Page 19 - Pakistan Link -June 7, 2024

COMMENTARY PAKISTAN LINK - JUNE 7, 2024 - P19

Qarawiyyin was about eighty thousand the “learned city.” Morocco under the leadership of King He also encouraged the press to con- perialism and its puppets.”
Dinars, equal to one million and sixty Describing the system of teaching and Mohammad V recovered its sovereignty tinue its efforts.” The author concludes the book by
thousand Dirhams, Moroccan present certificates during the second period, and began to construct its independence The author, reflecting on challenges describing the rising of Qurrawiyyin
currency [1960]. This is to let one un- the author notes: “…the master-disciple on strong wise bases.” Al-Qarawiyyin faced during the period University after the independence: “As
derstand the fertile source designated at system of teaching was employed, which Expounding on the foundation of of resistance, states: ”At the end of the the Moroccan Kingdom recovered its
that time for al-Qarawiyyin and its men was traditional in the East: students used the educational system at al-Qarawiy- 18th century, the men of al-Qarawiyy- sovereignty, old Qarawiyyin University
so that they were able to fulfill their mis- to sit around the professor in circles, one yin during the third period, the author in were subject of a furious campaign and Morocco opened their eyes after
sion perfectly.” circle after the other, so that sometimes notes: “Al-Qarawiyyin university contin- directed against them by some foreign independence to find themselves before
Explaining the role of the director of there were as many as twenty circles. ued its traditional teaching and systems. writers who came to Morocco within a generation of different preparation:
the university, the author notes: “In gen- From time to time some Ulemas would The professors used to choose the books private missions. They qualified the Some ones’ culture is Arab Islamic,
eral, the Qadi of Fas has had the direc- sit among the students in order to follow they liked and studies they wanted. The former as “opposers of development” while others’ is foreign. Facing this fact,
tion of the university under his control. certain points of view. One lesson may first king who laid down new regulations and denounced their knowledge and the Royal Committee, found in 1957
He appoints the professors, the prayer last from sunrise to midday. The morn- for al-Qarawiyyin was Sultan Moham- abilities. But those who know the sta- that the ideal solution is to unify the
leaders and supervises the construction ing lesson almost always concerned itself mad III. It was 1123 [AH] (1789 [AD]) tus of al-Qarawiyyin and its influence educational programs of all schools, in-
and repair work, not to mention manag- with religious jurisprudence while the that he issued a law ordering the Shaikh among the authorities and the people cluding the different stages of education
ing the budget. The Qadis Ben Maecha afternoon lesson would be reserved for of al-Qarawiyyin to define the subjects at that period can easily understand the in religious institutes. Moreover, H.M.
and Abdullah Ben Daoud were among other subjects. In the summer, a slightly of teaching in this university as well as secret of the said writers’ aim.” the King has remitted to the Ministry of
the most famous.” different arrangement was followed: the the books to be used. History books re- Describing further the period of re- Education the keys of a large fortress to
Describing Pope Sylvester’s relation- school was changed into an evening fer that the king took this decision after a sistance, the author observes: “As the be a university quarter for al-Qarawi-
ship with al-Qarawiyyin, the author school, on account of the heat. Lessons consultation with many Ulema, some of protectorate spread its influence over yyin instead of the old traditional one.
