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Madrasah Life: A Student's Day At Nadwat Al ʻulamāʼ
The notion that all modern madrasahs are terrorist factories is a falsehood based on ignorance. This book reveals the daily routine of one well-known madrasah in India and so lifts the veil on that ignorance. It is an account that academics, journalists, pundits and all those concerned with current events and issues should read. It demonstrates that students in a traditional madrasah are given grounding in religious life without any weakening of intellectual breadth and refinement. Above all, the students learn to tolerate and accept different arguments and points of view and to appreciate different human temperament.
Dr Muhammad Akram Al-Nadwi studied and taught Hadith and Fiqh at the prestigious Nadwat al-Ulama (India). He was also educated at the University of Lucknow and is the author and translator of over 25 books, written in Arabic, on Islamic Sciences and the Arabic Language. After teaching Islamic Sciences at Nadwat al-Ulama for six years, he joined the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in 1991 as a Research Fellow. The author is currently revising his recently completed 40-Volume biographical dictionary of the Muhaddithat, the women scholars of Hadith.
Dr Muhammad Akram Al-Nadwi studied and taught Hadith and Fiqh at the prestigious Nadwat al-Ulama (India). He was also educated at the University of Lucknow and is the author and translator of over 25 books, written in Arabic, on Islamic Sciences and the Arabic Language. After teaching Islamic Sciences at Nadwat al-Ulama for six years, he joined the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in 1991 as a Research Fellow. The author is currently revising his recently completed 40-Volume biographical dictionary of the Muhaddithat, the women scholars of Hadith.
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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April 27, 2025
Just some quick thoughts:
• The calibre of scholarship presented in these few short pages brings to mind the hadith of the prophet Mohammed peace be upon him who said the scholar amongst the worshippers is as the moon amongst the stars
• Our deen is in good hands and may Allah continue to bless us and benefit us from the hands of our scholars. Ameen.
• The detail with which conversations are recalled is astounding
• The love of Allah, worship, and the relationship with the book of Allah the Quran, is awe inspiring and enticing
• I need to sit at the feet of our scholars and benefit from them
وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "من سلك طريقًا يبتغي فيه علمًا سهل الله له طريقًا إلى الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما صنع، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات والأرض حتى الحيتان في الماء، وفضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارًا ولا درهما وإنما ورثوا العلم. فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي)).
Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].
Riyad as-Salihin 1388
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1388
• The calibre of scholarship presented in these few short pages brings to mind the hadith of the prophet Mohammed peace be upon him who said the scholar amongst the worshippers is as the moon amongst the stars
• Our deen is in good hands and may Allah continue to bless us and benefit us from the hands of our scholars. Ameen.
• The detail with which conversations are recalled is astounding
• The love of Allah, worship, and the relationship with the book of Allah the Quran, is awe inspiring and enticing
• I need to sit at the feet of our scholars and benefit from them
وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "من سلك طريقًا يبتغي فيه علمًا سهل الله له طريقًا إلى الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما صنع، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات والأرض حتى الحيتان في الماء، وفضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارًا ولا درهما وإنما ورثوا العلم. فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي)).
Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].
Riyad as-Salihin 1388
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1388
October 2, 2023
Membaca buku Dr. Akram Nadwi mengenai kehidupan sehariannya sebagai pelajar di Nadwah al-Ulama’, India benar-benar membangkitkan semula semangat belajar dan menerbitkan semula memori-memori bermakna sewaktu menuntut ilmu di Pondok Bait al-Qurra Melaka, Daurah Ramadan selama sebulan di Dar al-Mustafa Yaman dan saat duduk berjam-jam talaqqi setiap minggu di puluhan madrasah sekitar Kaherah selama enam tahun setengah dahulu. Tidak hairanlah, Dr. Akram ada menukilkan kisah seorang ilmuwan yang sanggup menetap lama di Nadwah al-Ulama‘ ini dan meninggalkan kemewahan dan kesenangan yang boleh dimiliki jika berpindah ke bandar dek kerana sukarnya untuk mendapat bi’ah keilmuan dan kerohanian seperti di Nadwah al-Ulama‘ itu.
