study_madrasas.pdf

7/30/2019 study_madrasas.pdf

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A Study of Madrasas of Kerala: An Overview

Prof. Sushma Jaireth1

Mr. Shiraz.S 2

Ms. Khadija Siddiqui 2

Introduction

The Kerala Muslims, estimated at around a fourth of the states population,

is the most well educated Muslim community in the country. Although some

Madrasas of the traditional type do exist in Kerala, they have been

overtaken by a large and expanding network of reformed Madrasas that

have incorporated modern subjects and teaching methods of varying

degrees. The reformed Madrasas in Kerala highlight the diversity within the

Madrasa education system of the country as a whole in comparison to

traditional Madrasas of north India.

As a part of the study to understand the gender perspective in the Madrasa

education system, the field work was conducted in sample districts

Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram of state Kerala. During this visit a

number of Madrasas known as the Islamic educational institutions of both

the districts were visited for data collection. It was found that these Islamic

educational institutions were following different schools of thought and

philosophies like Jamaat-e-Islami, Nadvathul Mujahideen, Samastha Kerala

Jamyiathul Ulema, Dakshina Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema and Tabligi Jamaat.

Further, some of these institutions in district Malappuram are also running

courses which are affiliated with University of Calicut and are thus getting

the government grant according to UGC norms.

Objectives

The major Objectives of the above mentioned study are to:-

Analyze the curriculum of Maktabs and Madrasas from the view point of


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Research Methodology

The present study is a blend of quantitative and qualitative methods.

Primary data of the study is based on the field work conducted in the

Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. Data was

collected with the help of structured schedules/questionnaires, which were

canvassed to all the stakeholders of education i.e. students, teachers, head

teachers/principal and the community leaders. Tools were developed in

English and later were translated in to local language Malayalam. Focused

group discussions were held with the stakeholders to know more on the

relevant information and examine their perception on gender and related

issues.

Islamic Education System

In Kerala there exists the different levels of Islamic education system, whichhas been categorised and termed as follows:

Othupalli (Morning or Evening Madrasa in Malayalam)

Dars system(Mosque centric residential learning system)

Arabic or Islamiya colleges (Students studying both Islamic and

Material subjects in residential campus)

Islamic Universities (Affiliated to international Islamic Universities

and provide research level courses)

Students of

GuidanceArabic College,a co-edinstitution,Edakkara,Malappuramdistrict


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Courses Offered:The following are the courses and degrees offered by Islamic institutes.

Organizational Philosophy:

The schools of thought and the Organizational Philosophies operating in

Kerala have been explained below in brief:-

Jamat-e-Islami Hind Kerala Chapter

Jamaat-e-Islami is a progressive Muslim organization of Kerala.

Establishment of religion-Islam-as a complete way of life i.e. Iqamathuddin,

is the prime objective of Jamaat-e-Islami. According to this philosophy,

Courses run by different Islamic

Institutes

Degrees/certification offered by Islamic Institutes

Afzalul Ulama Bachelor of Usooluddin

Usooluddin Masters in Quran, Hadeeth, Shareeah & Dawa

Arts & Islamic Course Hudavi

Kulliathul Quran Mannani

Kulliathul Hadeeth Hudhaibi

Kulliathus Shareeah Salafietc.

Kulliathud Dawa

Alimiyat

Fazilat etc.


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human life can not be divided in to religious and material. Islam

addresses the human beings as a whole. Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala is the first

organization in Kerala which started a womens Arabic college called

Madrasathul Banath at Chennamangalloor of Kozhikode district.

Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM)

KNM is the counterpart of the Ahl-e-Hadeeth of north India. They believe

that Muslims need to go back to the basic sources of faith, the Quran and

Hadith, by passing centuries of tradition as represented by medieval fiqh

and Sufism. Followers of the movement call themselves Mujahids who are

based only in Kerala who are against superstitions and corrupt practices

that have crept into Muslim society.

Samastha Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema

The majority of Kerala Muslims are called as Sunnis who adhere to the shafi

school of sunni jurisprudence. They follow various forms of Sufism. They

are mainly divided in to two fractions, have separate leaders and separate

Madrasa Boards too.

Dakshina Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema

They have the set up of traditional Madrasas. It is mainly an organization of

Students along

with their teacher

in the evening

Madrasa, Al


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Islamic scholars of South Kerala. Usually they also follow Deobandi School

of thought and the ideology of Tabligi Jamaat.

