# History of Darul Uloom Deoband

History of Darul Uloom Deoband (also known by its Urdu name Tareekh e Darul Uloom Deoband) is a two-volume historical work written by Syed Mehboob Rizwi in 1976. It is generally regarded as the first and authoritative reference on the subject. This work traces the hundred-year history and role of Darul Uloom Deoband, upholding a legacy of continuous publication. The first volume chronologically recounts events from the establishment of Darul Uloom Deoband up to 1976. Simultaneously, the second volume discusses the personalities and the institutional framework defining Darul Uloom Deoband. The English translation of the first volume predates the Centenary Celebration of Darul Uloom Deoband, while the translation of the second volume was published post-celebration, and the Arabic translation consistently appears in the periodical Al-Daie.

## Background

Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi wrote a concise book titled Darul Uloom Ki Sad Sali Zindagi in 1965, giving a brief overview of Darul Uloom Deoband's founding, educational, missionary, and administrative aspects. The Majlis-e-Shura of Darul Uloom Deoband felt there was a need for a detailed investigation of the institution's history to enhance the academic understanding of Muslims in India, which they entrusted Syed Mahboob Rizvi with producing. Initially, Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi wrote an introduction, which is itself an independent book.

## Content

The book is an account of the establishment of the institution, describing the circumstances, motivations, and key figures involved. It examines the founders' aspirations, the institution's objectives, its faculty, students, curriculum, and the subsequent growth and influence of Darul Uloom Deoband across diverse domains, both within the nation and globally. The introduction of the first edition by Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi spans fifty pages, outlining the historical progression and accomplishments of Darul Uloom Deoband.

## Reception

Taqi Usmani deemed the book highly valuable for religious schools and general knowledge enthusiasts. Muhammadullah Khalili Qasmi, the author of Darul Uloom Deoband Ki Jame O Mukhtasar Tareekh, called it the most important effort in the history of Darul Uloom Deoband. Saeed Ahmad Akbarabadi acknowledges the author's suitability for the task, praising the book for presenting a concise history of education and schools in Islam through authentic sources, clear language, and a lively narrative. In contrast, Muhammad Naveed Akhtar from Ghazi University criticizes the book for adopting a descriptive and apologetic narrative style, lacking the critical understanding and objectivity necessary for a comprehensive discourse.

## Legacy

In 2016, the Majlis-e Shura of Darul Uloom Deoband selected Muhammadullah Qasmi to write a history of the first 150 years of the institution, inspired by Sayed Rizvi's previous work and titled Darul Uloom Deoband Ki Jame O Mukhtasar Tareekh. This was criticised in 2019 by Abu Ukashah, who argued that a comprehensive history was unnecessary and an indication of the institution's desire to shape Rizwi's legacy; he instead proposed a third volume of the History of Darul Uloom Deoband. Later that year, Abu Hisham Qasmi suggested that the inclusion of "Mukhtasar" (concise) in the new book's title implies that the history of Darul Uloom Deoband is intricate, thus avoiding overshadowing the original work.