Dalam buku ini, Dr. Akram Nadwi menceritakan rutin harian pelajar di Nadwah al-Ulama dari waktu bangun tidur untuk bertahajjud sehinggalah lewat malam untuk ber-“munaqasyah” mengenai pelbagai disiplin ilmu baik aqidah, fiqh, hadis, tasawwuf sehinggalah kepada sirah, bahasa dan kesusasteraan terutamanya puisi-puisi Urdu. Di sini, Dr. Akram membahaskan serba sedikit mengenai pelbagai kitab agung dalam tamadun Islam seperti al-Shifa’ oleh Ibn Sina, Hujjatullah al-Balighah oleh al-Dihlawi, Ihya‘ Ulum al-Din oleh al-Ghazali, Al-Radd ‘ala al-Mantiqiyyin oleh Ibn Taimiyyah, al-Kashshaf oleh al-Zamakhshari, I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in oleh Ibn Qayyim, al-Muwafaqat oleh al-Syatibi, Maza Khasira al-‘Alam oleh al-Nadwi, al-Ayyam oleh Taha Hussein, Hayati oleh Ahmad Amin dan puluhan lagi kitab-kitab agung lain termasuklah oleh Rumi, Hafiz dan Iqbal.
Rujukan dan analisis terhadap penulisan E.G. Browne dan Jean-Paul Sartre menambahkan lagi rencah wacana dalam travelog beliau ini. Bagi yang pernah menelaah kitab al-Buldaniyyat oleh Syeikh Usamah al-Azhari, pasti akan mengetahui ketinggian ilmu Dr. Akram Nadwi apabila Syeikh Usamah sanggup mengembara ke United Kingdom untuk berguru dengannya dek kerana sanad Dr. Akram yang diperoleh terus daripada gurunya Maulana Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Nadwi.
Antara keistimewaan suasana di Nadwah al-Ulama’ menurut Dr. Akram ialah suasana keilmuan, berbahas dan berbeza pendapat yang sihat. Tidak wujud unsur-unsur dengki dan iri hati pada diri penuntut ilmu di sana baik sewaktu ber-“munaqasyah” mahupun melakukan kajian.
Sewaktu menguliti buku ini juga, pembaca dapat mengetahui bahawa metodologi pembelajaran yang digunakan oleh Dr. Akram adalah sama dengan metodologi pembelajaran klasik dalam tamadun keilmuan Islam iaitu menamatkan pembacaan satu kitab dan disiplin sebelum berpindah kepada kitab dan bidang ilmu yang lain. Metodologi ini juga digunakan oleh Imam al-Ghazali seperti yang dinukilkan dengan penuh makna dalam rihlah keilmuan beliau – al-Munqiz min al-Dhalal.
Pada penghujung buku ini, Dr. Akram menjentik tangkai hati pembaca apabila menukilkan bait puisi Urdu,
“How long you will read the philosophy of the Greeks?
Read also the wisdom of the believers.”
Dalam buku ini, Dr. Akram Nadwi menceritakan rutin harian pelajar di Nadwah al-Ulama dari waktu bangun tidur untuk bertahajjud sehinggalah lewat malam untuk ber-“munaqasyah” mengenai pelbagai disiplin ilmu baik aqidah, fiqh, hadis, tasawwuf sehinggalah kepada sirah, bahasa dan kesusasteraan terutamanya puisi-puisi Urdu. Di sini, Dr. Akram membahaskan serba sedikit mengenai pelbagai kitab agung dalam tamadun Islam seperti al-Shifa’ oleh Ibn Sina, Hujjatullah al-Balighah oleh al-Dihlawi, Ihya‘ Ulum al-Din oleh al-Ghazali, Al-Radd ‘ala al-Mantiqiyyin oleh Ibn Taimiyyah, al-Kashshaf oleh al-Zamakhshari, I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in oleh Ibn Qayyim, al-Muwafaqat oleh al-Syatibi, Maza Khasira al-‘Alam oleh al-Nadwi, al-Ayyam oleh Taha Hussein, Hayati oleh Ahmad Amin dan puluhan lagi kitab-kitab agung lain termasuklah oleh Rumi, Hafiz dan Iqbal.
