05/17/2006
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Part II
Written for PeaceReporter by
Abu Uzair Hazarvi and Ibrahim Khan
Abu Uzair Hazarvi and Ibrahim Khan
Taufiq Ahmed is a teenager who migrated from Balakot with his father who is a
labourer after the city was ruined by the October 8 earthquake. Taufiq is enrolled
at a primary school run by the Jamia administration but he is also preparing to
be a Hafiz-e-Quran. Taufiq, who lost many of his relatives and friends in the
disaster, is satisfied with studying in the primary school and memorizing the
holy Quran at the Madrassa.
“I am also learning English here.” he says.
All the students of the University have the facility of free education
and bed and board, Mufti Mohammad Naeem, principal of the Jamia Binoria.says,
“We bear all their costs,”, while keeping an eye on the vast premises from behind
his desk that faces the monitors of several close circuit cameras. “I personally
monitor every movement in our university which allows me to maintain the decorum
and the sanctity of our education. No student is allowed to do anything which
is unrelated to our educational atmosphere and people are expelled if they break
the rules.” Mufti Naeem explains.
Mufti Naeem has the green card of the US and each year he visits
the there to preach (tableegh) and offer special religion classes for American
students. He claims that the American girls he has met have expressed their trust
in the Jamia, “because it has helped many American girls and boys get rid of bad
habits.” “It is to our credit that we reform many girls,” the mufti claims. “They
either come here on their own or after being persuaded by their parents and by
the grace of Allah all of them return home as pious and good girls.”
The Jamia has a large area almost like dry-cleaner where the student
can wash their own clothes. 50 male and female cooks work to feed the 8,000 students
and teachers in a vast hall located at the entrance. The kitchen is full of bowls,
benches and stoves with bags of rice, wheat, grains and pulses, 18 of which get
used each day, according to the cook Aslam.
“I am also learning English here.” he says.
All the students of the University have the facility of free education
and bed and board, Mufti Mohammad Naeem, principal of the Jamia Binoria.says,
“We bear all their costs,”, while keeping an eye on the vast premises from behind
his desk that faces the monitors of several close circuit cameras. “I personally
monitor every movement in our university which allows me to maintain the decorum
and the sanctity of our education. No student is allowed to do anything which
is unrelated to our educational atmosphere and people are expelled if they break
the rules.” Mufti Naeem explains. He clarifies that he is neither a jihadi nor does he have any links
with any political or religious party. “I have never gone to Afghanistan, nor
have I visited Kashmir. We are here to teach Islamic education to our children
and I am a staunch opponent of all activities inside the Jamia which have no relation
to education.”
Four thousand male students and over 600 girls live in the Jamia’s
hostels of which about 500 of them originate from 29 countries and of this 60
from the United States. “Earlier on, we had a good number of students from the
UK but after the7/7 bombings their number has declined,” Mufti Naeem says, while
claiming that none of the international students studying in seminaries across
the country have any criminal records, but this could not be claimed of those
who are enrolled at a secular institutions. “There is only one individual in our
country that is making a hue and cry against our innocent students,” he adds.
“We have contacted almost every political party, including the MQM (Muttahida
Qaumi Movement), and they are all in favour of allowing our international students
to stay on and complete their education.” he claims.
Mufti Naeem has the green card of the US and each year he visits
the there to preach (tableegh) and offer special religion classes for American
students. He claims that the American girls he has met have expressed their trust
in the Jamia, “because it has helped many American girls and boys get rid of bad
habits.” “It is to our credit that we reform many girls,” the mufti claims. “They
either come here on their own or after being persuaded by their parents and by
the grace of Allah all of them return home as pious and good girls.” According to Mufti Naeem, none of the foreign governments put hurdles
in the way of these students attending the University in Pakistan, and it is only
Pakistani government that is creating problems.
He also dispels the impression that we mostly cater to poor people,
saying this is a thing of the past. “A large number of billionaires and rich people
are fed up with secular education and now send their children to our Madrassas,”
he insists, adding that in act, the administration had to turn down many candidates
this year, eights times the previous applicants. “The demand is on the rise every
year and we have a significant number of sons and daughters of parliamentarians,
bureaucrats and businessmen who apply,” he says.
But this does not mean that poor students do not come through the Jamia’s doors
any more. The seminaries offer free or cheap education to deserving students and
are flexible when it comes to well-off families also. It even has different types
of rooms for people of different tastes. “Mainly our international students are
the sons and daughters of rich people want better accommodation and food,” he
explains, “Which we provide at higher rates.” This proves that the Jamia is not
a commercial enterprise, he says.
The Jamia also has Chinese food restaurant and other shops rent out
to businesses, which become a source of income. “We use these earnings to run
the university as we do not depend on outside donations as other Madrassas do.”
The Jamia has a large area almost like dry-cleaner where the student
can wash their own clothes. 50 male and female cooks work to feed the 8,000 students
and teachers in a vast hall located at the entrance. The kitchen is full of bowls,
benches and stoves with bags of rice, wheat, grains and pulses, 18 of which get
used each day, according to the cook Aslam. A conversation with some of the administrators, teachers and students
converged mainly on one point: the fears of the possible expulsion of international
students.
“I have a little over one year to complete the Aalima (equivalent
to MA) course,” says Sobia, who came to the Jamia over three years. “I pray that
I can complete it.” She says that she had no other choice but to come to the Jamia
for an education.
Lots of national and international journalist including the counsel general of
the US visited here but no one found here any activity related to Jihad or terrorism.
Their only goal is to convey true Islamic education to the Muslim all around the
world in its true sense.
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