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We live in a world where misconceptions about life and its purpose,
materialism, greed, racism, violence and other forms of injustice and
immorality are everyday realities. Are we teaching our pupils what they
should be taught about the TRUTH and REALITIES of the life as our
Creator Allah (swt) wants us to teach? OR we are simply teaching them
what the materialistic and secular world wants us to teach them?
Across the ages and throughout the world parents,
teachers, philosophers, religious and civic leaders have wrestled with
the question of how to raise morally and ethically responsible citizens.
Today the task is greater: teachers have not only to raise good citizens
of the state, but also to train them to be good citizens of the world,
to be part of the community of nations and humanity that at present are
bedeviled by misconceptions about religion, greed, materialism,
atrocities, ethnic cleansing and genocide.
There is indeed a revealed book, the Qur’an, full of
wisdom and guidance to lead humanity out of its cycles of
misconceptions, hatred, tyranny, oppression and war. "[This is] a Book
we have revealed onto you, in order that you might lead humankind out of
the depth of darkness into the light" (Ibrahim 14:1).
Indeed its simple directions for human conduct are plain
and easy to understand and act upon. "And We have indeed made the Qur’an
easy to understand and to remember" (ad-Dukhan 44:58).
Thus we teachers should teach our pupils the TRUTH about
life from the Divine Quranic perspective, and not from the prevalent
secular and materialistic outlook, otherwise we have failed in our duty.
TEACH PUPILS THE FOLLOWING LESSONS ABOUT THE TRUTH OF
LIFE FROM THE QURANIC PERSPECTIVE.
TEACH YOUR PUPIL THAT .... (Note that the word
'he' below represent both the male and female gender).
Lesson No. 1
- He is Allah’s Khalifa on the earth and has been created for a special
mission.
Allah says: "I will create a vicegerent [to be my representative] on
earth" (al-Baqarah 2:30).
Lesson No. 2
- His obligatory mission is to change himself, society and the larger
environment to create morally and ethically balanced selves and a
peaceful just Islamic society.
"You
are the best community which has ever been brought forth for the
guidance of humankind: you enjoin good, forbid evil, and believe in
Allah" (Al-Imran 3:110).
Lesson No. 3
- He is responsible of his action, whether good or bad, and he will be
asked for that.
Quran says: "Every soul draws the consequences [only] of its own action"
(an-Nahl 16:111).
Lesson No. 4
-
Apart from his material and physical needs, he should also nurture his
spiritual needs. The Qur’an states clearly that human personality is not
only physical and psychological but is also spiritual in nature.
"And
when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their backs
their descendants, and made them bear witness to their own SOULS: Am I
not your Lord?" (al-A’raf 7:172).
Lesson No. 5
- All human beings are equal. Quran tells us that Allah has created
humanity from the same essence or nafs (soul).
"Humankind! Be conscious of your sustainer who created you of a single
soul" (al-Nisa’ 4:1). This verse leaves no room for racial, ethnic or
gender superiority among nations.
"And
among His signs is the creation of heaven and earth, and the variation
in your languages and in your colours. Verily in that are signs for
those who know" (ar-Rum 30:22).
Lesson No. 6
- He must change himself towards betterment constantly. He must be ready
and always courageous to change himself.
The
focus of reform in the Qur’an is the individual personality, when it
clearly points out that the condition of the people will not change
unless they change their own thinking and behaviour. (ar-Ra’d 13:11).
Lesson No. 7
- Our role-models are the Prophet (saww), Bibi Fatima (as) and the 12
Imams. Children need role-models (also known as "good examples"), and
teachers are their primary examples. To be good role models themselves,
teachers must also have models or mentors of their own whose example
they can emulate. For teachers, the ultimate model is the Prophet
Muhammad (SAWW) and after him the 12 Imams.
"A good example you [men and women] have in Allah’s
Messenger, for all whose hope is in Allah and in the Final Day and who
remember Allah much": (al-Ahzab 33:21).
His deeds were local, but had global implications for
social justice, economic equality and harmony between different
cultures, races, genders and religions. We need to translate these
global Islamic values into day-to-day reality for our children if they
are to be worthy future representatives of Allah in the world community.
Lesson No. 8
- Teach your pupils how to translate Islamic ideals into daily life. The
most difficult and demanding challenge for teachers today is not
determining which civic or religious ideals to pass on to their pupils,
but how to translate them effectively into daily routine. Burdened by
social and economic pressure, crime, violence, stressful family
relationships and a confusing political environment, pupils need
guidance to help them translate Islamic ideals into daily life. All this
begins at home and school.
