Darul Uloom stands up to the Terrorists and Issues Fatwa against Terrorism

For long my grouse with the Moderate Muslims has been that they do say Islam is a peaceful religion, but no one had the guts to stand up to the mischief makers and take the fight where it should be taken.  For the first time, a group of Islamic scholars have stood up to the terror minded and said enough is enough.  What surprised me was the source. Deoband’s Darul-uloom.  I have been to that place and to the madrasas being run by it.  Let us just say that was not the most progressive minded group when I went there.

What they have done now will, however, affect the Islamic world a lot.  They have come out categorically to tell the world with a fatwa that Terror and Violence has no place in Islam.  Saying this as an opinion was one thing.  To dish out a Fatwa is quite another.  That is a fatwa that is welcome for a change. I think this act is laudable and is the first meaningful act to save the Muslim world from falling further into the abyss that it is currently.

I am hoping this edict will create a lot of heat and discussion as well as debate.  A throwing up of ideas/opinions/analysis within  the Islamic world.  And something positive will come out of it.  Nevertheless, from strictly Indian standpoint, it will have FAR reaching effects in the thousands of small madarasas which are affiliated to it and follow its command.

Now, this institution requires to take another logical step.  Secularize its education system/instruction and include Science and Mathematics in the curriculum of its madarasas.  Madarasas play an important role in the education infrastructure for the Muslim society.  They cannot be wished away but can and should be reformed.  This is a very good segway into that endeavor.

The high-ups at Darul-Uloom can play the same role that Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Dayananda Saraswati played in the 19th century.  They have taken the first step in this battle of reformation of Islamic society.  It should not be let up.