Rujukan dan analisis terhadap penulisan E.G. Browne dan Jean-Paul Sartre menambahkan lagi rencah wacana dalam travelog beliau ini. Bagi yang pernah menelaah kitab al-Buldaniyyat oleh Syeikh Usamah al-Azhari, pasti akan mengetahui ketinggian ilmu Dr. Akram Nadwi apabila Syeikh Usamah sanggup mengembara ke United Kingdom untuk berguru dengannya dek kerana sanad Dr. Akram yang diperoleh terus daripada gurunya Maulana Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Nadwi.
Antara keistimewaan suasana di Nadwah al-Ulama’ menurut Dr. Akram ialah suasana keilmuan, berbahas dan berbeza pendapat yang sihat. Tidak wujud unsur-unsur dengki dan iri hati pada diri penuntut ilmu di sana baik sewaktu ber-“munaqasyah” mahupun melakukan kajian.
Sewaktu menguliti buku ini juga, pembaca dapat mengetahui bahawa metodologi pembelajaran yang digunakan oleh Dr. Akram adalah sama dengan metodologi pembelajaran klasik dalam tamadun keilmuan Islam iaitu menamatkan pembacaan satu kitab dan disiplin sebelum berpindah kepada kitab dan bidang ilmu yang lain. Metodologi ini juga digunakan oleh Imam al-Ghazali seperti yang dinukilkan dengan penuh makna dalam rihlah keilmuan beliau – al-Munqiz min al-Dhalal.
Pada penghujung buku ini, Dr. Akram menjentik tangkai hati pembaca apabila menukilkan bait puisi Urdu,
“How long you will read the philosophy of the Greeks?
Read also the wisdom of the believers.”
February 7, 2020
Alhamdulillah segala puji bagi Allah yang telah memberikan saya tawfiq untuk menghabiskan satu lagi bacaan saya pada bulan yang mulia ini. Buku ini bertajuk: Madrasah Life; A student's day at Nadwat al-'Ulama (Kehidupan Madrasah; [Aktiviti] seharian seorang pelajar Nadwat al-'Ulama).
Asalnya buku ini ditulis dalam bahasa Urdu oleh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, tajuknya: Nadwe kā Ek Din. Kemudian diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Inggeris oleh Prof. Abdul Rahim Qidawi daripada Aligarh Muslim University, India.
Buku ini menceritakan tentang kehidupan seharian penulis ini sendiri. Pengalaman peribadi beliau sendiri di Nadwat al-'Ulama. Bila dia bangun tidur, kemudian aktiviti-aktiviti beliau, kemudian kehidupan di kelas-kelas pengajian beliau dan banyak lagi cerita beliau diceritakan dengan sangat terperinci.
Tujuan beliau menulis buku ini adalah untuk memberikan gambaran kepada "westeners" tentang kehidupan sebenar pelajar-pelajar madrasah. Hal ini kerana ramai "the westeners" mengatakan bahawa madrasah ini merupakan "manufacturing plant" untuk pengganas-pengganas Islam.
Seronok baca buku ini. Saya pun dapatlah juga serba sedikit gambaran tentang kehidupan di Nadwat al-'Ulama Lucknow.
Semoga bermanfaat.
Asalnya buku ini ditulis dalam bahasa Urdu oleh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, tajuknya: Nadwe kā Ek Din. Kemudian diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Inggeris oleh Prof. Abdul Rahim Qidawi daripada Aligarh Muslim University, India.
Buku ini menceritakan tentang kehidupan seharian penulis ini sendiri. Pengalaman peribadi beliau sendiri di Nadwat al-'Ulama. Bila dia bangun tidur, kemudian aktiviti-aktiviti beliau, kemudian kehidupan di kelas-kelas pengajian beliau dan banyak lagi cerita beliau diceritakan dengan sangat terperinci.
Tujuan beliau menulis buku ini adalah untuk memberikan gambaran kepada "westeners" tentang kehidupan sebenar pelajar-pelajar madrasah. Hal ini kerana ramai "the westeners" mengatakan bahawa madrasah ini merupakan "manufacturing plant" untuk pengganas-pengganas Islam.
Seronok baca buku ini. Saya pun dapatlah juga serba sedikit gambaran tentang kehidupan di Nadwat al-'Ulama Lucknow.
Semoga bermanfaat.
