MALAYSIA LOOKS AT INDIAN MODEL TO TEACH HADITH

By P.Vijian

NEW DELHI, June 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Islamic scholars are studying
India's method of propagating the hadith and plans are in afoot to set up a
hadith centre based on the Indian model.

A delegation from the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) led by
Federal Territory Mufti Wan Zahidi Wan Teh visited two renowned Islamic
institutions in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh to get a deeper
understanding of the teaching methods of the hadith -- the words and deeds of
the prophet.

The group held discussions with scholars from the Darul-Uloom Deoband and
the Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh last week.

"We want to understand more of the concept, methodology and the curriculum
of teaching the hadith in these two private institutions.

"India's way of propagating the hadith is still in its traditional form and
had produced some good scholars and clerics in the world. Our government wants
to set up a House of hadith in Malaysia by this year and we are looking at the
Indian concept," Wan Zahidi told Bernama.

He said the centre was likely to be set up at the existing Darul Quran, a
training institute in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor.

"We want Malaysia to develop in all aspects, we need a balanced development,
not only materialistic development like in the West.

"So a person can be a professional and also know the teachings of the Quran
and the hadith, this is very important," he added.

Established in 1866, the Darul-Uloom provides religious teachings to about
4,000 students. Kelantan Chief Minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was an
alumnus of this centre.

India is home to nearly 150 million Muslims and the Darul-Uloom is
considered a major religious and academic centre which disseminates Islam in the
world.

-- BERNAMA