Education

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In the name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

Concept of Education

in IslamDr. Abdulazeez Abdulraheem


Importance of Education

– Allah says:

مهه أخرجكم من بطون أ اتكم ال تعلمون وللاه

مع وا ألبصار واألفئدة شيئا وجعل لكم السه(78)لعلهكم تشكرون

– Here the faculties mean the use of hearing (collecting info), seeing (observation), and thinking (deriving new results).

– Whichever group excels in using it becomes the leader, especially when Muslims follow Islam.


Importance of Education

Difference between a Muslim and a non-Muslim and/or Kafir is in two areas:

– Knowledge; and

– Action


Knowledge – attribute of

Allah. (‘Aleem)

وهو بكل شيء عليم –

العليم سبحانك ال علم لنا إاله ما علهمت – الحكيم نا إنهك أن


The only source – Allah

(ayatal-Kursi)

بما شاء وال يحيطون بشيء من علمه إاله


Importance in Islam

( 1)باسم رب ك الهذي خلق اقرأ

( 2)خلق اإلنسان من علق ( 3)ر وربك األك اقرأ

(5)يعلم اإلنسان ما لم علهم ( 4)بالقلم علهم الهذي

5 words (on learning) in the first 5 verses

Revealed in an age which was not information age

In a society of Ummiy-yoon where extremely few knew how to read and write

The Prophet himself was Ummi


Reading Mentioned Twice in the

First 5 Verses!!!

– It emphasizes that we should be real and prolific readers. The tragedy is that when it comes to Qur’an:

– They (the others) read to learn; and

– We learn to read (and stop there). We don’t try to understand the Qur’an!!!


Importance of knowledge in

Islam

الهذين آمنوا منك – وتوا ال يرفع للاهعلم م والهذين أ

درجات

Allah has taught the Prophet pbuh, the supplication: زدني علما وقل رب

O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge.


Prophet’s role

The Prophet pbuh said: إنما بعث معلما (I am sent as a teacher.)

Allah says:

ي ين رسوال منهم يتلو هو الهذي بعث في األم ة مهم الكتاب والحكم عليهم آياته ويزك يهم ويعل

ين وإن كانوا من قبل لفي ضالل مب


Prophet’s roles – The

Comprehensive Education

The verse mentions 4 roles:

• Recite the verses

• Do Tazkiah: Purify their lives (from negatives) and enhance good qualities

• Teach them the Book

• Teach them the Hikmak

The above 4 are the real areas of education in Islam. It is not just delivering information.


Information or knowledge or

much more…

– Our condition: “We are drowning in information and starving for knowledge.”

– Hikmah is an abundant and huge gift of Allah. It shows us how to use the knowledge.

قد يؤت الحكمة ف يؤتي الحكمة من يشاء ومن –وتي خيرا كثيرا

أ


Types of (knowledge)

There are only 2 types of knowledge in Islam:

1. Beneficial; and 2. Not beneficial

Note the supplications of the Prophet pbuh:

– اللهم إني أسئلك علما نافعا (O Allah! I ask you for the beneficial knowledge).

– اللهم إني أعوذ بك من علم ال ينفع (O Allah! I take refuge in You from useless knowledge).


Classification of (knowledge) in

Islam according to Importance1. Obligatory (فرض)

2. فرض كفاية (Obligatory on society)

3. مستحب (Desirable)

4. مباح (permissible)

5. مكروه (detested)

6. حرا (prohibited)


1. Obligatory Knowledge

On every Muslim; so that he can live Islamically. He should know the basics of:

– Beliefs عقائد

– Worships عبادات

– Dealings معامالت

– Prohibitions which lead to punishments عقوبات

– Etiquettes of lifeآداب معاشرت

– Purification of heart قلب


2. Fard Kifayah

In every locality, there has to be a group which knows these areas otherwise the whole society will be a sinner.

These are of Two types. Those which are:

– Means to know obligatory knowledge (Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, Arabic, ..). If we know Qur’an, we can know our creed…

– Essential for a human society to excel others (Science, Technology, Economics, Business, Administration, Media…). Our focus is here, missing the first one!!!


Goal of Education in Islam

– Not just to learn for the sake of learning

– The goal should not to be left on children. They are too young to come up with one. You have to help them.

– If you don’t specify the goal, they will make some mean or cheap goals


Allama Iqbal says:

– Knowledge gives power. This power should be under Deen. Otherwise it is pure Satanic. A Muslim must Islamize his knowledge.


