By Shaikh Azizur Rahman, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Indian Muslim leaders are uniting with female students in opposition to a “fatwa” or Islamic edict demanding that Muslim girls stay away from academic institutions where boys are studying.
The order, issued by the influential theological school of Darul Uloom Deoband in northern India last week, said coeducation should be banned in schools, colleges, universities and even religious schools because it creates the potential for many evils.
But in an unprecedented display of solidarity, many Muslim leaders have joined with female students across India to oppose the edict, charging that it is detrimental to the real development of Muslim society.
“Right now, all across the country, Muslims are sending their children to study in schools and universities,” said Muslim community leader Akhtar Alvi, professor at Jamia Milia Islamia University in New Delhi. […]
Even some Muslim religious leaders have spoken out against the fatwa.
“Studying in a coeducation institution is not unlawful for boys and girls as long as they follow Islamic values and remain within its parameters,” said Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, a spokesman for the All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board [AIMPLB]. [more]
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The Islamic Workplace 
rashid7
December 21, 2007
Salaam,
The Conditions of Muslims in India is getting from bad to worst.
1) The main reason for this is lack of education.
2)Our ulema are stopping us from education . Well how ?
a) In Couple of Bangalore Mosque , I have heard our Maulvies saying in Friday sermon that our community is getting spoilt because Muslims are sending there children’s to school. So the Impact , my friend removed his children from prestigious convent school and has put them in Madrasa.
b)We are discouraged from joining companies like TCS, Infosys ,IBM , Accenture etc because these companies do US and Europe Projects.
c)When saddam is hanged our Ulemas force us to be on streets protesting because some local politician has asked them to do so. How many processions had Saddam taken out for worst conditions of Indian Muslims ?
d)In my life I have never come across a situation were Ulemas have taken out procession for Better roads, Better education and Better sanitation.
e)Only when elections are near by we see our Ulemas speaking about Government policies. And they go into hibernation till next elections.
f)We don’t have a single Tv channel dedicated for this community . When there was a conference in Bangalore to launch a TV channel for Muslims , Our Ulema said that watching TV is haram .So No Channel for Muslims? Well do other Muslim countries don’t have there own TV channels.
g)When a Hindu is born his parents dream that one day he would be a Doctor , Engineer or IAS officer . When Muslim is born in India his parents dream that one day he would become a Auto driver or Open his own Tea Stall or have a Road side Kabab stall.
h)I have hardly come across Muslim entrepreneurs , Educated Muslim Politicians or Educated Ulemas.
e)When Danish cartoon was published , our leaders gave a bounty of 51 cores , Hello can his money be used to provide better education for Muslims ……
Please remember 83% of muslims are below poverty line in India . Thanks to our Ulema .
Modern Education must start from walls of Darululoom-Deoband or Muslims will face much worst scenarios in days to come.