and other sources of Islamic law to derive legal rulings for specific situations. The Deobandi scholars and leaders have also emphasized the need to purify Islamic practice from what they see as deviations and innovations, and to resist the influence of Western culture and colonialism. This has led to a particular focus on issues of Islamic identity, morality, and education, as well as a critical engagement with contemporary political and social issues. History and development In the 19th century, the British colonial authorities established a system of secular education in India, which had a significant impact on the study of fiqh. Many Muslims saw the study of Islamic law as incompatible with the new education system, and as a result, the study of fiqh began to decline. However, in the late 19th century, there was a significant revival of interest in Islamic scholarship in India, leading to the establishment of many new madrasas, among them Darul Uloom Deoband, which became the center of the Deobandi movement. Darul Uloom Deoband was established on May 30, 1866, by a group of Islamic scholars, led by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. They founded the institution in response to what they perceived as a decline in Islamic scholarship in India. Since then, Darul Uloom Deoband has become one of the most influential Islamic institutions globally, training thousands of Islamic scholars and clerics, many of whom have gone on to establish their own madrasas and Islamic institutions. Consequently, Darul Uloom Deoband has become the center of a chain of madrasas that extends across South Asia and beyond. These madrasas are commonly known as Deobandi madrasas, named after the town of Deoband and the teachings of Darul Uloom Deoband. Deobandi madrasas prioritize the study of classical Islamic texts such as the Qur'an, Hadith, and Islamic jurisprudence. They follow a traditional methodology known as the Dars-i Nizami curriculum. These madrasas are prevalent in various parts of the world, with a particularly strong presence in South Asia, but also in other regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In such madrasas, there is often a separate department called Darul Ifta where Deobandi fiqh is practiced, serving as the primary source for the development of Deobandi fiqh. In India, numerous madrasas follow the Deobandi teachings, including Mazahir Uloom, Madinatul Uloom Bagbari, Jamia Islamia Talimuddin, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Madrasa Aminia, Madrasa Shahi, and Darul