Darul Uloom fatwa against co-ed

Darul Uloom-Deoband, one of the oldest and prestigious Islamic seminaries in the world, has said in a fatwa issued this week that the co-education system

Darul Uloom-Deoband, one of the oldest and prestigious Islamic seminaries in the world, has said in a fatwa issued this week that the co-education system is 8220;unlawful8221; as such an arrangement in colleges and universities spawn a 8220;number of evils8221;.

The fatwa 202/L was issued by the Darul Ifta, the wing of the institution which declares fatwas, on July 1.

By the madrasa8217;s own admission, Darul Ifta is one of the most significant departments of Darul Uloom Deoband, which answers queries involving matters of social and religious importance from all over the world.

The latest fatwa answered a question which went: 8220;Is it permitted for girls to go to co-educational schools after they reach puberty?8221;

The fatwa, to begin with, said 8220;it was unlawful for women to meet mahram men without a hijab or mix with them8221;. Anyone whom a Muslim is not allowed to get married to from the opposite sex who has reached puberty is considered a mahram. The second part of the same fatwa went against the 8220;deeni classes8221; where 8220;grown-up8221; boys and girls attend the same madrasas. 8220;Such deeni classes, where boys and girls are taught together, are un-Islamic and attending such classes is not allowed8221;. The second part of the fatwa answered the question: 8220;Is it permitted to go to deeni classes if boys and girls are taught together?8221;

When contacted, Vice-Chancellor Maulana Margoobur Rahman said the opinions or fatwas of the Darul Ifta were always from 8220;competent authorities8221; and explained issues in an Islamic context.

Kamal Faruqui, permanent member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board seemed to agree. 8220;Islam doesn8217;t allow co-education,8221; he said. 8220;If there are no separate educational institutions, it8217;s better to send children to such institutions rather than not sending them anywhere,8221; he added.

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8220;This opinion is taking things a bit far. Of course, Islam doesn8217;t allow co-educational institutions. But we do have such institutions in Islamic countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia,8221; said Q R Ilyasi, spokesperson of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board.