The War of Independence 1857 left the Muslims on the mercy of the British who treated them ruthlessly considering them the wholly and solely responsible for the unsuccessful War. The doors of education were closed to the Muslims and the employments were given to the other communities leaving the Muslims. According to William Hunter, who had been sent by the British Government to know the reasons of the unrest among Indians, the only seats reserved for the Muslims were koolies, messengers, and chowkidars.
It was the deliberate policy of the British to deprive the Muslims of education and job opportunities. They were backward only in the contemporary affairs and knowledge but in their own religion too. In such circumstances, there were some Muslims who took the responsibility of educating the Muslims. Maulana Mohammad Qasim Nanotavi was one of them who founded Darul Uloom Deoband in Utar Perdesh. He was accompanied by Haji Sayed Abid Hussain and Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi in founding it.
The major purpose of Darul Uloom Deoband was to Islamize the whole of India. Keepinf it in mind, the alumni of the Darul Uloom opposed the demand of the separate state by the Muslim League on the basis of religion. Maulana Mohammad Hussain Madni, the Sheikh-ul-Hadees, overtly opposed the new state of Pakistan. The pattern pf education at Darul Uloom had been derived from “Dars-e-Nizami”. The syllabus consisted of Shareea (the Islamic Law), Fiqh (the Islamic Jurisprudence), and Tasawwuf (the Islamic Mysticism). The disciples of Darul Uloom are present in Pakistan, india, Bangla Desh, and Afghanistan though they are present globally.
