Al Ahram Al Massai, p.5, (28/3/2008)

Muslims in India consider Al Azhar, a Mecca for religious sciences

Study in Darul Uloom Deoband lasts for seven years and it is called the Indian Azhar

By: Abdel Khalek Sobhi

After they got a university degree, they all came from the subcontinent of exotic traditions, myths and wonders to get MA and PhD from Al Azhar. They are four students, from India, who completed their study in Darul Uloom Deoband which is dubbed as the Indian Azhar and they got a degree called Fadila.

They confirmed that 10000 students are enrolled in Darul Uloom Deoband and they learn religious sciences, such as the fundamentals of Islam, Islamic jurisprudence, Prophetic traditions and interpretation of the holy Quran. It was founded in 1861. Teachers, sermonizers, and Mosque Imams are graduated from Darul Uloom.

I asked the four students about the number of Muslims in India. They said that official statistics refer to that they reached 13% of the population. They confirmed that in India there is no difference between Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jews, or Buddhists.

They said that they used to believe that Al Azhar teaches religious sciences only but they were amazed to know that it teaches all branches of science. They said that Al Azhar grants only 22 scholarships for Indian students. This figure is very low and is not in proportion to the number of Indian Muslims.

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