Previous Year Question

During the Mughal period, Lucknow emerged as an important centre of Islamic learning and particularly of Muslim law and jurisprudence.

Within this scholarly tradition of Lucknow, Farangi Mahal occupied a particularly important position. It subsequently became one of the most influential centres of Islamic education in India.

This scholarly family received patronage during the Mughal period. After being displaced from its earlier residence in the late seventeenth century, the family was provided buildings in Lucknow, where an important educational tradition developed.

One of the most celebrated scholars of this tradition was Mulla Nizamuddin Sihalvi. The curriculum associated with him became known as the Dars-i-Nizami and later influenced numerous madrasas throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Subjects studied there included Fiqh or Islamic jurisprudence, Usul al-Fiqh or principles of jurisprudence, the Quran, Hadith, Arabic grammar, logic and philosophy.

Many scholars belonging to this tradition played important roles in fatwa writing, jurisprudence and judicial administration. Scholars of the family also served in judicial positions such as Qazi and Mufti.

Although Delhi and Sialkot were also important centres of Mughal-period learning, the madrasa tradition particularly associated in this question with specialization in Muslim Jurisprudence was located at Lucknow.