Nadwatul Ulama
Nadwatul Ulama
IINTRODUCTION
Muslim Intelligentsia in the 19th Century
The Islamic East had maintained, over the centuries, a social, cultural, economic and moral equilibrium, based on eternal values drawn from the revealed truth. Political ascendancy of the West, which gradually enveloped the entire world of Islam, not only paved the way for internal conflict within social fabric of Islam but also encouraged disintegration of its intellectual and creative energies by its undue emphasis on the materialistic view of life and the world. The Western influences, often forcibly imposed upon the world of Islam, created a schism between the spiritual and material domains of the community's life. The religion began to be looked down as something of a private concern having nothing to do with the affairs of the world. Islam, like Christianity, was divided into the Church and the State. On the one side, there was the sovereignty of God; on the other, that of Caesar. As a result of it, and, quite naturally too, the scholars of religion were relegated to the background and the leadership of political and cultural movements Passed on into the hands of those who were shorn of all Islamic values. The State was deprived of honest and conscientious rulers, of dedicated workers and devoted administrators, and the religion of its watchmen and defenders.
The isolation of religion from practical life and its problems made the doctors of religion indifferent to the affairs of the contemporary world. And if they ever tried to interfere in these matters they were put to ridicule, because of their unfamiliarity with the modern thought and store of knowledge.
The Western nations launched an unrelenting attack on Islam from all directions-the philosophy, history, literature, science, politics and culture The strategy of the modern West called for now weapons to defeat it and it was the 'Ulama alone who could forge them.
Sectional Jealousy
While the Islamic Millat was passing through these highly critical times, the Millat itself was torn between two groups-the modern' and the orthodox'. The former group had developed a blind faith in Western sciences and civilization. It stood for the total and uncritical adoption of the Western system of instruction and education. The latter group, on the other hand, reposed in implicit faith in the infallibility of the way of earlier Ulama. It held the syllabi of instruction laid down by them to be absolute and final. A slightest alteration, according to this group, amounted to apostasy and perversion. Religion and the religious sciences had fallen a prey to these excesses. Moderateness had become extinct.
The dangers of this situation were realised by some sincere and far-sighted religious scholars who were firm and staunch in their belief in the doctrines of Islam and held a high and venerable place in the Millat on account of their piety and learning. They possessed wisdom and a vision that was broad and enlightened. They came from Shaikh-ul-islam Hazrat Shah Waliullah's line of disciples. The guide and leader of this earnest group of men was Maulana Mohammed Ali Mongeri who was an outstanding theologian and spiritual mentor of his time. He had been the most favourite pupil of Maulana Lutfullah Saheb of Aligarh and was the Khalifa-i-Majaz Spiritual successor of Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman of Gani Moradabad.
Formation of Nadwatul Ulama Association
These venerable after discussing and corresponding with the other Muslim divines of their time decided finally to establish a religious and educational Association. The main object of this Association was to bring about harmony and co-operation among the different groups within the Muslim Millat, and thereby to bring about the moral, religious and educational reform and progress of the Muslims.
The Association was named as Nadwatul Ulama and its first session was hold at Kanpur in1893 (A. H. 131 1) under the presidentship of Maulana Lutfullah Saheb of Aligarh. In this session the call was given for resolving the differences among the Ulama for creating an atmosphere of unity and co-operation and for bringing about suitable changes and improvements in the out-dated syllabi of the Arabic Madrasas.
Aims and Objects
The Nadwatul Ulama, had kept before it four main objectives
1.To introduce suitable changes in the syllabi of Islamic theological institutions with a view to bringing it in line with the changed conditions of the modern age and enabling it to integrate religious education, as far as possible, with the cultural progress of the community;
2. To examine the principles and injunctions of the Shariat with a view to keep it in conformity with the fundamental guidance of the Quran and the Sunnat so as to address the ever-increasing modern questions and problems.
3. To establish a central library in northern India which could serve as a useful centre of study and research in Islamics
4.To propagate Islamic faith and ideals by suitable literature and making arrangements for its publication.
To train and educate preachers who have deep knowledge of the Holy Qur'an and Ahadees along with a deep insight of the prevailing situation and who can judge and take remedial action for changing moral environment for the betterment of the society.
Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama
Nadwatul Ulama Association held annual session in different cities. But it was soon felt that unless some practical steps were taken to translate these ideals into action, it will not be understood and appreciated by the Muslim masses. The first step, accordingly, was taken in 1898 (A. H. 1316) with the establishment of a Darul Uloom which soon earned for itself a place in India and abroad as a modern seat of Muslim theological learning. This institution was named Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, was established at Lucknow which is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the biggest state of India, and an important centre of Muslim culture for many centuries.
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