Book Review

The book looks into the glorious past of Darul Uloom, Deoband that produced hundreds of Hindu graduates.

Darul Uloom Deoband: Adabi Shanakhat Nama

Pages: 184, Price: Rs 100-

Published by: All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Haque, Q-25, Alsamad Road, Batla House, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi- 110 025


“The Indian sub-continent has a rich history of madrasas that created a paradigm shift for enlightening the masses educationally and religiously. Darul Uloom, Deoband is one of the key players that filled the educational vacuum amongst the Muslim community. It is at par with the world’s renowned educational institutions”, describes Haqqani Al Qasmi in his recently released book, Darul Uloom Deoband: Adabi Shanakhat Nama (Darul Uloom Deoband’s literary identity).


Published by All India Tanzim-e-Ulema-e-Haque, this book in Urdu is a documentation of sorts. Divided into four broad sections, each section has analytical description on themes i.e. literary, social, religious, political and journalistic. The author looks into the political upheavals of the pre and post independent Indian history in context of the contribution of Darul Uloom, Deoband. This madrasa developed religious fraternity and social justice amongst the Muslim community in particular and others in general.


The communal forces and the respective governments, with vested interests have always tried to defame Darul Uloom and other madrasas in the country, either by declaring them the hub of ISI activities or by falsely assuming that madrasas nourish a “fundamentalist” Muslim youth. In fact, madrasas educate the youth to learn Islam in its true sense.


Darul Uloom, Deoband has its own political culture. The institution has always condemned the autocratic and monopolistic political system. It has opposed globalization, hence its golden history is before us. Muslims as well as Hindus contributed a lot in its growth.


Haqqani Al Qasmi lists few of the prominent Hindu names whose efforts were remarkable in the growth of Darul Uloom since its inception. They were Munshi Tulsi Ram, Ram Sahaye, Munshi Hardawari Lal, Lala Tej Nath, Pundit Shri Ram, Munshi Moti Lal, Ram Lal and Shiv Lal amongst others who stood hand in hand with the Muslim reformers for further growth of Darul Uloom. Munshi Naval Kishore was one of the well wishers of this madrasa who contributed books for its library. Though madrasas are now considered “exclusive sites of learning for Muslim youth”, none look into the glorious past of Darul Uloom, Deoband that produced hundreds of Hindu graduates.


Haqqani Al Qasmi gives us a chance to read between the lines. His book describes that Deoband’s political mindset was in contrast to the popular Hindu opinion. Haqqani Al Qasmi puts forward many important aspects in this book. Darul Uloom contributes in immortalising Islamic ethics in the sub-continent. Its role in spreading Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Islamic education is par excellence.


Darul Uloom, Deoband’s contribution in simplifying Fiqah cannot be ignored. One of the renowned books on Muslim Law, Al-Hidayah written by Burhanuddin Marghiyani in the 12th century has been translated into several Indian languages. Besides this, Darul Uloom should be given due credit for producing best dictionaries ever.


This book defines the role of Darul Uloom, Deoband in particular and hundreds of other madrasas in general in spreading Urdu education in the sub-continent.


While concluding the book, Haqqani Al Qasmi lists the role of Darul Uloom in producing efficient journalists. The journalists who got educated from Deoband have proved their mettle by doing sensible and fearless journalism.


Besides India, one can see a list of Pakistani journalists who are the products of Deoband. Maulana Mohammad Taqui Usmani (Al-balagh, Karachi), Maulana Sami-ul- Haque (Al-Haque, Akara, Khatak), Maulana Yusuf Banori (Benaat, Karachi), Maulana Fazil Habibullah Rashidi (Al-Rashid, Sahewal), Maulana Ashraf Ali (Sada-e-Islam, Peshawar), Ghulam Gaus Hazarawi (Tarjuman-e-Islam, Lahore) are some of the names amongst others.


The book is an effort by Haqqani Al Qasmi, alumni himself, to list the precious past and present of Darul Uloom. It is a historical documentation of the famous madrasa.

Searching for classical books on Islam is like a treasure hunt.


At times, we come across book titles that baffle us and then begins our journey to track down the book. Its like a treasure hunt. I recently stumbled across one such title- “ A Simple Guide to Islam’s Contribution to Science and Civilisation authored by Maulvi Abdul Karim. Determined to get a copy, I surveyed many book shops here. All of them sadly shook their heads while just one said he would “try to get it”. “Try to” is a dangerous phrase. How long? I would be dead by then! Fortunately, a Delhi publishing House had a copy. This book is real gold because the foreword is written by none other than Rabindranath Tagore! Just 67 pages, the author Maulvi Abdul Karim takes the reader through interesting chapters on how Islam furthered the cause of science, how Muslims laid the foundation of physical science and even the saga of persecution of scientists in the West. While all chapters open up various facts, it is the Foreword that compels one to read the book many times over.


Quote: “ One of the most potent sources of Hindu-Muslim conflict in India is our scant knowledge of each other. We live side by side and yet very often our worlds are entirely different. Such mental aloofness has done immense mischief in the past and forebodes an evil future. It is only through a sympathetic understanding of each other’s culture, social customs and conventions that we can create an atmosphere of peace and goodwill. With this end in view I started a department of Islamic Culture in Visva Bharati a few years ago with the generous financial support of his Highness, the Nizam. I am glad to say the experiment has been successful. But work of this sort must be elaborated a hundred fold. Individual educationists and scholars must also take it up and I heartily welcome the series of articles from my distinguished countryman, Maulvi Abdul Karim, on Islam’s contribution to Science and Civilisation. The writer has clothed his erudition in as simple a garb as possible and the book will have great popular appeal. It is with pleasure that I recommend the book to my countrymen.


Rabindranath Tagore, Utta-rayan, Santiniketan, Bengal, August 19, 1935

This is a classical book first published in Kolkata in 1935. For a copy, write to: Pharos Media & Publishing (P) Ltd, D-84, Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-25. Email:info@pharos media.com. Ph: 26927483. Price: Rs 80/-