The Biggest Ignorance Of The Age - Maulana Sa'ad Kandhlawi (db)

The concept of Darul-uloom vs University and Uloom vs Funoon is lopsided and a product of a later day mindset inherited from Colonialism.

It is obvious that nothing can compare to the knowledge of Qur'aan and Sunnah (common sense) nevertheless the divide and discouragement (although subtle and implicit)  of other areas of knowledge is not found in earlier generations of Muslims (of India). The curricullum was comprehensive which enabled a student to chose higher study (Mufti, Qadhi etc) OR chose to be an Architect (of Taj Mahal).

The Architect of Taj Mahal and Mullah Nizami RA) [who postulated and organised the current Madarasah curriculum] came from the same Indian system of education and were School-mates (some say even class mates) and this in essence debunks all myths of the education demarcation. 

There is a superb discussion by Shaykh Salman Nadwi (HA) on this subject on youtube.

In short, our forefather were educated in both simulataneously and its a failure of education system which neglects one at the cost of other and if Darul-ulooms are no longer producing "(Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA)s" who knew Fiqh just as well as Logarithms (Maths of his time)" then the system is failing!

Our Islamic history and importantly the history of India is devoid of this discussion when it comes to education. 

We want to learn Shariah and Sciences together without making any distinction. 

The correct statement in this regards is in the Hadeeth about "beneficial knowledge" 

I don't want to get into a debate with you but try to look into the matter from a different perspective and I will try my best to explain.

1. It is an OBLIGATION to learn the aspects of Deen which are pertenient to one's life and there is no compromise on this at all. 
2. THEN seeking beneficial knowledge is what is required and the injunctions of this change from time to time. It may be necessary for someone to become a Surgeon in a particular situation while it may be necessary for someone to become a Mufti and it may be necessary for someone to become a Shaykh of Tassawuff (or acquire knowledge of Sulook as  trying to become a Shaykh isn't a praiseworthy intention)

You and (Hazrat Maulana (HA)) can chose to agree to disagree but this is Islamic history. Our institutes in history produced holistic individuals (boys and girls) who knew Shariah, poetry, sciences etc and then specialised in whatever they wanted which in case of India was Fiqh because to Govern this land Fuqaha were needed (this continues to this day) due to Dars-e-Nizami and our Ulamah are primarily Fuqaha and particularly versed in "Hanafi Fiqh".

What Shah Jahan did with him isn''t my point. My point was that an Engineer and a "Maulana" came from the same system of education. 

One of the most fundamental treatise on Indian Music is written by the father of Shah Waliullah (RA) and he wrote it because he was taught it and it isn't supercificial Fatwa on Music but in depth discussion on Indian Rags, their impact and then their rulings. 

Imam Sha'rani (RA) mentions "Cloning Humans" in a book of Tassawuff, how did he know about human cloning when he was a Sufi and a Shaf'ae Faqih? Ibn Hazm (RA) has written a Master-piece on love and Romance? How did he go there?

The last book of Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) Bawadirun-Nawadir is a Master-piece in "Modern day Social councilling" which can only come from someone who knew about the scieneces of his time. 

Not expecting you to agree with this, at all but knowledge in Islam is "beneficial vs non-beneficial" and in order for a Muslim to be able to make that call he/she needs to have good solid grounding! 

Jzk

No, Maulana is creating a divide which is alien to Islamic ethos and more akin to Medieval Christianity with the greatest respect and humility. He is entitled to his opinion but knowledge in Islam after obligations is merely "beneficial vs non-beneficial"

It is CRUCIAL in our times to refute Dr Osama Hasan and Richard Dawkins and every other sweet talking Modernist who uses sophistry and sciences and this requires an indepth knowledge of sciences and it is an OBLIGATION otherwise you will have thousands who will get affected.

As I said, I don't expect you to agree with this methodlogy or point of you at all but I do insist in line with Ulamah of Islam that under certain circumstances to become a Surgeon would be an OBLIGATION while becoming a Mufti would be RECOMMENDED and vice-versa and several permutations in-between.

I am a nobody but in my opinion there are two OBLIGATIONS on this Ummah right now:

1. Tableeghi Jamaat: To do groundwork Dawah on a MASSIVE SCALE! 
2. Ideological Dawah: To do massive refuation of those who want to create doubts in the hearts and minds of our Brothers and Sisters based on modern science and sophistry