Charter everyone right teach their religion Sikander irascibility indicative Deobandi madrassas The Deobandis hundred years opposing first British Raj India government Islamabad Of madrassas Pakistan least belong Deo bandi tradition Their numbers alone emboldening Dr Ghazi describes unequivocally being difficult sects Why these students their rights Sikander Why center traction Why Jewish institutes Or Christian institutes Basically efforts reform madrassas shows Western powers trying Muslims every respect In West lesbians rights Why these madrassa students rights But I I think objective madrassa reform efforts diversify students knowl How denied their rights Young Binori Town because become experts Islam Sikander explains They become engineers doctors If wanted would specialty neering medical school This different So government trying students If specialize medicine But specialize Islamic studies should diversify When interview nizami student translating discussion Sikander walks fruit carts booksell Saeed early British fortunate exception tells nationwide foreign students madrassas After degree plans return U K I inquire about grueling schedule juggling studies praying occasionally translating Sikander A smile You thing after brain completely fried I headphones listen techno D J Paul Van Dyk The Prophet Mohammad I figure never anything about Trance music Students Saeed certainly aloof mainstream society He perfectly cricket world music trends But political religious ideas worry policymakers Islamabad West Hafez Hasan Madni Jamia Lahoria Islamia instance problem madrassas problem perspective People about Clash Civilizations madras represent Clash Ideas Madrassas source ideas world simply accepting ideas given madrassas THE PERSON REPONSIBLE FOR navigat through thicket conflicting ideas tachioed Ijaz Haq In August President Musharraf named Haq Minister Religious Affairs carries Sisyphean implement madrassa reforms The walls Haq Islamabad office covered signed photographs shaking hands foreign dignitaries Arab sheiks princes regaled flowing robes white checkered headdresses Directly behind Haq chair photos father former President longtime military dictator General Zia Haq clutching shoulders Saudi royals Neither Ijaz Haq father relation Maulana Sami Haq Darul Uloom Haqqania It documented during 1970s throughout 1980s chummy relationship between Saudi government General Zia fueled madrassa Pakistan The Western Arab worlds awash Communist sentiments after Red Army invaded Afghanistan They worked together spawn growth madrassas Pakistan opportunity educate Muslims about tenets jihad fight Soviet jihad taking place Afghanistan In there roughly madrassas country A decade later jumped Today there almost What known about period General Zia initiated Pakistan first large scale attempt reform madrassas The reasons first being ardent Islamist himself Zia personal interest Islamic education system which lacking second ulema contended their madrassa degrees which awarded following completion nizami should recognized government being Master degree Zia agreed request consideration condition madrassas undergo series reforms To carry Dr Ghazi calls important initiative government established joint commission educators government officials ulema named Halepota Commission The Commission tasked drafting outlining registration process madrassas Ghazi acted occasional consultant Commission potential positive there But warned infringing madrassas autonomy point For God I never suggest madrassas should taken Commission brought under control Commission If whole exercise failure Six months later Commission deliberations ended secretary chairman about drafting resolution But final added subtle disclaimer government should madrassas control madrassas After hearing ulema disowned report backed The ulema simply No agree these things recalls Ghazi For almost years debate madrassa reforms elicited little interest Islamabad The madrassas funneled zealots Afghanistan first behalf Soviet jihad second behalf Taliban providing Pakistani government strategic depth desired Meanwhile decree recognized madrassa degrees equivalent Master degree Arabic Islamic Studies albeit without guarantees commitments reform ulema Then aftermath October General Musharraf cobbled together National Security Council composed military service chiefs chair joint chiefs staff civilian experts international relations national affairs econom Islamic studies Sharia Ghazi tapped Islamic expert platform bring madrassa students mainstream This dovetailed Musharraf Enlightened Moderation campaign I suggested number government should establish model madrassas different parts country changes modernizations wanted That meant modifica tions nizami syllabus insertion compulsory subjects English mathematics social studies general science And shape curriculum model madrassas drawn Afew government folks representatives individual madrassa boards formed madrassa board The model madrassas running parties agreed their degrees would universally accepted valid After madrassa board would legitimacy recognize degrees other madrassas being valid The ulema listening because known decades Ghazi Things moving forward For those madrassas sought affiliation board their degrees recognized would adopt changes proposed board their final examinations conducted board In board unofficial government oversig would indirect laying syllabus awarding degrees without touching administrative autonomy financial independence madrassas But Ghazi implement ideas He became frustrated A month September stepped Minister Religious Affairs position served since early Musharraf reshuffled National Security Council dissolving position advisor Islamic affairs making Ghazi Minister Religious Af fairs The exact reason departure remains unclear He succeeded Owais Ahmad Ghani stayed three months Then Ministry remained without Minister almost years In Ijaz Haq The irony Ijaz Haq trying control phenomenon unleashed father decades hardly anyone When I bring point madrassa teachers marvel irony before shrugging their shoulders What difference tries reform When I bring outside madrassas point total futility whole project surpassed point return I Minister waste money Dr Jafri blithely No reform these madrassas You these people dangerous If teach operate computer become dangerous terrorists Still Ghazi admits Ijaz Haq better position something positive compared others because goodwill father ulema Many father friends allies Reluctant portrayed being Haq cautions across office tampering madrassas bound encounter stuff resistance They doing great social service Paki That being their saying heels They status everything