Lesson No. 9
- Family life and kindness to parents is of paramount necessity. The
Qur’an directs children persuasively, appealing to their emotions. It
asks children "to show kindness to parents; and if one of them or both
of them attain old age, then not even a word of disapprobation or
disgust be uttered" (al-Isra’ 17:23), let alone repulsing them. They
should be addressed politely and graciously, "lowering unto them the
wing of submission and kindness" (al-Isra’ 17:24).
As for the importance of family life and the relation
between husband and wife, Quran says: "And He has put Love and Mercy
between your hearts (husband and wife)". (30:21).
Lesson No. 10
- This world is not for luxuries and "Idle sport". Children must
understand that Allah’s creation is "for just ends" (al-Hijr 15:85), not
in "idle sport" (al-Anbiya’ 21:16); humanity has been created to serve
Allah. Thus material gain should not be the aim of this life, otherwise
repentance will be the result.
Lesson No. 11
- The criteria for excellence is not wealth, race, physical beauty or
power, but Taqwa, Ilm and Amal. Ponder upon this verse: "The most
honoured among you is the most righteous among you". (49:13).
Lesson No. 12
-
Aim of our creation is worship and service to humanity. "I have not
created Jinns and men but to serve". (51:56).
According to Qur’anic teaching, service of Allah cannot be separated
from service to humankind, or – in Islamic terms – believers in Allah
must honour both huqooq-Allah (Allah’s rights) and huqooq al-’ibaad (His
creatures’ rights). Fulfilment of one’s duties to Allah and mankind
constitutes righteousness (al-Baqarah 2:177).
Lesson No. 13
- Children should understand the importance of volunteering: at home
regularly helping their parents; and in the community helping neighbours,
sharing their time with the elderly, visiting the sick and sharing their
resources with others. (2:177)
Lesson No. 14
-
Children should learn to fit in with others. It means resolving
conflicts with fair words, not clenched fists; it also means listening
to one another, expressing oneself, developing self-esteem, being a good
team-player, having good manners, and demonstrating civility to all.
"Repel evil with that which is best". (23:96).
Lesson No. 15
- Children should learn that God through His mercy has always guided man
through Prophets and Imams and has never left any single period without
a guide. Is is possible then that mankind is left without a divine guide
in this turbulent period? He should know that in this age the guide is
Imam Mahdi (atfs) and he should prepare for his appearance for the
establishment of Islam.
"And
to every community there is a Guide". (13:7)
Lesson No. 16
-
Children should know that humanity is a single nation, their Creator is
the same Allah and their return is towards the same Allah (swt). "Verily
this Ummah of yours is a single community". (21:92).
Thus
the worst current enemies of mankind in this modern age are:
-
Secularism which divides the religious and political
roles and responsibilities into two separate entities.
-
Nationalism which divides mankind into small nations
antagonistic towards each other by drawing false borders.
-
Man-made religions and ideologies like capitalism and
socialism which declare the role of Allah (swt) as non-existent e.g.
Marxists, or partial i.e. spiritual only, or anti-modern and old.
-
Materialism which has lowered the importance of
spirituality and morality in the society.
Lesson No. 17
-
Children should be engaged in learning or projects involving skills not
for the purpose of worldly gains but for the main purpose of serving the
humanity. Wealth and worldly gains should be considered as means and not
as aims.
Lesson No. 18
- Our pupils should know that Allah (swt) is the Most Merciful and 70
times more kind than their own mothers. The meaning of "Ar Rahmanir
Rahiim" must be deliberatively explained. Unfortunately the figure of
Allah is demonized in the Madrassahs.
Lesson No. 19
- They must be taught that this world is a test and a passing dream. The
real life is in the Hereafter.
"The
life of this world is nothing but temporary and the life in the
Hereafter is the one that lasts forever". (40:39)
Lesson No. 20
- Peace, stability and justice can be only achieved through
establishment of Islam and the rule of divinely appointed Imams or Naibe
Imams only and nothing else, and it is his prime duty to strive for the
establishment of Islam on the earth. We believe that the current
corruption, immorality, and injustice is due to corrupt man-made ruling
systems and their crooked rulers.
"Kings when they enter the country, corrupt it". (27:34).
Throughout human history Teachers have provided civil
society with well-adjusted, hardworking and honest future citizens.
Effective civic education based on Islamic concepts begins and continues
at School and home, where the laying of foundations is a daily process
for the development of ethical and moral values, reinforced by
interactions with school and the rest of the community. Because children
learn their first lessons in citizenship at home and school, teachers
must take the initiative, and be fully engaged in this process as the
driving engine of society.
The above must form the VISION and GUIDANCE for
Dar-ul-Muslimeen Education Center teachers always, I pray. Amin.
Your humble servant in Islam,
Muslim Bhanji
N.B. The above paper was presented in a Seminar for
the teachers of Dar-ul-Muslimeen Education Center, Dodoma.
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