Abstract:
In Pakistan, traditional madrassahs have long been the mainstay of Islamic education, being essential to students' moral and religious development. These establishments, which are frequently connected to mosques, offer thorough teaching in Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic law), the recitation of the Quran, and other Islamic studies. Madrassahs typically follow a residential model in which Ulema (scholars) oversee students, known as Talibe, while they live on campus and immerse themselves in demanding religious studies. While the focus is still primarily on religious instruction, many traditional madrassas also include fundamental secular topics in addition to religious education. Because they uphold Islamic knowledge and principles, these institutions have great respect in their communities. In addition, they frequently operate as significant hubs for social and religious activity. Even though they have been criticized for having a sometimes strict curriculum and not integrating contemporary teaching methods, traditional madrassahs are still an essential component of Pakistan's educational system and are ingrained in the country's culture and religion. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan's educational system saw a swift change that elevated e-Madrassas to the forefront of religious teaching. As physical madrassas closed, e-Madrassas became a vital alternative, guaranteeing religious instruction in the face of lockdowns and social distancing policies. During this time, there was a notable surge in the use of digital media for religious education, surpassing prior obstacles and obtaining more acceptability among educators and students. The pandemic made it clear how important it is to include technology into religious instruction and demonstrated how flexible e-Madrassas can be in offering consistent, dependable, and easily available learning opportunities. This research looks at the evolution and effects of e-Madrassas both before and after the pandemic, analyzing the difficulties encountered, the ways in which they were resolved, and the prospects for online religious instruction in Pakistan in the future.