registration process You yourself Let toAkora Khattak where Maulana Sami Haq Haqqania located tomorrow morning You Kalashnikov anywhere But Haqqania madrassa teacher smirks NES mention Ijaz Haq notion madrassa There pressure government Maulana Yusuf Shah cocksure disconcerted claws through beard Our government trying please America Bush otherwise never interfered madrassas This sentiment widespread across country particularly Deobandi madrassas where after attitude prevails Mean while Islamabad appears prime opportunity squandered Ghazi looking since began drafting comprehensive madrassa reform perhaps government simply interested anymore You unless bring someone personally interested project country doesn But personal institutional inter I I think But definitely Ijaz Haq Frankly speaking I priorities Ghazi But taken interest madrassas would expected General Zia Haq WITH THE GOVERNMENT S EFFORTS moving sluggishly yielding little results governmental groups gotten madrassa Since 1970s Institute Policy Studies IPS Islamabad based think senator Jama Islami holding roundtable cussions leading ulema discuss madrassas Then February launched first series seminars discuss collectively ulema address areas IPS fingered attention physical sciences social sciences contemporary issues skills amorphous category includes communication skills human resource skills others Rashid Bokhari Research Coordinator IPS oversaw these seminars detail Bokhari easygoing sometimes absent minded At first glance difficult graces madrassas Dr Strangelove hairstyle sense humor Dangerfield esque Back School persona Earlier after years IPS Islamist leanings Bokhari institute joined Washington DC based International Center Religion Diplomacy ICRD Since ICRD partnered IPS though remained behind scenes ICRD secrecy stealth necessary These madrassas everything America great suspicion But years ICRD working doing whole philosophy Instead being focused entirely curriculum books drive mainstream ICRD issue students thinking cases thinking about texts Says Bokhari We change focus teacher centered learning student centered learning ICRD thinking change people looking texts teaching methodologies creative thinking critical thinking pedagogical skills induce change To Bokhari running initial round shops madrassa teachers administrators From maulvis picking brilliant excess training attention If cording these master trainers qualified workshops their With Bokhari shift That doesn however Bokhari doesn imagine obstacles along For instance I being American institute limit ICRD ability affect widespread change We tried clear possible drassas against existence madrassas flourish serve social religious needs capable serving Bokhari In May ICRD first entirely independently madrassa workshop hotel Islamabad The tendees Deobandi madrassas Baluchistan ulema present known Taliban sympathizers Until workshop whole financed organized anAmerican organization According Bokhari revelation American pretty He continues It always helps explain trying expose students methods teachin improve their ability study themselves reach their conclusions We repeatedly ulema trying students leaders instead followers Regardless faith program Bokhari careful deceive anyone madrassas West We realize limitations This gradual process cannot bring about change What about benchmarks We expand these students horizons expose modern world Contrary prevailing rhetoric being bandied about madrassas science classes computers Windows XP sufficient usher student modern world But health critical thinking skills right direction NES INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Current Fellows their Activities Richard D Connerney January INDIA A lecturer Philosophy Asian Religions Philosophy Rutgers Iona College University Hawaii Manoa Rick Connerney spending years Phillips Talbot Fellow studying writing about intertwining religion culture politics India described former U S Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith functioning anarchy Rick B A M A religion Wheaton College University Hawaii respectively Kay Dilday October FRANCE MOROCCO An editor New York Times Op Ed years Kay holds M A Comparative International Politics Theory Graduate Center City University New York Bachelor degree English Literature Tufts University graduate Universiteit Amsterdam Netherlands Cours Civilisation Sorbonne She traveled written Haiti began jouralistic council reporter Somerville This Week Somerville MA Nicholas Schmidle February PAKISTAN Nicholas freelance writer interested intersection culture religion politics Asia He spending years Pakistan writing issues ethnic sectarian national identity Previously reported Central Asia Iran published Washington Post Weekly Standard Foreign Policy Christian Science Monitor others Nick received M A International Affairs Regional Studies American University December He lives Rikki Andrew J Tabler February SYRIA LEBANON Andrew lived studied worked Middle East since Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship enabled begin Arabic language studies toward Master degree American University Cairo Following Master editorships Middle East Times Cairo Times before moving Turkey Lebanon Syria working Senior Editor Oxford Bus iness Group correspondent Economist Intelligence Unit His ICWA fellowship bases Beirut Damascus where report Lebanese affairs Syrian reform Jill Winder July GERMANY With B A politics Whitman College Walla Walla WA Master degree Art Curating Bard College Annandale Hudson NY Jill ICWA Donors Fellow looking Germany through ideas viewpoints contemporary artists Before months intensive study German language Berlin Thomas J Watson Fellow looking communist practice cultural politics transition former Soviet Czech Republic Slovakia Poland Croatia Hungary Latvia Romania Slovenia Ukraine Institute Fellows chosen ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Af basis character previous experi fairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters promise They young provided charge members ICWA available libraries professionals funded spend professional researchers subscription minimum years carry designed programs Phone E Mail valley study writing outside Fax Web address United States The Fellows quired report their findings Executive Director Steven Butler experiences field month They write Program Assistant Publications Manager Ellen Kozak formally informally The result unique Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation reporting analysis riodic assessment international The Information contained publication reprinted republished events issues ithout express written consent Institute Current World Affairs