[trettegeani]

The walk through deobandi history wasn't meant to justify the conditions as it presently exists but rather to explain why the conditions exist. I agree with needing to change, to recognize the impacts of colonialism then to counteract them, this step takes much self reflection and peering into history. I believe that Deoband and TJ were innovative in their time. They both offered new alternatives in reaction to what was happening in the ground and I feel the greatest sunnah of the Elders of Deoband was not that they established the school but that they reacted to the present circumstances on the ground to do what was best for the Muslim community in their land. I believe it's a misreading of history to claim their biggest sunnah was the establishment of the madarsa and thus it should be along with its existing basis for creation be carbon copied all over the world. This has happened and true to the benefit of millions no doubt. But it's not a magic recipe for all times and all places. We must do what the elders did. They examined their current conditions, did something different from their teachers, were innovative and reacted in the best way they could to their climate. That is their legacy. If we merely copy them in their madrasa format without accounting for current conditions, then if that was the essence of following our elders then the Elders themselves would not have done something their teachers did not do, and Deoband and TJ would never come to exist.

So I agree with changing and reacting to current times. That is the essence of Deoband, but that is somehing that must changed from within the Deobandi tradition itself. The outsiders can only understand their historical context, appreciate their efforts and encourage their growth. History is very important as lived realities are also passed from student to teacher and it can be hard to distinguish between how Islam needs to be presented today while still being true to ones teachers and teachers' teacher who lived in another era.