THIS is apropos article ‘Education and extremism’ by Muhammad Amir Rana (Dec 29).

Being a madressah alumnus, I acknowledge that madressah curriculum needs reforms to be able to integrate in the new world order. But therein lies the rub. We hold madressah curriculum responsible for producing terrorists. The said curriculum just needs amendments and improvements to some extent.

The madressah system was introduced by Maulana Nizamul Deen Sahalwi during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. The curriculum was updated at that time.

The sole aim of the system was to add to the knowledge of educated and well-lettered statesmen, and not only religious scholars. People met their needs. The system has produced the executive, the legislature and patriotic countrymen.

Today terrorism is not gaining ground as a result of the said curriculum. I have spent 12 years in the Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi, and I do not recall a single day that I had read or listened to any hate material.

When it comes to terrorism, we forget that violence, injustice, socioeconomic deprivation beget the same, respectively.

Most terrorists are not madressah graduates. Even the writer knows this fact. As far as formal education is concerned, many madressahs have started introducing Cambridge-based textbooks, even preparing MBAs to address the need of the time. The argument against un-Islamic education is unnecessary.

Yes, our scholars did little to de-radicalise society and reduce the rising gulf between the masses. Today our society is polarised. Our scholars, who the masses follow, still reign supreme. They must fulfil their duty.

Muhammad Sajid Jadoon
Karachi