Educating the c Ulama: Centres of Islamic religious training in Britain

Abstract

This paper brings together a diverse range of different sources to profile some of the centres of Islamic religious training in Britain. It distinguishes between dar ul-uloom (literally, ‘house of science’, or seminary) on the one hand, and Islamic ‘colleges’ on the other, the defining quality of the latter being their provision of undergraduate and postgraduate degree schemes which have currency in the world of British higher education. In relation to both types of institution, it explores their history and the nature of the curriculum (especially in Deobandi dar ul-uloom), and tries to offer some sense of the lifestyle. Drawing upon the findings of recent research, it also reports upon how interviewees representing a range of prominent British Muslim organizations view present arrangements for educating and training culama. The findings suggest that while Islamic ‘colleges’ have met many of the challenges of delivering religious training in contemporary Britain, in contrast many dar ul-uloom are at a critical and fascinating point of change.