observes: “Nowadays students go from began after the sunset prayer and lasted whom were from Egypt.” Morocco, it tried to be sure of what is Later on, a Supreme Council of Educa-
Morocco to Europe for education; but until midnight. Summer vacations of 40 Reflecting further on the state and going on inside the Qarawiyyin, in the tion has been created; this council took
in the medieval times many Europeans days, Thursdays and Fridays, and the status of al-Qarawiyyin — viz a viz “criminal city,” as it was described by decisive steps in 1960. Thus all efforts
used to go to Cordoba or elsewhere in month of Ramadan broke the monotony One Hundred Chairs And Twenty Li- General Moinier, especially inasmuch that have been made to realize the said
Muslim Spain; and since in those days of schoolwork. But even during these in- braries — during the third period, the as Moulay Yusouf expressed his desire unification were achieved in the first
it was not difficult to go from Cordoba tervals of rest, studies such as literature author observes: “At that period, differ- that teaching should be developed. The stage, which is considered as the bases
to Morocco, or vice versa, since they and biographies were given.” ent sources affirm that there were one protectorate attempted to impose its of other different branches. Then comes
belonged to the same culture, many for- Reflecting on the Third Period hundred professor chairs in Fas, dis- supervision on al-Qarawiyyin; thus for the secondary stage which may bring
eign students came to Al-Qarawiyyin. (1076-1360 AH/1665-1960 AD) — viz tributed on the two hundred fifty sec- the first time in history, the administra- the student to either college Islamic
Among them was Gerbert d’Aurillac a viz a historical review of the Alawid tions of al-Qarawiyyin, that existed in tion of this university was removed from Law or literature, or to other colleges
who later on became Pope Silvester II, as kings — the author states: “The Alawids every corner and street of the city. That the control of the Qadi, and a “Council” which are going to be adopted by the
Christovitch said.” were the only capable to restore calm- is in addition to one hundred and six was set up in the presence of Mr Mercier rising Qarawiyyin University, which
Discussing the Second Period (648- ness in Morocco, following their appear- primary schools, some of which were and Captain Meili, on Thursday Jamada will undoubtedly reflect the glory of
1076 AH/1250-1665 AD) — viz a viz ance in Sijilmassa. Their grandfather Ali designated for girl students. Out of Tania, 1332 (May 17, 1914). In 1932, a eleven centuries. That is to say from the
a historical review of Marinids, Outa- al-Cherif was in full connection with the these chairs, twenty were in al-Qarawi- legislation was issued defining the peri- time of Idrisids. Such is al-Qarawiyyin;
sids, and Sa’dids — the author notes: Ulema of Fas. The first sovereign, Mou- yyin itself. The system of promotion for ods of teaching into three: Elementary, every Moroccan citizen must be proud
“Mouahhids could not resist before lay Rashid, took possession of the north these chairs was in a way similar to the secondary, and high including two sec- of it and must not forget this name
the pressure of the Marinids who took of Morocco. His successor on the throne, means followed in modern institutes. tions of specialization in religion and which had been engraved in the moun-
charge of Fas, where they established the Moulay Ismail, who reigned for 55 years That is to say: when a chair is vacant literature. Progress of al-Qarawiyyin was tains, the desert, in town and village.
‘White City’ their court. As the Mari- (1672-1727), managed to give Morocco another professor has to be promoted not only impossible but also undesirable, This name, which has fought against
nids’ policy was to refer to Imam Malik’s a period of stability such as had never after the Qadi’s approval. Each chair and as the first protest against the “Ber- ignorance and confusion everywhere,
creed and books, since the beginning known before. He made the Spaniards has had its own professor, its private ber policy” rose in the Qarawiyyin, the must remain in our glorious tradition.”
they constructed board schools which relinquish Mahdia and Larache. Upon book and its own Habous [endow- students were subject to pressure, and Al-Qarawiyyin University’s web-
enabled them to control education, and his death, the country returned to an- ment/waqf]. Moreover, all these insti- young Ulema were prevented in 1932 site http://uaq.ma/index.php/forward-
at the same time to solve the problem archy for a while. His son Moulay Ab- tutes have had libraries full of manu- from the promotion to the chairs of al- president-of-al-quaraouyine-university
of housing for the students who used to dallah was constantly in the center of scripts for the students’ use…A general Qarawiyyin. The students understood presents current curricula and activities,
come in larger numbers to Fas…And difficulties surrounding possession of tendency towards reform of the pro- that the situation was going from bad to listed mostly in Arabic. Considering the
despite wars in Spain, the Marinids con- the throne. It was with Moulay Sliman gram of teaching was in evidence in worse, in 1937 they went on strike and in historic importance of Al-Qarawiyyin,
tinued constructing institutes, schools, (1792-1822) that the dynasty began to 1261 AH (1885) as Sultan Abd ar-Rah- 1942, King Mohammad V could acquire international collaboration with aca-
and mosques everywhere so that the stabilize itself. He was himself a graduate man Ben Hisham sent a Dahir to the an agreement to appoint a graduate of demic institutions in the Muslim world
capital became the place of almost all of the Qarawaiyyin…The next Sultan, Shaikh of al-Qarawiyyin and Qadi of the Sorbonne and old student of the can enhance the curricula offerings, and
intellectual persons. It was the turn of Moulay Abd ar-Rahman Ben Hisham Fas, criticizing the system of teaching Qarawiyyin as director of the Univer- incorporation of online and new teach-
Abou Inan who left important cultural (1822-1859), saw the invasion of Algeria and the useless means followed in this sity of Fas. The High Council under the ing methodologies can promote teach-
traces in addition to several schools. by the French and was defeated at the field, requesting the professors to re- presidency of H.M. King Mohammad V ing, learning, and research in various
Then came Abou Faris for whom the battle of Isly (1844). His son Moulay Mo- form the program and means of teach- began to pay attention to Islamic insti- disciplines greatly benefiting local and
history of Ibn Kholdoun was written. At hammad who recognized that the sub- ing…Sultan Mohammad IV thought tutes and education, so that the people global students.
