Madrasa a blessing, say students
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, May 29
Muneer Ahmad (11) has a modest wish i.e. to memorise all 6,666 verses and 30 chapters of Quran. It needs a tremendous effort. He has already memorised around 15 chapters. He hopes to complete this mental feat in a year.

After that he wants to learn jurisprudence and become a moulvi, which can enable him to live “life in accordance with Islamic principles and also earn him dignified livelihood”.

Muneer is one among the 12 resident students of Madrasa Azizia Madinatul Islam in a small township, Seri Chauhana, near Surankote. He says his parents were very poor and hence, they sent him to the madrasa. Another 150 local children come to the madrasa in the morning to learn Quran.

Young Muneer and his fellow schoolmates are,however, aware of the generalised perception about madrasas (religious schools) being the breeding ground of fundamentalism, and lately, of terror.

"We have been here for the past more than a year and no one ever asked us to join jihad,” says Muneer, adding, “We just know one thing that Islam teaches peace”.

According to Abdul Rasheed, muhtamim (organiser) of the madrasa, these religious schools run on the funds donated by local people. “I am yet to come across a case where someone studying in the madrasa has been charged with spreading violence,” he says.

The local residents say the madrasa is a blessing, as their children get to learn Quran and Islamic teachings.

"The allegations that madrasas are preaching jihad are baseless. There is a deep-rooted conspiracy against these religious schools. My son Muneer is memorising Quran. It gives me pleasure and respect in society. Besides, the madrasa is taking care of him," says Muhammad Shakeel.

The local police says there are around 12 such madrasas in this frontier disrict and the police through its various intelligence agencies keeps a tab on these schools.

A senior police officer says the police has not received any report about madrasas teaching anything wrong to the students. "We are keeping a vigil on them," he adds.