Muslim students look to the future (2)

Those wishing to study at the Xinjiang Institute, all young men aged 18 to 25, find that gaining entry is difficult, as it requires a character reference from respected imams as well as high scores in the entry exams. Successful applicants, whose tuition fees are all paid by the regional government, are required to be devoted to carrying Islam forward in Xinjiang.

Student numbers are beginning to rise. This year, the college admitted 40 new students, but previously it accepted only 50 every two years. "The expansion of the school depends on the social and economic development of Xinjiang," said Ilijon Anayt, a vice-dean at the institute.

Memetimin, who has a bachelor's degree in Islamic theology from Al-Azhar, is now a teacher at the institute and a role model for younger students.

The former winner of the first prize at the Chinese national Quran recitation contest has been providing extra tuition to five students to prepare them for the next competition, which will be held next year. "The teaching of Arabic has been raised to another level and so the students find it easier to progress."

About 70 percent of the courses at the institute are related to Islam, including recitation and interpretation of the Quran, and Arabic. Students also study Uygur literature and Mandarin.

"Uygur is their mother tongue, they have an duty to master it, both in the spoken and written forms. Meanwhile, Mandarin is the official language of China, so there is no excuse for our students not to learn it well. Good Mandarin skills will also help them to better communicate with Muslims from other parts of the country, said Ilijon.

"In China, a lot of Islamic literature was originally written in Mandarin. If our students could accurately translate those books into Uygur, they would be able to pass on that knowledge with greater ease," he said.

Traditional meets modern

Although it's rooted in Islamic tradition, the school provides computer lessons so students can find and download learning materials from the Internet. Some students have even replaced their textbooks with tablet computers.

When the other students leaf through the pages of their Qurans, searching for the chapter specified by the teacher, Nurmemet Nurahmet just slides his finger on the touch screen of the tablet computer he bought three months ago. The senior student has installed applications for an audio book of the Quran and Arabic pronunciation on the device. "Students from other universities use new technologies to help them study. So should we," he said.

"If I have a problem with the pronunciation of a certain sentence, I can listen to it as many times as I like. Also, the tablet saves the trouble of carrying heavy books," said the 26-year-old scholar, who added that the 4,000 yuan ($634) he spent on the device was worth every penny. "Religion can and should adapt to new technology."

More than 40 senior students now take tablet computers into classes, said Ilijon. "We encourage them to do so. Maybe we should just give everyone a tablet computer instead of heavy books?"

Alim Rehman, also a vice-dean at the institute, said the school will eventually relocate to a bigger campus in the university district on the outskirts of Urumqi. The plan was approved earlier this year and the central government has allocated 270 million yuan to construct a new campus covering 10 hectares.

"We will always remember this place," Alim said, recalling how students and teachers saved 15 people during a 2009 riot in Urumqi in which 197 people were killed.

"Some people who were being chased by rioters ran to the school gate crying for help. We let them in without any hesitation and then waited to see if anyone else needed help," he said. Later that evening, the school fed the victims and offered them accommodation until the violence died down.

The institute will move from a neighborhood with a relatively strong religious atmosphere to a district where young people from different universities live side by side, but Alim has no qualms about the relocation.

"I believe there is no downside to our students mixing with other young people. After all, our students have to learn to respect tradition, but also to embrace the modern world," he said. "Religion needs to adapt to and serve modern society, otherwise it simply won't develop," he warned.

After the move, the old institute will provide services to help Xinjiang's Muslims preparing to undertake the hajj (the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia). So far, the institute has helped more than 10,000 people from the region prepare for the pilgrimage.

More than 564 students have graduated from the institute since 1987, and most have gone on to become imams or teachers at local Quranic schools.

Since 2001, the institute has also sent more than 35 of its graduates to study overseas.

"Sometimes the locals have difficulty understanding our graduates because the concepts they are explaining are new to them. Meanwhile, the graduates need to learn to address issues in a way the villagers can understand and accept. Both sides need to adapt to each other," said Ilijon.

"When they complete their studies, the graduates will be better able to serve Xinjiang's Muslims and their knowledge could have an impact across the region during the next 50 years," he said. "Some people try to implant extremist ideas by interpreting the Quran incorrectly. Our students will help the people stay away from that."

Since the renovation work started at the institute, Abudurehep has visited the mosque every day to inspect the progress.

"At the beginning, the workers didn't realize how important the prayers are to us and they carried on with their work during prayers so they could meet their deadline. But now they stop when the students begin to gather, even though no one has asked them to do so. I am grateful for their respect and understanding," said Abudurehep as he gazed up at the newly painted roof.