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Row over madrassa refusal to admit girls
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BIHARSHARIF: The 105-year-old Madrassa Azizia at Biharsharif in Bihar's Nalanda district is in the eye of the storm as it has decided to refuse admission to girl students.
Madrassa principal Maulana Mohammed Mumtaz Ahmad said Soghra Waqf Estate mutawalli (head) Mohd Sharf gave him the directive not to admit girls to any class until women teachers are hired as girls being taught by men is against the Sharia law.
"Mohd Sharf even said if he found any girl on the madrassa campus, the principal would be fired," the principal said. The madrassa is under the management of Soghra Waqf Estate headed by Mohd Sharif who is ex-officio secretary of the madrassa. "I am bound to follow directives of Mohd Sharf," the principal said.
Mohd Sharf said he had given the directive keeping in view the safety of girls, but later withdrew it under pressure from guardians. He said he allowed girls to be admitted to the madrassa on the condition that they would come properly dressed. "We are in the process of making arrangements to teach girls separately," he said.
However, he remained tight-lipped when asked why no girl was admitted to the beginner-level 'wastania' despite his directive. Admission to higher classes is based on the performance in 'wastania'.
Sources said the girls already enrolled in higher classes at the madrassa would be allowed to appear in the examination but they would not be permitted to attend classes. The wakf estate is in the process of "phasing out girl education" in the madrassa, the sources said.
Bihar State Sunni Waqf Board's Nalanda district secretary and scholar Aftab Hasan Shams said refusing admission to girls is unacceptable even under the Sharia law. He cited 'Hadith' in which Prophet Muhammad has said it is compulsory for both men and women to receive education. Nowhere in 'Hadith' is it mentioned that women should not be taught by male teachers.
An eminent Muslim cleric Qazi Asghar also said Sharia does not bar women from being taught by male teachers.
Bihar State Madrassa Board chairman Maulana Mumtaz Alam said he would look into the matter. If need be, separate classes for girls would be made.
Nalanda district education officer Kumar Sahjanand said the madrassa is aided by the Bihar government and an inquiry would be conducted into the episode. Madrassa Azizia was established in 1910 by Bibi Soghra who created the Soghra Waqf Estate. Nowhere in her will did she say girls would not be taught in the madrassa. "Girls have been studying at the madrassa for long," Sahjanand said.
Madrassa principal Maulana Mohammed Mumtaz Ahmad said Soghra Waqf Estate mutawalli (head) Mohd Sharf gave him the directive not to admit girls to any class until women teachers are hired as girls being taught by men is against the Sharia law.
"Mohd Sharf even said if he found any girl on the madrassa campus, the principal would be fired," the principal said. The madrassa is under the management of Soghra Waqf Estate headed by Mohd Sharif who is ex-officio secretary of the madrassa. "I am bound to follow directives of Mohd Sharf," the principal said.
Mohd Sharf said he had given the directive keeping in view the safety of girls, but later withdrew it under pressure from guardians. He said he allowed girls to be admitted to the madrassa on the condition that they would come properly dressed. "We are in the process of making arrangements to teach girls separately," he said.
However, he remained tight-lipped when asked why no girl was admitted to the beginner-level 'wastania' despite his directive. Admission to higher classes is based on the performance in 'wastania'.
Sources said the girls already enrolled in higher classes at the madrassa would be allowed to appear in the examination but they would not be permitted to attend classes. The wakf estate is in the process of "phasing out girl education" in the madrassa, the sources said.
Bihar State Sunni Waqf Board's Nalanda district secretary and scholar Aftab Hasan Shams said refusing admission to girls is unacceptable even under the Sharia law. He cited 'Hadith' in which Prophet Muhammad has said it is compulsory for both men and women to receive education. Nowhere in 'Hadith' is it mentioned that women should not be taught by male teachers.
An eminent Muslim cleric Qazi Asghar also said Sharia does not bar women from being taught by male teachers.
Bihar State Madrassa Board chairman Maulana Mumtaz Alam said he would look into the matter. If need be, separate classes for girls would be made.
Nalanda district education officer Kumar Sahjanand said the madrassa is aided by the Bihar government and an inquiry would be conducted into the episode. Madrassa Azizia was established in 1910 by Bibi Soghra who created the Soghra Waqf Estate. Nowhere in her will did she say girls would not be taught in the madrassa. "Girls have been studying at the madrassa for long," Sahjanand said.
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