SPECIAL REPORT While Darul Uloom Deoband has stood as beacon of Islamic learning in South Asia, Al-Azhar University in Egypt has carried the light of learning through many centuries.

The two educational institutions carry a profound message, which reaches beyond their borders to the wider Muslim population who look to these institutions for guidance on matters related to faith, identity and religion.

Deoband and Al-Azhar have shaped the destiny of millions of Muslims and have paved the way for the Islamic renaissance and advancement. Together, these institutions represent the importance of knowledge, learning and dialogue in Islam...