The problems Madras’s in Pakistan face, their history and background, the misconception of West and International media about them and reforms being carried out by Pakistani government to make them better. The author has honestly admitted that though few terrorists that have been caught were educated in Pakistani Islamic institutes, but labeling all Madrassas in Pakistan to be “breeding factories of terrorism” is unfair. Nobody could deny the fact he pointed out that Pakistani governments’ efforts to make Madrassas better and eradicate those who teach extremism or terrorism will only bear fruit if there would be international media’s will to change their perception about Madrassas and portray the true image of Madrassas.
Author has held media, especially American, responsible as a major source of spreading Islam’s bad image in West. One has to agree with the author that US government and their intelligence agencies have influenced the media to portray an exaggerated image of Islam and Madrassas and associate them with extremism and terrorism, to fulfill their own political needs and to get public support. They are portraying Madrassas as institutes where they teach how to explode bombs use automatic machine guns and to sacrifice their lives in the name of Jihad, which is all wrong.
These are institutes where true essence of Islam is taught, and Islam is the religion of peace and humanity. That continued for centuries and Madrassas produced some great scholars, researchers of that age. Muslim part of the world was a hub of knowledge. The work of Muslim scholars, scientists laid down the foundation of many new areas of learning.
Government started project that sought to introduce computer skills, science, social studies and English into the tremendously religious syllabus at thousands of madrassas across the country. As Author says that these afford would lead to Mainstreaming of Madrasas and they would become a part of the socio-educational mainstream. Graduates would be able to get jobs in the open market which means alleviation of poverty This would take Islam out of mosques and Madrasas and working of Madrasa graduates in public and private sector would lead to a balanced and constructive socialization leading to gradual Islamization of the society.
Written by :Khalid Khokar
Author has held media, especially American, responsible as a major source of spreading Islam’s bad image in West. One has to agree with the author that US government and their intelligence agencies have influenced the media to portray an exaggerated image of Islam and Madrassas and associate them with extremism and terrorism, to fulfill their own political needs and to get public support. They are portraying Madrassas as institutes where they teach how to explode bombs use automatic machine guns and to sacrifice their lives in the name of Jihad, which is all wrong.
These are institutes where true essence of Islam is taught, and Islam is the religion of peace and humanity. That continued for centuries and Madrassas produced some great scholars, researchers of that age. Muslim part of the world was a hub of knowledge. The work of Muslim scholars, scientists laid down the foundation of many new areas of learning.
Government started project that sought to introduce computer skills, science, social studies and English into the tremendously religious syllabus at thousands of madrassas across the country. As Author says that these afford would lead to Mainstreaming of Madrasas and they would become a part of the socio-educational mainstream. Graduates would be able to get jobs in the open market which means alleviation of poverty This would take Islam out of mosques and Madrasas and working of Madrasa graduates in public and private sector would lead to a balanced and constructive socialization leading to gradual Islamization of the society.
Written by :Khalid Khokar
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i feel that due to the ignorance of the Muslims today that “madrassas” that were an important part in the educational systems of yester-years have now become a potential threat to the people
ReplyDeleteThis is the problem that international media and western countries are against Madrassas.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my view point, It is not wrong to say that the distorted image of the madrassas has a lot to do with the media portrayal. The way the media portrays the Islamic institutes are completely biased. They claim that they know what the real madrassas in Pakistan look like but they have no idea. They come here with their biased concepts and without understanding the background
ReplyDeletePossible reform action should be taken by Government
ReplyDeletei agree that Govt are facing many problem in madrais reforms but some important steps should be taken.
ReplyDeleteIt could be a better tool to answer the international media