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Yoginder Sikand

Interview: Nasr Abu Zayd On A Humanistic Reading Of The Islamic Tradition

Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd is a well-known Egyptian Islamic scholar. Controversies about his academic work led to a court decision of apostasy and the denial of the appointment. A hisbah trial started against him Islamist groups and he was declared a heretic (Murtadd) by an Egyptian court.

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Mewat Madrasas Reforming Themselves To Cater To Modern Needs

by Yoginder Sikand

The winds of change blowing across Mewat have not left even traditional madrasas unaffected. Many of these have now included a basic course in ‘modern’ subjects while continuing to focus mainly on traditional Islamic learning. In addition to the core religious or traditional subjects, students at the madrasa now also learn basic English, Hindi and Mathematics, besides practical skills such as tailoring, embroidery, cooking and first-aid.

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Mewat Witnessing A Great Educational Revolution

by Yoginder Sikand

Despite its proximity to Delhi, Gurgaon and Jaipur, Mewat is one of the most impoverished regions in northern India. Lack of education in Meos was wide spread but now young Meos are striving for ‘modern’ education. Dozens of ‘modern’ schools run by Meos have mushroomed all over Mewat. Increasing number of girls are enrolling in these and in government-run schools and many ulema are on the forefront of promoting ‘modern’, in addition to religious education among the Meos.

Islamic Perspectives Of Inter-Community Relations

by Yoginder Sikand

Islam teaches that all human beings, irrespective of community or race, are children of the same set of primal parents, and, so, are bound together by their common humanity. This basic Islamic teaching stresses the need for consciousness of our common humanity and of us being brothers unto each other.

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Al Jamia Al Islamiya: A Madrasa With a Difference

by Yoginder Sikand

Located at Santhapuram, a township in the Mallapuram district some eighty kilometers from Calicut, the Jamia al-Islamiya is one of the largest Islamic seminaries in Kerala. Established in 1955 by activists associated with the Kerala unit of the Jamaat-e Islami, and considerably expanded since then, the Jamia offers a wide range of courses and seeks to combine Islamic and modern subjects

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Madrasa Reforms And Inter-Faith Dialogue

by Yoginder Sikand

Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani speaks to Yoginder Sikand on Madrasa reforms, incorporation of English and Science in Madrasa curriculum and role played be Madrasas in interfaith dialogue .

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