September 4, 2026: Under the auspices of Jamiat Ulama, an important Religious Education Awareness Conference was held at the Meraj-ul-Uloom Jamia Masjid in Cheeta Camp, Mumbai. The event was attended by local mosque Imams, Islamic scholars, Jamiat officials, Maktab (primary religious school) teachers, and a large number of the general public. The objective of the conference was to highlight the importance of religious education in society, connect the younger generation with foundational Islamic teachings, and make the system of religious Maktabs more robust and effective.

Delivering the keynote address at the conference, the President of Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra, Maulana Hafiz Mohammad Nadeem Siddiqui, stated that in today’s era, our greatest responsibility is to protect the faith, belief, morals, and Islamic identity of our younger generation. He remarked that equipping children with contemporary secular education alone is not sufficient; it is equally essential to provide them with the knowledge of the Holy Quran, Prophetic Hadiths, basic beliefs, worship practices, Islamic etiquette, and the life of the Prophet ﷺ.

He emphasized that the Maktab is the foundational institution of religious learning where children receive their initial and essential education in faith. If children’s connection to the Quran, Sunnah, and a religious environment is strengthened right from their childhood, they will remain committed to their faith, culture, and Islamic values as they grow up. Therefore, establishing a Maktab alongside every mosque and ensuring high-quality religious education within it is the most urgent need of the hour.

Addressing parents, mosque Imams, scholars, and Maktab teachers, Maulana Hafiz Mohammad Nadeem Siddiqui said that the religious upbringing of children is not the sole responsibility of a Madrasa or Maktab; rather, it is a collective duty of the parents and the entire society. He urged parents to take their children’s religious education seriously and send them to the Maktab regularly. Similarly, he called upon Imams and scholars to make practical efforts to strengthen the Maktab system in their respective localities and connect as many children as possible to religious education.

Maulana Nadeem Siddiqui further added that in the current era, children and youth face various intellectual, moral, and cultural challenges. In such an environment, religious education provides the strong foundation that keeps an individual anchored to their faith, worship, morals, and Islamic culture. Therefore, neglecting religious education could prove detrimental to future generations.

Highlighting the responsibilities of Maktab teachers, he stated that a Ustad is not merely someone who delivers a lesson, but a Ustad who shapes a child’s personality. Thus, teachers must treat children with love, kindness, and wisdom, imparting religious knowledge in an easy and effective manner. They must strive to instill qualities such as the habit of Namaz, attachment to the Quran, obedience to parents, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and excellent manners.

The conference was attended by a large number of local Ulema, Maktab teachers, and citizens, including:

• Qari Mohammad Sadiq Khan (Vice President, Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra)
• Maulana Zahid Qasmi
• Mufti Azad Qasmi
• Maulana Ashfaq Qasmi