Darul-uloom-Deoband, the largest and one of the most influential Islamic seminaries in the Indian subcontinent, has banned the use of smartphones by its students. However, students are allowed to keep a simple phone to make and receive calls, and message.
The seminary administration, however, clarified that the rule was restricted to “just the classrooms and the hostel” and the move was aimed at “removing distractions so that students can focus and concentrate on studies”. Students who are found to have a smartphone are likely to be suspended and have their phones destroyed.
“The rule is made by the education department of the seminary in keeping with the interests of the students and to ensure larger discipline among students. The smartphone is a major source of distraction for students. It does not allow them to concentrate on their studies. This is not a new rule. It has been effective on the campus for the last few years,” said the Vice Chancellor of the seminary, Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani.
‘Not against technology’
He, however, emphasised that the students are allowed to keep a simple phone.
Asked if the move of the seminary could be misconstrued as a stand against technology, the spokesperson of the seminary Ashraf Usmani said, “Darul Uloom Deoband is not against technology. In fact, we have a dedicated department where students are taught how to handle computers and the Internet. They can make use of the services there. All the Faculty members also have access to computers and the Internet.”
Mr. Usmani said prohibiting the usage of smartphones is not a new rule for educational institutions.
“We are a pro-technology institution where it is used to facilitate our work. But technology should not affect the studies. It is just that we want to ensure that the limited time these students have here should be dedicated to studies. Many other renowned institutions across the world have restricted usage of smart phones.”