July 13, 2023
It was a nice book that accomplished its goal, and described one of the days in the life of the author as a student in Darul Uloom Nadwa. I enjoyed the introduction and his beautiful description of his morning as a student. I also loved how he explored and explained many of the discussions that students had in regards to contentious Islamic topics, such as our approach to pure logic and rationality, adherence to different schools of Fiqh and Aqidah, and certain Islamic luminaries.
My only criticism is the heavy amount of Urdu poetry and couplets that appeared throughout the piece. I do understand that he was doing justice to his Madrasah which exalted prose and poetry, and he was illustrating how important Indian/Pakistani literature was in his daily life. Maybe it would have had a bigger impact on me if I understood Urdu, but the English translations of the pieces were lacking.
My only criticism is the heavy amount of Urdu poetry and couplets that appeared throughout the piece. I do understand that he was doing justice to his Madrasah which exalted prose and poetry, and he was illustrating how important Indian/Pakistani literature was in his daily life. Maybe it would have had a bigger impact on me if I understood Urdu, but the English translations of the pieces were lacking.
August 22, 2025
absolute love
February 8, 2008
Having studied at the Nadwa for years, it felt like my precious moments had come back to life. Oh those years of pain, joy and suspense! Everyday, would enravel another mystry and life although tough and a struggle, became inspiring.
Much of the information about teachers is no longer relavant. Many of the teachers the author introduces as teachers of grammer and literature have moved on to teach other subjects. It was funny to see how the key figures of tafseer and hadeeth had so little in those days to do with the subjects they were to teach in.
One aspect which I felt needed more representation was the humour which Nadwa is famous for. I felt the book presented Nadwa on too serious terms. Life at Nadwa is much more fun and students and teachers alike are much more humorous. Although intellectual disscussions flourish everywhere, they are full of humour and laughter. Even the Hadith classes are packed with jokes. I was discussing with some of my friends how we could manage to collect and compose 'a night on Nadwa' to juxtapose 'a day in Nadwa'!! They agreed with my observation.
Much of the information about teachers is no longer relavant. Many of the teachers the author introduces as teachers of grammer and literature have moved on to teach other subjects. It was funny to see how the key figures of tafseer and hadeeth had so little in those days to do with the subjects they were to teach in.
One aspect which I felt needed more representation was the humour which Nadwa is famous for. I felt the book presented Nadwa on too serious terms. Life at Nadwa is much more fun and students and teachers alike are much more humorous. Although intellectual disscussions flourish everywhere, they are full of humour and laughter. Even the Hadith classes are packed with jokes. I was discussing with some of my friends how we could manage to collect and compose 'a night on Nadwa' to juxtapose 'a day in Nadwa'!! They agreed with my observation.
April 15, 2013
A very useful account of a day in the life of a madrassa student in Lucknow. The book is a translation from the Urdu. I wonder how many other such accounts exist in Pashto, Urdu and Dari/Farsi. Certainly, there are very few in English.
The description of a normal day of study is more or less what I had expected to read, although it offers a useful corrective to those who argue (without evidence/basis) that madrassas are all about rote memorisation. Actually, the programme described in this book was far more intensive that you would probably think. Certainly, it's not just something that you can show up and pass without study. The students in this book are discussing Islam, or issues related to their study and religious life more or less throughout the entire day.
I was glad the author left in the moments of down time, when they watch a football match, for example, or when they are eating *halwa* with some other students.
The text is a bit dense, and at times it can be hard to follow all the names and references being mentioned, but it's not insurmountable, and the text is intelligible without grasping the intricacies of the arguments they're having.
The description of a normal day of study is more or less what I had expected to read, although it offers a useful corrective to those who argue (without evidence/basis) that madrassas are all about rote memorisation. Actually, the programme described in this book was far more intensive that you would probably think. Certainly, it's not just something that you can show up and pass without study. The students in this book are discussing Islam, or issues related to their study and religious life more or less throughout the entire day.
I was glad the author left in the moments of down time, when they watch a football match, for example, or when they are eating *halwa* with some other students.
The text is a bit dense, and at times it can be hard to follow all the names and references being mentioned, but it's not insurmountable, and the text is intelligible without grasping the intricacies of the arguments they're having.
January 9, 2008
memories
March 4, 2008
As interesting and ghibtah-provoking this book was, it contains too much (persian and urdu) poetry for the average reader like myself.
January 29, 2013
Only good think I like about book was the urdu couplets... Rest was just...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews