By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)Dr SQR Ilyas has condemned the claims made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), asserting that government efforts to intrude into madrasas are part of a larger conspiracy to sever Muslims from their religious education.
Dr Ilyas made his remarks while deliverinf a speech on the theme of “Government Intrusion in Madrasas: Exposing the Real Agenda.”
Dr. Ilyas condemned a recent report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which, he claims, propagates misconceptions about madrasas, labelling them as national security threats that promote extremist ideologies.
He remarked, “If you read the report, you would laugh at the absurdity of such misconceptions being disseminated in our country. They are part of a narrative being constructed against Muslims. For instance, the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 has recently been introduced, proposing 44 amendments. While the government claims it aims to make the Waqf Board more transparent and ensure that its revenue reaches the poor and needy, if this act is implemented, control over mosques, madrasas, graveyards, Eidgahs, and other religious properties will be taken from Muslims.”
Dr. Ilyas expressed deep concern about the ongoing narrative against madrasas in India, asserting that this issue is not new and has roots going back to 2001. He highlighted that during the tenure of the BJP-led government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a committee led by LK Advani labelled madrasas as threats to national security. He noted, “The committee’s report indicated that in border regions of India—particularly near Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal—there has been a proliferation of madrasas, calling them ‘mushrooming of madrasas’. This growth was linked to the emergence of a ‘jihadi’ mentality and radicalism, influenced by changes in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s madrasa background. The committee recommended integrating madrasas into the mainstream education system and revising their curricula.”
The Muslim leader pointed out that recent NCPCR reports echo these sentiments, questioning figures like Aurangzeb and Shah Waliullah and discussing historical battles, thereby framing madrasas as breeding grounds for extremist ideologies. He stated, “They are trying to create a narrative that positions madrasas as significant threats to the nation, suggesting they foster fundamentalist, radical, and jihadi mindsets among children.”
Following these reports, the NCPCR chief directed state chief secretaries to consider shutting down madrasas and transferring non-Muslim students to government schools. Dr. Ilyas highlighted that in many states, especially Madhya Pradesh, non-Muslim children attending madrasas benefit from free education, meals, accommodation, and uniforms—contrasting sharply with government claims that only midday meals are provided in public schools.
He criticised the NCPCR’s portrayal of madrasa education as dangerous, suggesting it promotes the supremacy of Islam. “The NCPCR report implies that teaching in madrasas asserts that those who recite the Kalima proclaim Islam as the superior religion, denouncing polytheism and claiming that only Muslims will attain paradise,” he remarked.
Dr. Ilyas also addressed claims that madrasas do not provide formal education, leading to calls for the removal of non-Muslim children and the transfer of Muslim children to government schools. He noted that the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh instructed the District Administration to take action in response to NCPCR.
Dr. Ilyas disclosed, “On behalf of the AIMPLB, we met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to express our view that the Chief Secretary’s order is unconstitutional. We asserted that all madrasas are exempt from the Right to Education (RTE) Act, and according to the Constitution of India, we have the fundamental right to establish and manage institutions for religious education without government interference. CM Yogi responded with various points.”
Dr. Ilyas contended that the ongoing actions against madrasas are part of a larger agenda aimed at undermining their educational system. He remarked, “When Modi came to power in 2014, he promised to modernise madrasas by introducing Hindi, English, mathematics, and science education, along with providing qualified teachers. On one hand, the government talks about modernising madrasas; on the other, it seeks to dismantle them. This appears to be a conspiracy to disconnect Muslims from their religion. However, many major madrasas are already placing emphasis on modern subjects like English, mathematics, geography, and science. Some have even initiated skill development and technical education programmes.”
Dr. Ilyas continued, “We informed Chief Minister Yogi that the government’s claim of children’s futures being at risk in madrasas is misleading. According to the Sachar Committee established by the Union Government, only 4% of Muslim students attend madrasas. Why focus so heavily on this small percentage? Furthermore, why does the government not recognise religious education as legitimate? What is the true purpose of education? Is it solely to earn a living or secure employment? The genuine purpose of education is to cultivate knowledgeable, civilised citizens—goals that religious education also strives to achieve.”
He added, “The assertion that madrasas provide poor education is unfounded. Students from institutions like Deoband, Ulama, and Falah are successfully pursuing higher education at esteemed institutions such as JNU, Jamia Millia , AMU, and Delhi University. Some have even gone abroad to study at prestigious universities like Al-Azhar and Madinah University. CM Yogi himself acknowledged that a madrasa graduate became an IAS officer. I challenged him: has any parent or student ever come forward to say their future is being ruined by madrasas? You claim madrasas should be affiliated with educational boards, yet since you took office in 2017, you have banned new registrations with the UP Madrasa Board. If someone wants to register, where are they supposed to go?”