The Islamic Objectives

1. To produce individuals who believe firmly in the individual and collective system of Islam. To protect, practice, and promote it.

2. To help in knowing Allah and the ways to please Him using latest means at his disposal (as a Khalifah).

3. To develop morals by following the Prophet pbuh (Ta’leem + Tazkiah + Himkmah)


The Islamic Objectives (Contd.)

4. Live a balanced life (spiritual vs material; self vs society; spending vs saving; avoiding extremes)

5. To be expert in one’s own field

6. To have a vision and a mission along with discipline … within the limits given by Allah.


Develop the Educational System

Yourself

– No nation can survive by copying the Educational system of others

– Russians had developed their own after communist revolution.

– Even in science, there are facts and interpretations

– Interpretation depends upon culture (Ex: Water; Species)


Current Situation

We have two streams of education

• Deeni / Madrassa Education

• Secular / School Education


Deeni / Madrassa Education.

– Mostly out-of-date with current situation

– Originally designed for producing civil servants (in Muslim rule); that is why living in India, you don’t find any syllabus for Dawah; or how to live and interact with others in a multi-cultural society;

– Generates 1000’s of Huffaz but not even 1% know what they have memorized!

– Yes, their contribution is immense. Especially in the absence of any alternative


Secular / School Education

– Has no link with Islamic education.

– A subject (on Islamic Studies) is there but it is confined mostly to beliefs, worship, and morals.

– Nothing to do with the concept of knowledge. Nothing to relate oneself with other subjects.


Secular Education

– Students are taught Science, maths, social studiens, politics, history, law, management, economics, etc. etc. but no where do you see any Islamic perspective.

– The one who has money and positions is the successful one (Media, culture)

– Result: The whole life is built along non-Islamic lines.


Current Status

– For masses (of students), this is what we have

– So, we need to work more to save our generation

– Especially in the light of TV/Internet and media onslaught against Islam and Muslims


Akbar Ilahabadi said (Urdu)

Yon qatl se bachchon ke wo badnaam na hota

Afsoos ke fir’oun ko college ki na soojhi

– Pisr mein bu aaye kyonkar …

– Doodh hai dabbey ka aur taleem hai sarkar ki


95% of our Students Study in

Schools– Do they have a goal of life? It is not a

philosophical question.

– After spending 15, 20 years in education, if a Muslim does not know his goal, it is a disaster!!!

– Not just eat, live, and produce children (just as animals do)

ك كل األنعا والهذين كفروا يتمتهعون ويأ

لون كما تأ

والنهار مثوى لهم


Without Goal!!!

– If our educated, leader, cream class does not have a goal, forget about others. It is a sign of a dying millat.

– Especially so because this millat is not based on caste, color, race, or state. If it looses goal, … forget the future!


Secular Education Prepares

Atheists & Materialistic Persons!Examples:

– Science: Anomalous expansion of water. Not taught: The One Who created sea creatures created water. This is not automatic.

– History: Egyptology, the most imp. subject. Not taught: Why Moosa (A) is mentioned most in the Qur’an.

– Economics: Not taught: You don’t have to rely on interest.


When I graduated and went to

the University library…I could hardly find books written by

Muslims (in almost all sciences).

I could not understand the role of Islam in history until I read:

– “Islam and the World” by Ml. Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

– “Islam and Science” by Ml. Waheeduddin Khan

– “Hijab” and “Al-Jihad fil Islam” by Ml. Maudoodi


My Goal then was…

– Just to survive or have a good life.

– As far as my role as a Muslim is concerned: It was limited to praying Namaz / Salah.

– With time it improved to serve Muslims.

– Now I know that it should be to serve humanity, not just Muslims. This is the way to serve Islam.

– But this teaching simply does not exist in our educational system!


A Muslim’s Goal is Ibadah (in

the full sense of the term)

الجنه واإلنس إاله ل يعبدون وما خلق

ر قل إنه صالتي ونسكي ومحي اي ومماتي لله ب (162)العالمين

اللهم باسمك أموت وأحيا


The Goal is repeated more

than 25 times everyday

( 5)إيهاك نعبد وإيهاك نستعين

راط المستقيم ( 6)اهدنا الص

عليهم صراط الهذين أنعم

(7)ال ين غير المغضوب عليهم وال الضه

– Goal: To do Ibadah and be among the first group ( عليهم and not (أنعمamong the last 2.


