Al Azhar or Darul Uloom Deoband

**SASLAMS** · 21-12-2011, 10:29 AM

besides the school, personaly i would say deoband. you deen is safer over there.

**godilali** · 21-12-2011, 10:49 AM

Lastly, graduate studies at al-Azhar are of a very high standard and perhaps unparalleled amongst institutes of Islamic learning. The classes and exams are quite rigorous (the pass rate is usually around 20%) and completing a Master's and PhD. there will equip one with the skills needed to be a true research scholar. However, you will have to humble yourself and forget the 6 years of study = alim mentality to which we have unfortunately grown accustomed. One brother I know who is working on his PhD. completed his alim course in Nadwah (8 years), then did takhassus in Arabic in Nadwah (2 years), then his Master's in hadith at Azhar (4 years), and his has been working on his PhD. for the last 2 years. That means that he has been studying for over 16 years, and he would probably still not be considered to be amongst the 'ulama in Egypt. All the observations I have made above are after speaking extensively to a number of students of knowledge who have both graduated from the Darul Ulum system and who are currently studying in Azhar.

**godilali** · 21-12-2011, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by SASLAMS

besides the school, personaly i would say deoband. you deen is safer over there.

I agree in part; I have not found Azhar to be particularly conducive to spiritual growth.

**faisal ahmad** · 21-12-2011, 10:57 AM

Br Godilali - do they employ fusha or Egyptian dialect at Azhar? As I've read conflicting statements about this.

**godilali** · 21-12-2011, 11:11 AM

I can't speak for other colleges, but in Usul al-Din, all of my teachers conduct their classes mainly in fusha except for one, but most do throw in quite a bit of 'ammiyyah every now and then. The president of the university issued a decision at the beginning of the year that all lectures must be conducted in fusha, but you may run into some teachers who don't abide by that rule.

**godilali** · 21-12-2011, 11:20 AM

I know that people on this forum place a lot of emphasis on Islamic garb and facial hair, so I have the following observations regarding that:

Amongst the teachers in my college I would say about 50% have a trimmed beard, 25% have a fist-length beard, and 25% are clean shaven.
The vast majority of the teachers wear Western clothing.
The vast majority of the students wear Western clothing.
Most of the Egyptian students do not have facial hair.
Most of the foreign students do have facial hair, but few have fist length-beards.

**amr123** · 21-12-2011, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by godilali

One brother I know who is working on his PhD. completed his alim course in Nadwah (8 years), then did takhassus in Arabic in Nadwah (2 years), then his Master's in hadith at Azhar (4 years), and his has been working on his PhD. for the last 2 years. That means that he has been studying for over 16 years, and he would probably still not be considered to be amongst the 'ulama in Egypt. .

: O

**hazratji** · 21-12-2011, 12:32 PM

Ofcource there is no doubt about who is better. Dar ul deoband is far better than Al-Azhar. Infact any madrasa can be a better choice. Al-azhar might be good but not in terms of islamic knowledge. Remember in the end what matters is Taqwa.

Drop of 'amal' is better than 'sea of ilm' and drop of 'ikhlas' is better than 'sea of amal'.

**SASLAMS** · 21-12-2011, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by hazratji

Ofcource there is no doubt about who is better. Dar ul deoband is far better than Al-Azhar. Infact any madrasa can be a better choice. Al-azhar might be good but not in terms of islamic knowledge. Remember in the end what matters is Taqwa.

Drop of 'amal' is better than 'sea of ilm' and drop of 'ikhlas' is better than 'sea of amal'.

so what then of one rakaat of aalim being greater than 1000 of an aabid. hmm

**Rifai** · 21-12-2011, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Abul Lais

What is the basis for such a random, sweeping generalisation? Has anyone done a survey of both institutions, made a statistical comparison and published the results? Even the Western media would not look twice at such an unsubstantiated statement.

And what is wrong with having to "quote the grading of a past scholar"??? Better that way than coming up with your own gradings and messing the entire sciences of hadeeth up, if you get what I mean!

The basis would be the comparison that I have made with my colleagues and teachers who have graduated from such institutes. Merely quoting the past grading of a scholar often means you are merely repeating someone elses words. Anyone who reads Arabic can do that. This is not ´Ilm. However, having mastered the tools of ´Ulum al-hadith and being able to actually grade a hadith by yourself... that is from amongst the things that makes you an ´Alim in the field of hadith. Obviously it takes training and commitment.