M.A. Education Fund General Guidelines

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

A - Introduction:

Education is power. Education is light and guidance. Education is solution to all problems and satisfaction to the heart. Moreover education saves and sustains. Education develops both the person and the community. Holy Quran clearly draws a line: "Are those who are knowledgeable equal to those who are not". (39:9)

The first commandment given to Prophet Muhammad (saww) was about education: IQRA’ - Read. And when he was asked: "What should a dying person do?" He answered: "Seek knowledge". He further emphasized: "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave".

He also insisted that "Seek knowledge even if it is from China". China was a year-long journey at that time. At today's modern world, a year-long journey is to far away planets and stars.

If you see the cause of any developed and progressing community, the bottom line is ‘education’. Shall we then not take heed? We thought and resolved that the tool to empower our Shia community would be "Madh-hab Ahlulbayt (M.A.) Education Fund".

B - Aim:

The aim is simple and straight forward. Empower the followers of Ahlulbayt - Shia Ithna Ashari Community - in Dodoma particularly and in Tanzania generally, with education. There should not be any Shia deserving child or youth left without education - starting from Primary level up to University level - simply because his/her parents or guardians could not afford to pay the education fees.

Is not the Shia Community guardian of every Shia child and youth who wants to seek knowledge? Prophet Muhammad (saww) has an answer to this question: "All of you are guardians, and all of you are responsible to it".

C - How to fulfill the above Aim?

I - Administration:

• To get the census of Shia families who need help in the field of Education, by filling specially designed forms for the purpose.

• To keep proper records of the above and of all those who seek assistance, those who deserve it, and those who are already under sponsorship.

II - Carreer Counselling Desk:

• To advice and encourage all the Shia children and youths to seek education until University level.

• To help students who seek professional counseling for their future career prospectus.

• To advice and encourage students who are engaged in learning, to work hard and excel in their fields.

III - Action Plan:

• To provide ‘Qardhul Hasanah’ or a ‘Soft Education Loan’ to those who want to get admission to schools and colleges - starting from Primary education level up to University education - but are unable to do so due to financial problems.

• To advertise and appeal to various schools and colleges for sponsorship.

• To advertise and appeal to well-wishers and generous donors to sponsor students.

• To ensure proper rotation and regulation of the repayment of the soft loans, for the benefit of other deserving applicant students.

D - What is ‘Qardhul Hasanah’ or ‘Soft Education Loan’?

Qardhul Hasanah is a type of Islamic Soft loan whereby the receiving persons - in our case students - are required to repay the loans regularly but with very soft and lenient conditions.

E - How will succesful candidates repay back the Qardhul Hasanah or the Soft Education Loan?

The students who are successful in receiving the Qardhul Hasanah from MA Education Fund, are required to repay the loan back through some or all of the below methods as per mutual agreement with the M.A Education fund:

1. To repay the loan in small installments spread to a very long span of time, either repaid by the student him/herself or his/her guardian.

2. To repay through kind by teaching, educating, and/or providing tuitions to his fellow students for agreed time by both the parties.

3. To repay through work for agreed time in institutions, organizations, and/or companies as appointed by the M.A. Education Fund.

4. To engage in Tabligh activities like preaching, lecturing, teaching, translation work, humanitarian services, organizing tabligh programs, etc.

F - Who can seek Education Loan from the Fund?

All student applicants who fulfill the below mentioned conditions can apply for education loan and will be eligible to receive loan, if available, from the fund:

1. A "Muslim Shia Ithna Ashariyah" by faith regardless of color, nationality, tribe, race or caste.

2. Becoming a member of the M.A. fund by filling the membership form and fulfilling its guidelines. A successful member of M.A. Education fund will be given an ‘Identity Card’ for future references. Students who are less than 15 years, will seek membership and education loan through their parents/guardians.

3. Attending Shia Masjids and Centers regularly for religious obligations such as Prayers, Majlis, and other programs, at least once in a week i.e. Juma Prayers.

4. A student with good religious background of Shia faith (on personal and/or family level).

5. Ready to attend Shia religious classes or pursue ‘Shia Religious Correspondence Courses’ as appointed by the fund.

6. A student with a good moral background i.e. refraining from immoral and sinful activities like God forbid wine, gambling, drugs, deceit, lies, music and all other religiously decreed vices.

7. To show seriousness in pursuing education and passing in all the exams as per the criteria of the school or college in which he is sponsored to study. Applicants are required to submit the result slip of their academic performance every year.

8. To fulfill all the agreements and rules mutually agreed upon while receiving the fund.

9. Neglecting or contravening any of the above rules intentionally will result into the withdrawal of the loan.

G - Who is a Muslim Shia Ithna Ashariyah?

A Muslim Shia Ithna Ashariyah, in brief, believes in the following:

1. There is no God but Allah (swt).

2. Allah (swt) sent prophets to guide the mankind, the first being Prophet Adam (as) and the last is Prophet Muhammad (saww) who is the leader and seal of all the prophets, and there is no prophet after him.

3. Allah (swt) also sent divine books to guide the mankind, among which the final is Holy Quran which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saww). The Holy Quran which is between our hand is authentic as revealed by Allah (swt) without any alteration or change whatsoever.

4. With the order from Allah (swt), Prophet Muhammad (saww) appointed 12 Imams, Khalifas and Wasi (successors) after him. Their names are as follows:

1) Imam Ali bin Abitalib Al-Murtadha (as)

2) Imam Hassan bin Ali Al-Mujtaba (as)

3) Imam Hussein bin Ali Shaheed Karbala (as)

4) Imam Ali bin Hussein Zainul Abideen (as)

5) Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Baqir (as)

6) Imam Ja’fer bin Muhammad As-Sadiq (as)

7) Imam Mussa bin Ja’far Al-Kadhim (as)

8) Imam Ali bin Mussa Ar-Ridha (as)

9) Imam Muhammad bin Ali At-Taqi (as)

10) Imam Ali bin Muhammad An-Naqi (as)

11) Imam Hassan bin Ali Al-Askari (as).

12) Imam Muhammad bin Hassan Al-Mahdi (as) - who is still alive but in Ghayba (occultation). He will reappear again with the order of Allah (swt) to establish Islam all over the world and fill it with justice and peace. During Imam’s Ghaybah, we do Taqleed (follow) of his representatives who are the most learned and pious Ulema of the age in our daily lives.

5. There is a "Day of Judgement (Qiyamah)" in which Allah (swt) will resurrect all the dead and account them according to their deeds. The good-doers will be rewarded in Jannah and the evil-doers will be punished in Jahannam.

6. The two basic sources of Shariyah (Islamic Laws) are the Holy Quran and the True Sunnah of the Prophet as taught to by the 12 Holy Imams after the Prophet’s death.

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