The foundations of Islamic seminaries are rooted in the bright, radiant, and golden pages of history, written centuries ago with the ink of sincerity, devotion, knowledge, and spirituality. These are the magnificent institutions that, with great wisdom, insight, and steadfastness, have confronted the trials and tribulations of every era, not only fulfilling the duty of protecting the religion of Islam but also playing a key and unforgettable role in the intellectual, moral, and spiritual construction of society. Even in today's turbulent, chaotic, and ever-changing era, Islamic seminaries stand firm with all their splendor, dignity, and greatness, and their scholarly and spiritual rays are spreading throughout the world.
In the following article, Insha'Allah Almighty, the privilege is being sought to record, with some detail, sincerity of intention, and a sense of gratitude, the eleven years of educational and training life spent at Darul Huda Islamic University (Kerala). This is not merely a personal story but a glimpse of an institution that holds the interpretation of thousands of dreams within its grasp. It is hoped that readers will read this article with love and attention and benefit from it intellectually and thoughtfully.
It is an accepted fact that Islamic seminaries have played a fundamental and decisive role in human development, character building, and thought formation from the very beginning. The teachers who teach in these institutions are not merely teachers but mentors, reformers, guides, and benefactors, who not only impart the light of knowledge to their students but also enrich their hearts with the wealth of morality, literature, and piety. Their round-the-clock efforts, selfless endeavors, and sincere struggles are the very source from which the personality of the students is refined and adorned. These students later become imams, orators, thinkers, scholars of Hadith, authors, politicians, scientists, professors, lawyers, and judges in their respective fields and perform the duty of guiding society. In reality, this is all the blessing of Islamic seminaries, and this blessing, Insha'Allah, will continue until the end of the world.
If we talk about Darul Huda Islamic University, it is a magnificent academic center of the Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jama'at, a shining minaret of light, and a reliable and trustworthy institution, which is performing its academic and religious services following in the footsteps of the Salaf-e-Saliheen and in the light of the teachings of Imam Ahl-e-Sunnat, Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Fazil-e-Barelvi (may Allah have mercy on him). A prominent feature of this institution is that along with religious sciences, contemporary sciences have also been made a part of the curriculum in a very balanced manner, so that students not only become experts in religion but also are in harmony with the demands of the times. Thousands of students are studying in this university, and its numerous branches are lighting the candle of knowledge in different regions of the country.
With great pride, humility, and heartfelt joy, I would like to say that in August 2015, I got admission in this great university. At that time, my academic condition was very elementary—I was familiar with the recitation of the Holy Quran and to some extent with the Urdu language, but I was almost unfamiliar with the English language and its literature. However, there was a true yearning, a firm determination, and an unparalleled passion in my heart that I had to learn something, become something, and make my life meaningful. This passion brought me to this academic abode. Alhamdulillah, in the very first year, I received basic education in Urdu, Arabic, and English literature, and at the same time, I also got the opportunity to learn the local language Malayalam, which proved to be a very useful and memorable experience for me.
The first five years are the most valuable asset of my life. This was the period that strengthened my academic foundations, refined my thinking and vision, and adorned me with the skill of language and expression. In these years, I acquired reasonable proficiency in important languages like Urdu, Arabic, and English. Along with this, contemporary sciences such as science, geography, social science, political science, mathematics, economics, and English literature broadened my mind and gave me the consciousness to understand the world. On the other hand, religious sciences—Fiqh, Hadith, Quran, Aqeedah, Sufism, and Logic—created religious insight, intellectual stability, and ideological maturity within me.
After that came the two-year senior secondary stage, which was a period of academic maturity and seriousness. In this stage, the initial authoritative books of Hadith and Fiqh, such as Mukhtasar al-Quduri and Sharh al-Wiqaya, were studied, as well as familiarity with the basic books of beliefs. This stage further refined my academic taste and created a passion for research and study within me.
Then came the three-year degree-level life, which was a very important and memorable stage of my educational journey. During this time, I studied the great books of Hadith such as Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Nasai, Sunan Abi Dawood, and Muwatta Imam Malik. In Fiqh, I had the honor of reading Hidayah Sharif (author: Imam Marghinani). In Aqeedah, Sharh al-Aqaid, and in Logic, I benefited from important books such as Mirqat, Sharh Tahdhib, and Munazara Rashidia. During this time, I studied the great works of Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (may Allah have mercy on him)—Fatawa Razawiya and Ahkam-e-Shariat—and other elders of Ahl-e-Sunnat, which gave breadth and depth to my academic horizon.
During this blessed educational journey, it is a matter of pride and happiness for me to mention the names of those respected, honored, compassionate, and distinguished teachers from whom I had the honor of acquiring knowledge. Especially Dr. Mufti Mustaqeem Ahmed Ashrafi Faizi Shazli, Mufti Afroz Ahmed Amjadi, Mufti Ghulam Hussain Misbahi, Mufti Manzar Raza Manzar Misbahi, Abbas Hudawi, Zubair Hudawi, Iftikhar Hudawi, Owais Hudawi, Anees Hudawi, Rabee Hudawi, Irshad Hussain Hudawi, Ibrahim Hudawi, Nematullah Hudawi, Ali Hassan Hudawi, Aashiq Hudawi, Salim Hudawi, Jazeel Hudawi, Abdul Shakoor Hudawi, Shafiq Hudawi, VT Rafiq Hudawi, CH Sharif Hudawi, and Dr. Hashim Nadwi—the scholarly guidance, compassion, and prayers of all these gentlemen played a fundamental role in the construction of my personality. May Allah Almighty reward them all with the best of rewards.
After graduation, when I entered the post-graduation stage, there was an extraordinary increase in both the breadth and depth of knowledge. I received lessons from the great treasure of Hadith such as Bukhari Sharif and Muslim Sharif. In the field of Tafsir, I studied Sirat-ul-Jinan, Khazain-ul-Irfan, Rooh-ul-Bayan, Tafsir Baidawi, and other books. In Fiqh, I benefited from authoritative books such as Bada'i al-Sana'i, Al-Ashbah wa al-Naza'ir, Radd al-Muhtar, and Fatawa Alamgiri. Along with this, I also studied the Constitution of India and other contemporary topics, which made it possible to form a balanced, informed, and broad-minded personality.
If I summarize my entire life in one sentence, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this madrasa is not just an educational institution for me but a complete life—a life that gave me the consciousness to live, introduced me to the purpose of life, and showed me the ways to success in both this world and the hereafter.
Undoubtedly, Darul Huda Islamic University is like a bright, radiant, and luminous star, from whose light not thousands but millions of students are benefiting, and Insha'Allah, this benefit will continue forever.
May Allah Almighty keep this great institution always established and lasting, grant its teachers and students the ability to be sincere, steadfast, and serve the religion, and make us also a sincere servant of this caravan. Amen.
Written by: Muhammad Fida Al-Mustafa Qadri
Contact Number: 9037099731
PG Research Scholar: Darul Huda Islamic University Kerala