the latest days of the Marinid dynasty, jects studied in al-Qarawiyyin became of sending groups of students to the expected a further rise for al-Qarawiy- In Eleven Centuries in the University
the mayors of the Palace captured power no more sufficient. Later on, Moulay al- East and Europe to assimilate whatever yin. The claim for independence of the of Al-Qarawiyyin, Abd al-Hadi At-Tazi
in their hands and some clashes oc- Hassan agreed with his father’s opinion learning that region had to teach. It was country in 1944 was sufficient to send has chronicled the history of Al-Qa-
curred among them, while Andalus was and approved certain regulations which then that a “stone press” appeared for the students of al-Qarawiyyin to pris- rawiyyin, the world’s oldest university
breathing the last ghost, and migration he believed were necessary to enable the first time in Fas. It greatly influ- ons. Events went on... a new institute for — evolution from a Mosque to a Mod-
continued from there to Morocco. Later the Qarawiyyin to preserve its entity. enced the progress of culture and the girls was added to al-Qarawiyyin at this ern University — spanned over the past
on occurred the catastrophe of 818 AH Soon he died, and upon the beginning spread of knowledge among the Ulema period, yet all attempts for reformation eleven centuries. It is a historical docu-
(1415-1416) as Ceuta fell into the hands of 1331 (1912) French protectorate was and students of al-Qarawiyyin. Moulay in 1947 were in vain. It was 1951 when ment — a must-read for all students and
of the Portuguese. Facing such a situa- imposed on Morocco, and the capital al-Hassan followed the steps of his fa- General Juin found a suitable occasion teachers of history and Islamic studies.
tion, all Moroccans’ efforts were mobi- was transferred from Fas to Rabat. After ther as he sent missions of students to to take revenge from the Qarawiyyin, (Dr Ahmed S. Khan - dr.a.s.khan@
lized to drive the Portuguese away from bloody days and forty years of struggle, Egypt and different European nations. which he considered an opposer of im- ieee.org - is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar)

n By Zahirah Lynn Eppard the fact that there were no Spanish books for
Chicago, IL Hablamos Islam, We Speak Islam children about Islam anywhere, not even in Spain
(an unfortunate fact that speaks to the successful
nd We sent not a Messenger except with annihilation of the culture and religion of Islam
the language of his people, in order that Founders Wendy Díaz and Hernan Guadalupe following the Spanish inquisition).
Ahe might make (the Message) clear for were actively translating Khutbas (Friday ser- Rather than accept the lack of resources, the
them… (Qur’an, 14:4) mons), Fatwas (Islamic rulings), and Islamic lec- couple
In 2009, only one percent of Muslims iden- tures into Spanish even before they were married.
tified as Hispanic. By 2018, that number had When their family grew, they vowed to raise their worked to fill the void. Hablamos Islam began
reached seven percent, according to the Institute children bilingual. Díaz is from Puerto Rico and producing educational audio and video lectures in
for Social Policy and Understanding’s annual Guadalupe from Ecuador. Both have members of Spanish; organizing bilingual educational events
report “American Muslim Poll: Predicting and their extended families who only speak Spanish and seminars about Islam; creating children’s
Preventing Islamophobia. “That’s a 700 percent and “there would be no way that our kids can’t programming in Spanish such as their popular
growth in less than 10 years, and no other group communicate with their relatives.” To this day, puppet show “Hablamos Islam con Ahmed” (We
has grown at this rate,” reported Dalia Mogahed, Since 2005, Hablamos Islam, Inc., (formerly the Spanish is the language spoken in their home. Speak Islam with Ahmed), and publishing and
ISPU’s Director of Research. PrimeXample Company) has made it a priority As their children grew, they searched for distributing bilingual Islamic children’s books.
Islamic outreach and education for the Latino/ to educate Spanish-speakers and their families Spanish-language books that also focused atten- As the demand and work grew, more family
Hispanic population both in the United States about Islam and Muslims. It was a labor of love tion on Islam. The search came up empty in the members got involved. Guadalupe’s brother, then
and Latin America is of paramount importance. back then, and a family affair. United States. But what was mind-blowing was (Continued on page 23)
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