Apart from these actions in Uttar Pradesh, Dr Ilyas noted that the Assam government has also shut down all madrasas, converting them into schools, despite the fact that madrasa properties belong to Waqf. He questioned how the government can seize Waqf properties, stating that this has effectively ended religious education in Assam. He further highlighted that the Madhya Pradesh government has recently mandated that all madrasas teach Saraswati Vandana, raising concerns over government interference in religious education.
Dr. Ilyas addressed the Muslim community, stating, “We are currently engaged in a one-sided effort. While we are fighting a political battle, we are not effectively countering the narrative being formed across the country. If we do not address these issues in the languages understood by the general population—Hindi and English—misunderstandings and hatred against Muslims will only increase. It is essential that we actively counter this narrative.”
Dr. Ilyas added that efforts to terminate madrasas, take over their curricula, and intervene in their operations seem to be part of a larger conspiracy to sever Muslims from their religious education.
In response to the perceived conspiracy against madrasas, Dr. Ilyas proposed several measures to strengthen their position. He stated, “Firstly, madrasas should integrate modern educational requirements into their syllabi and curricula. Secondly, I recommend that prominent madrasas such as Darul Uloom Deoband, Nadvatul Ulama, Jamia Tul Falah, and Jamia Tul Islah affiliate under a unified platform to ensure consistency in syllabus, curriculum, and administrative systems. Thirdly, madrasas should maintain detailed records of donations, and all construction and related activities should receive government approval. This will help ensure that madrasas remain legally compliant, limiting the government’s ability to intervene.”
Highlighting that Islam promotes a holistic approach to knowledge, contributing significantly to fields like science and medicine in the medieval period, Dr Ilyas noted that unlike the West, which often separates religious and temporal education, Islam integrates both. Concerns over the British education system led many Muslim families to withdraw their children in favour of a religious education, evolving into the madrassa system today, which provides comprehensive Islamic learning, including Quran memorisation and higher studies. Dr Ilyas noted that while the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 aimed to ensure free education for children aged 6 to 14, it initially did not recognise religious institutions. However, Muslim scholars successfully advocated for the inclusion of madrasas.
Dr Ilyas emphasized the need to recognise the government’s agenda towards Muslims, stating that since the Modi government took power in 2014, the community has faced increasing challenges, including violence, property attacks, and baseless incarcerations. He warned of a deeper agenda aimed at severing Muslims’ ties to their faith. “While physical attacks can be recovered from, breaking the bonds of faith will diminish the Muslim community’s spirit,” he said.
Dr. Ilyas expressed concern over the impact of such narratives on the common population’s perception of madrasas. He drew parallels to the treatment of Waqf properties, alleging that the media propagates the idea that Waqf boards unlawfully claim land and properties. “The Godi media is propagating that the Waqf properties are among the largest landholdings after those of the Railway, Road Transport, and Military ministries.” He further added that if one were to consider only the Hindu endowment trusts in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, their holdings far surpass those of Waqf properties.
He also expressed concern over attempts to impose a Uniform Civil Code, which he argued would undermine Muslim personal laws governing marriage, divorce, and inheritance. He questioned the need for a compulsory code when an optional one exists, asserting that the aim is to sever Muslims’ connections to their religion.
He cautioned that the community risks existing only in name if stripped of its religious foundations. Dr Ilyas recalled a 2004 meeting where an RSS leader suggested that peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims would require Muslims to abandon the belief that Islam is the only true path to God, which he deemed an affront to the core tenets of Islam.
He elaborated on a second condition proposed by the RSS leader, which required Muslims to regard the nation as a deity, prioritising it over their faith. “This demand is concerning,” he said, noting that loving one’s country should not equate to worship.
Dr Ilyas mentioned recent issues such as the hijab controversy in Karnataka, framing them as part of a broader agenda aimed at eroding Islamic identity.
He drew historical parallels to the Babri Masjid, asserting that attacks on mosques are attempts to sever spiritual ties. Dr Ilyas called for vigilance and unity within the Muslim community to counter these threats.
He asserted, “It is our duty to remember that the Prophet Muhammad is the last Prophet, and Islam remains the true path for humanity. Under the Constitution, Article 25 guarantees the freedom to practice our religion. Yet, 11 states have enacted anti-conversion laws, contradicting these rights. Such laws create a hostile environment for conversion, often leading to imprisonment for those involved in religious outreach. Currently, our scholars, Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui and Umar Gautam, are imprisoned due to such implications. We, as a Muslim community, have become entangled in these issues, forgetting our fundamental responsibilities.” He urged the Muslim community to uphold their faith and share the message of Islam despite the challenges they face.