The Goal…

Who are those ( عليهم : (أنعم

– Prophets, Truthful, Martyrs, and Righteous

Let us just take the first group (Prophets) and the top among them. Muhammad pbuh.

He followed Allah’s will and became the Most Successful (a/c to non-Muslims)

He achieved peace and happiness (the ultimate goal) too.


To achieve that goal…

– Do our students ever bother to explore his Seerah in detail (his faith, his worshipping style, his time management, his attitude, his confidence, his relationship with others,)

– Nobody tells them, nor prepares them, nor reminds them, nor gives them a plan, nor follows up their progress on this path.


The Problem

– We shoot directly into Aakhirah only

– i.e., Pray Salah and you will be rewarded in Aakhirah

– But Salah has to do with TODAY’S work too.

– The 5 prayers (+Qur’an study etc) do not consume even 2 to 3 hours.

– What about the rest of the day? Is it confined to only behaving well with others?


Imagine …

– A Muslim country of an-‘amta ‘alayhim:

– All Da’ees but beggars in every other area. No doctors, no engineers, no technicians, no nurses, no businessmen, no economists, …. All these are either Chrisitians, Hindus, or Buddhists…

– And when some outside power is unhappy, you can expect a boycott or an attack which may kill millions (as has happened to Iraq or Afghanistan).


Imagine another case:

– A country/ society with a team of good Muslims and Da’ees

– They have doctors, researchers, inventors, scientists, engineers, technocrats, economists, businessmen, managers, and all other experts.

– Each group having very clear about its vision and mission as a Muslim;

– Excellent interaction between them.

Don’t you think Allah wants such a society for true Khilafah!


What after Salah?

– Whatever you do… counts towards becoming excellent in your field.

– Towards forming that excellent team.

– So, for a student, he has to perform best in studies (with the right intention)

– He reaches there step by step; day by day’s work.

– He behaves best with parents, teachers, friends, etc.

– Uses his time to optimum use.


Areas of Islamic Education

1. God’s word – Based on revelation –منقوالت

2. God’s world – Using the 3 faculties Allah gave to each one of us (listening, watching, and using mind) - معقوالت



Allah’s Word (Direct studies)

Allah’s World (Supporting studies)

To live in Allah’s WORLD

and handle it according to Allah’s WORD…

to become true Khalifah…

to get HIS PLEASURE



ALLAH’S WORD ALLAH’S WORLD

DIRECT STUDIES SUPPORTING STUDIES

QURAN (and Hadith)

STUDY

Ayyamillah Allah’s world GOD’S

KINGDOM

HISTORY,

CULTURE

SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY

LAWS,

ECONOMICS

LANGUAGES ARTS

Start everyday with Allah’s word and then let the students

go to study Allah’s world!!!


Important Features Islamic

Education - 1– No division between religious and

secular.

– Up to high school, same syllabus for everyone

– All essential subjects will be taught.

– Supporting subjects (Maths, Sciences, etc.) will be taught in the spirit of Islam.

– A student will look at this world with Islamic vision.


Important Features Islamic

Education - 2

After high school, education for Specialists in

– Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, History

– Tarbiyah, Dawah,

– Islamic Social sciences

– Islamic Philosophies

– Comparative religion

– Islamic Economists


Current Reality

– No such system exists (in secular and most Muslim countries)

– Islamic Studies is just one subject in our schools

– It is the Most neglected, abused, and last in priority

– No supervision or follow up for it

– Most importantly – Qur’an is missing! (except for rote memorization of few Surahs and their translation passages)


If we keep Islam as …

– If we keep it as the lowest priority

– Our children will treat Islam as the lowest priority when they grow up


Islamic Education

A responsibility on every one

• School

• Masjid

• Home

• Neighbors/elders/society

• …


Taleem + Tarbiyah at home too

– Do it at home too. You can’t rely on school alone

– The parents have to get involved


An Appeal

– Try to get understanding of the Qur’an teaching into curriculum of your school too. It is the most important subject.

– Almost no school, even Muslim schools teach it to the full.

– A high school graduate should be able to understand the full Qur’an and listen to at least a big book on Hadith (like Riyadhus-saliheen or Bulooghul Maraam).

– It needs only 200 hours of teaching for adults and around 300 or little more for students. Visit www.understandquran.com for details.

http://www.understandquran.com/

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