Tablighi Jamaat

Tablighi jamaati works for the spiritual reformation of the Muslim

community from 1926. It is keeping relationship with people related to

different social and economical levels. It works to remove the corrupt

practices in the spiritual sphere of Muslim life.

Observations

Some of the significant observations due to the institutions visited in

Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of state Kerala are

mentioned as follows:

There is no Madrasa Board in Kerala at government level.

Physical infrastructure of Islamic learning centres of both districts

though varying according to the financial set-up of the institution

attempts to meet the needs of their students.

A lot of emphasis is given to English and computer education along

with Islamic Education. These skills are imparted in a specialised

manner by these institutions from first to final year.

Interactionwith thestakeholdersofAl-FurqanEducational


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Most of the Islamic institutes of Thiruvananthapuram district aretraditional in nature, yet they are making an effort and are trying to

incorporate secular subjects, while their Malappuram counter parts

are providing ample facilities to their students to get +2, B.A and M.A

degrees from the recognized universities.

Institutes running an Islamic Course (AIC) under Majlissu Talimul

Islami have a specially designed curriculum, which is a mix of

subjects taught in the Islamic and University. These subjects areArabic, Sociology, Economics and Commerce, which are offered at

Graduate Degree and Post Graduation levels.

Curriculum of these institutions is structured to prepare their

students more effectively to get moral and modern education which

will prepare them to meet the challenges of the real world.

Medium of instruction is either in Arabic or English. Besides, few

institutes are following Malayam, the local Language.

Students are moving to English/Malayalam medium in State or CBSE

schools after completing their two hours morning Madrasa from 7.00

AM to 9.00 Am. Some of the students are also moving to evening

Madrasas from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm after completing their regular

school.

Numbers of women in the administrative and teaching positions are

very less even in girls institutions.

Teacher student relationship seems to be harmonious.

Some of the girls institutions also welcome girls under difficult

circumstances.


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Movements influencing Islamic education

In Kerala the following major organisations manage the Islamic institutes which were visited for the above

mentioned study. These major organisations manage the private organisational Madrasa boards mentioned

below. It is significant to mention here that the whole Islamic education system has been highly influenced by

Islamic reformist movements like Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Kerala Chapter and Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen,

which have brought radical changes in the school of thoughts and the philosophies, hence modernising

peoples mindsets.

Major Organizations Organizational Madrasa Boards

Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Kerala Chapter. Majlissu Taalimul Islami Kerala

Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen Vidhyabhyasa BoardKerala Nadvathul Mujahideen.

The Council for Islamic Education and Research(CIER)

Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidhyabhyasa Board(SKIMVB)Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema.

Samastha Kerala Sunni Islam Matha Vidhyabhyasa

Board(SKSIMVB)

Dakshina Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema. Dakshina Kerala Islam Matha Vidhyabhyasa Board (DKIMVB)

Tabligi Jamaat


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Institutions VisitedFollowing Madrasas were visited in Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala

Madrasas visitedAl Jamia Al Islamia, Sanatapuram, Pattikkadu Khadijathul Kubra banath &Arabic college, Balaramapuram.

Womens Islamia College, Wandoor Jamia Hidaya Shareeath College, Thattamala-PO,Kilimanoor

Roudhathul Uloom Arabic College, Feroke Islamic Educational Complex, Azhekodu, Nedumangadu.

Jamia Salafia, Pulickal. Salafi Centre, Oottu Kuzhi.

Anwarul Islam Womens Arabic College, Mongam. Nibrasul Islam Arts & Arabic college, Pallinada, Kaniyapuram.

Jamia Nadwiyya,Edavanna. Makhdoomiya Dawa College, Parayathu konam PO, Attingal.

Guidance college,Edarikkara Jamia Salahiya Islamiya Arabic College, Kallambalam.

Jamia Hikamiya, Pappinippara, Manjeri. Islamic Educatonal Complex for Boys, Umayanalloor.

Najmul Huda Madrasa,Vettakkodu, Manjeri. Jamia Hudaibiyya arabiccollege, vellanchira, panavoor.

Al-Furqan Educational Complex, Vaniyambalam. Pallikkal Banath, Pallikal-PO.

Darul Huda Islamic Academy, Tirurangadi. IslamicUniversity Varkala, SV Puram-po, Varkala

Al Ghaiz Islamic & Arts College for Girls, Karthala. Madrasthul Islamiya, Islamic Cultural centre, Pottavila, Karamana

Madrasa Abubacker siddique. Madrasathul Islamiya, Karimatam colony, Attakkulangara.

Malappuram Orphanage Madrasa.

Documents

study_madrasas.pdf