Former students are employed in virtually every area of life; as Imams, teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers and many others. One former student who became a Hafiz at Darul Uloom and is currently completing medicine at the University of Cambridge spoke briefly at our annual presentation ceremony last year. The following is a transcript of his speech.

“Assalamu alaikum Wa rahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

I’d just like to mention a few words very briefly about my stay here at Darul Uloom. Having in the past experienced both state school education and full-time Islamic Madrasas, I found the education provided here an excellent balance between National Curriculum academic subjects and traditional Islamic learning. Here I gained the best of both worlds so to speak, Al-hamdulillah – excellent GCSE grades which enabled me later on to gain entrance at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, and more importantly I become a Hafiz of the Quran, Al-hamdulillah. For that I give special thanks to all my teachers here without whose commitment and dedication I would never be in the position I am in today.

But it is not just the apparent successes which I obtained here for which I am most grateful for but the moulding of an Islamic character that I acquired here. Characteristics which I feel are sadly lacking in almost all spheres of life today. Here I learned how to conduct myself as a good Muslim – as a representative of Islam. I learned respect for my teachers, my parents, my elders, I learned patience, I learned gratefulness to Allah (SWT), I learned about forgiveness, I learned generosity & the countless other mannerisms that come with traditional Islam. The firm grounding in Islamic teachings I gained here will help, shape and influence whatever I do in future Insha-Allah and for that I will always be indebted to this place.

I pray to Allah that he grants his barakah and blessings on the excellent work undertaken by the teachers here, and that this place continues to produce true ambassadors of Islam who go on to excel in whatever field they choose to pursue.”

Tanweer Kutubi, fifth year medical student at Cambridge University and a Hifz graduate of Darul Uloom