"Most of these essays are updated versions of papers that were first presented at the international conference 'The madrasa in Asia: transn ational linkages and real or alleged political roles', in May 2004 in L eiden"--P. 7.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Behind the walls : re-appraising the role and importan ce of madrasas in the world today / Farish A. Noor, Yoginder Sikand and Martin van Bruinessen -- Voices for reform in the Indian madrasas / Yo ginder Sikand -- Change and stagnation in Islamic education : the Dar a l-°Ulum of Deoband after the split in 1982 / Dietrich Reetz -- 'Insde a nd outside' in a girls' madrasa in New Delhi / Mareike Winkelmann -- Be tween Pakistan and Qom : Shii women's madrasas and new transnational n etworks / Mariam Abou Zahab -- The uncertain fate of Southeast Asian st udents in the madrasas of Pakistan / Farish A. Noor -- Muslim education in China : Chinese madrasas and linkages to Islamic schools abroad / Jackie Armijo -- From Pondok to Parliament : the role played by the reli gious schools of Malaysia in the development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) / Farish A. Noor -- Traditionalist and Islamist pesantre ns in contemporary Indonesia / Martin van Bruinessen -- The salafi madr asas of Indonesia / Noorhaidi Hasan.