Darul Uloom Deoband Temporarily Restricts Entry of Women and Children Amid Entrance Exams Citing Distraction Concerns
In a move that has once again stirred public debate, Darul Uloom Deoband, one of India’s most prominent and internationally recognized Islamic seminaries, has issued a temporary ban on the entry of women and children into its sprawling campus located in Deoband town, within the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
The ban, which took effect recently, will remain in force for a period of ten days, until April 17, 2025, as announced by the institution’s acting authorities.
The administration of the prestigious religious university, founded in the 19th century and regarded as a beacon of Islamic education globally, has attributed the temporary restriction to the ongoing entrance examinations for the upcoming academic session.
According to a public notice affixed at the main entrance gate of the institution on Sunday, the university is currently witnessing the arrival of thousands of aspiring students from various parts of India and abroad, all of whom have come to appear for the rigorous entrance exams that determine admission to various Islamic courses offered by the institution.
The notice stated that the presence of women and children during this highly focused period could act as a source of distraction for the talib-e-ilm (students of knowledge), and thus, in the interest of maintaining a peaceful, distraction-free, and disciplined environment, the seminary had decided to temporarily prohibit their entry.
Speaking on the matter, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, who is currently serving as the acting Vice-Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, clarified that the ban is not permanent but rather a temporary and precautionary measure.
He stated, “This restriction has been imposed solely to ensure that students are able to concentrate fully during this important academic period. It will be lifted immediately after the conclusion of the entrance examinations on April 17.”
The seminary has emphasized that it is a time-bound administrative decision aimed at upholding academic decorum and ensuring disciplinary order during the crucial examination process.
This is not the first instance when Darul Uloom Deoband has resorted to such restrictive measures. In fact, a similar ban was imposed by the seminary’s administration on May 17, 2024, citing similar reasons of maintaining academic sanctity and avoiding disturbances caused by the influx of non-students, particularly women visitors.
At that time, the restriction remained in place for several months and drew widespread criticism from civil rights groups, gender equality advocates, and sections of the Muslim community itself, who questioned the necessity and implications of such a gender-specific prohibition.
The situation escalated into public protests and backlash, both locally and on social media platforms. Amid growing pressure and condemnation from various quarters, the seminary was eventually compelled to lift the ban on October 21, 2024.
However, the revocation of the earlier ban did not mark a return to previous norms. Instead, the managing committee of the institution, while lifting the blanket ban, introduced a set of strict entry conditions specifically targeted at female visitors.
Under the revised rules:
- Women were permitted to enter the campus only for a restricted window of two hours.
- They were required to deposit a valid identification card at a designated office on the premises.
- In exchange, the office would issue a temporary entry pass, without which they were not allowed on campus.
- Furthermore, it was made mandatory for all female visitors to wear a full burqa (Islamic veil) while inside the campus.
These conditions, while allowing limited access, continued to reflect the institution’s concerns over maintaining a conservative and distraction-free environment in line with its long-standing traditions.
Established in 1866, Darul Uloom Deoband is not just an educational institution but a deeply revered seat of Islamic learning. It has produced thousands of scholars and clerics over the decades and holds sway among followers of the Deobandi school of thought, both in India and in other parts of the world, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
Known for its adherence to traditionalist Islamic values, the seminary has often found itself at the center of social debates regarding the intersection of religious conservatism and contemporary social norms, especially in the context of women’s rights and inclusion in religious spaces.
While the current restriction is framed as temporary and exam-specific, it has again sparked discussions about gender segregation, institutional autonomy versus inclusivity, and the rights of women in religious and educational settings.
Critics argue that such bans perpetuate outdated gender norms and hinder progress toward gender parity in religious discourse, while defenders of the seminary’s stance maintain that it is within its rights to enforce rules necessary for academic focus and religious discipline.
The seminary has so far maintained a firm stance on the issue, reiterating that the integrity and serenity of the learning environment must take precedence during key academic periods. Whether the issue escalates once again into a public confrontation as seen in 2024 remains to be seen.
For now, the Darul Uloom Deoband has made it clear that the entry ban on women and children is only applicable until April 17, 2025, after which the campus is expected to resume its restricted but regulated access policy for female visitors.
As entrance examinations continue, the seminary remains under the spotlight, with observers watching closely to see how it navigates the delicate balance between religious tradition and contemporary expectations in the days ahead
