The academic discipline of Islamic Studies offers far more than an understanding of Islamic fundamentals, delves into social, political, and economic ethics, providing a comprehensive education that shapes students into accomplished individuals prepared for a healthy and happy life. The curriculum is designed to offer insights into comparative religions and address contemporary issues facing society, particularly the Muslim community, equipping students with the insights needed to navigate their future.
As an academic discipline of global recognition, it is revered and taught at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, and other leading universities. This subject enjoys the same level of enthusiasm and respect as reputed universities across India, where it is seen as a vital area of academic pursuit. In Jammu and Kashmir, it has been an integral part of the curriculum in top universities, colleges, and higher secondary schools for many years.
However, despite its rich academic heritage and the value it brings to students, Islamic Studies is facing a steep decline in Jammu and Kashmir. The current scenario paints a grim picture of a subject on the verge of extinction, with several factors contributing to its downfall. One of the most influential factors is the trivial attention given by higher authorities to the promotion and inclusion of Islamic Studies in higher educational institutions across J&K. The subject has been left to languish, with little to no effort made to expand its presence or relevance in the modern educational landscape. This lack of institutional support is further aggravated by the indifferent attitude of those who should be its staunchest advocates—the very professors and scholars who have built their careers around it.
At the university level, some prominent professors have been more focused on securing personal gains, such as establishing centres or institutes to secure their positions post-retirement, rather than nurturing the next generation of scholars. Emerging academics who have pursued their PhDs under these professors often find themselves shelved, with no room to grow or contribute meaningfully to the discipline. The situation is further intensified at the college level, where some educators, content with small class sizes, prioritize job security over expanding the discipline.
The condition is equally worrying at the higher secondary level of education. Teachers and lecturers assigned to teach Islamic Studies are often experts in other fields, but they camouflage themselves within Traditional Islam and they perceive Islamic Studies as an easier subject to teach compared to their original areas of expertise. This practice degrades the academic status of the subject, reducing it to a traditional seminary discipline. As a result, students are deprived of the opportunity to engage with Islamic Studies as a rigorous academic field, limiting their understanding of the subject’s depth and relevance in contemporary discourse.
The consequences of this neglect are painfully clear. Universities across J&K have produced around 100 PhDs and thousands of postgraduates in Islamic Studies, yet many of these highly qualified individuals find themselves sitting idle, unable to find a market for their expertise. When these flag bearers are questioned about the future of these students, their advice often borders on the absurd—they suggest pursuing postgraduate degrees in other subjects, effectively canning the years of hard work and dedication these students have invested in Islamic Studies.
The discipline is on the brink of extinction in Jammu and Kashmir if urgent measures are not taken to revive it. This will not only affect the academic landscape but also jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of people whose careers are tied to this field. The situation demands urgent attention from those in power. The Principal Secretary of Higher Education, the Director of Colleges, and the principals and professors (Islamic Studies) of various colleges and universities in J&K are all requested to take decisive action. It is time to either revitalize and support Islamic Studies or to formally phase it out, so future generations of students are not misled into believing in opportunities that no longer exist. The time to act is now—before it is too late.
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Nasima Rasool