Introduction:
The proliferation of
madrassahs or Islamist schools in much of the Muslim World has been
noted with particular consternation following the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001. The perceived linkage between radical Islamic
education and militant behavior against Western interests, has
led development agencies and governments to focus their resources
on educational reform.
However, there is scant empirical research
grounded in rigorous social science on the socio-environmental roots of
this phenomenon and its consequences. While the topic has received
widespread media coverage and has been discussed within the broader
context of radical Islamization, the research has generally been
predicated on observational accounts and anecdotes, that range from
strongly positive to vehemently negative. Akbar S. Ahmad regards
madrassahs to be a “cheaper, more accessible and more Islamic
alternative to education.”
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1)
To document the demographic characteristics of areas
where madrassahs are prevalent using geographic information systems
thereby providing some context to the rise of this phenomenon.
2)
Use the data gathered to address the following
research question: what are the linkages between madrassahs and
regional conflict, based on the recruitment and “career” placement
dynamics of madrassah graduates?
3)
Inform the public debate in Muslim and non-Muslim
countries on educational reform initiatives based on a systematic,
rather than a symptomatic, understanding of the phenomenon.
In addition, our project will also try to
propose educational reform in madrassahs, with special reference to a
curriculum on Islamic perspectives on environmental conservation.
The ultimate aim of this study, as well as
related projects by the principal investigator and his colleagues, is
to prevent the escalation of existing regional conflicts as well as the
perceived conflict between Islam and the West.
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Definitions
The word “madrassah” means “center of
learning” in Arabic (the Arabic plural form is “madaariss”, but for the
sake of clarity we will use the English equivalent plural form
“madrassashs” in this proposal). Madrassahs provide free
religious education, boarding and lodging and are essentially schools
for the poor. A madrassah student learns how to read, memorize and
recite the Quran properly. Madrassahs issue certificates of various
levels. A madrassah systems university is called Dar Ul Ulum ,
(usually having hundreds of students) a primary school a Maktab ,
(up to fifty students) and an integrated school with various levels is
simply called a Madrassah. The graduating students are called Huffaz-e-Quran
(those who memorize the Arabic text of the Quran) or Qaris
(those who can recite Quranic verses with proper Arabic pronunciation);
or those with advanced theological training are known as Ulema (Religious
Scholar).
All madrassahs provide free education and
also offer free boarding and lodging to students who come mainly from
the poorer strata of society and not necessarily from the communities
they are based in. Some rich and middle class families also send their
children to madrassahs for Quranic lessons and memorization where they
are usually day students.
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