April 17, 2019 Upholding the Trust One of the hallmarks of Islamic life and practice is to pursue and disseminate sacred knowledge. I consider it to be a great honor and trust (amaanat) to serve as a teacher tasked with the responsibility of educating others about the religion Allah has chosen as a means of salvation in this world and the next. To fulfill this weighty duty and responsibility it is crucial that one seek knowledge as an Islamic Studies teacher and sincerely strive to put it into practice in ones life. Of course, this cannot be possible except through reading and applying the Book of Allah and following the sunnahof His beloved Prophet and Messenger. I believe that the highest standard of professionalism is embodied in holding oneself accountable in the sight of Allah and recognizing that working in an Islamic school is a great responsibility and trust (amaanat).
Cultivating Students (Tarbiyah) I consider Islamic education of children to be an obligatory responsibility that rest upon the shoulders of every Muslim adult. The educational framework and structure of an Islamic school must formulate its foundation upon the principles of tarbiyah, which is the basic approach of educating children Islamically. Tarbiyah refers to the systematic development and training of children in the light of Islamic teachings. It is a continuous and comprehensive process of developing beliefs, character, manners, and Islamic practice in the lives of students. Of course, incorporated in this process is the concern to develop their intellectual capacity through mathematics, language arts, science and technology, as well as stimulating a deep-rooted concern for humanity as a whole. Service learning projects such as helping the needy, visiting the sick, or community cleanup are all wonderful ways to develop and cultivate concern for others. The central quality of cultivating and developing our students must stem from a sense of love, compassion, and mercy.
The standards of a successful Islamic institution can only be measured and assessed through the lens of the laws that formulate our religion. One of the major goals of the Shari’ah (Divine law) is to preserve the religion and protect the guidance that has been given for our salvation. The idea of tarbiyah suggest that children and young adults must be cultivated Islamically before they completely inter into a social setting saturated with toxic ideas and influences. To believe that we can effectively prepare our children without first cultivating the seed of taqwa, righteousness, justice, and muhaasabah(self-awareness) is an indication that we fail to understand the core principles of ‘aqeedah(belief) and total submission.
My Fundamental Beliefs About Education The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) addressed the children of Al-Madina at a young age and taught them to understand that Allah’s help and support can only come through upholding principles of the religion. Being recompensed for ones deeds is a fundamental concept that everyone can grasp and understand. This is why the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) laid the foundation of Islamic life and practice based on Belief that Allah has the right to be worshipped alone and that He is capable of doing all things (Al-Qadeer). Once this fundamental belief is ingrained in the minds and hearts of our children they will be able to make choices based on their faith and belief in Allah.
As educators our overall goal and objective should be to cultivate and equip Muslim students with a mind or way of thinking that will enable them to integrate into a diverse environment understanding who they are and where their success is obtained. The teachings of salat, fasting, supplication, and thikrare all designed to cultivate in the heart a sense of nearness and obedience to Allah. Understanding the goals and objectives of these practices will give the Muslim student the strength needed to endure the challenges of peer pressure and alienation. Of course, coaching and reasoning with our children will help in the process of developing confidence and eliminating doubt but the foundation of their strength can only come through sincere belief and a desire to please Allah. Without these components a child will inevitably experience distance from Allah and feelings of insecurity and estrangement. As a result they will naturally make the necessary adjustments to fit in with the environment around them. I am aware that this process is easier said than done, therefore I’m an advocate to create more options that will help our children maintain their Islamic life and practice, such as organizing high schools and colleges for them. If Additional time is to cultivate strong beliefs and identity we as adults must organize our time and resources to create options that will support the development of our children before allowing them to enter into an environment ill-equipped. This responsibility rest on the shoulders of us all!
Authentic Integration I believe Islamic Studies should not be viewed as another subject along with science, math, and language arts; rather it is a subject that should be the nucleus of an Islamic school. Its framework must permeate throughout all school activity and classroom instructions through authentic integration. Our school culture should be an Islamic culture striving to put all the necessary components of our religion in place in order to please Allah and solicit His help and guidance. I pray Allah grant us patience and help us all work together towards this common goal. Authentic integration can only be achieved through acquiring Islamic knowledge and applying it to everyday situations and circumstances. Allah informs us in the Qur'an that the life of this world is nothing but ghuroor (deception). If we deeply ponder on this statement we will come to the conclusion that the Book of Allah and the teachings of His messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) are the only guidance that will enable us to realize the true reality of all affairs.
An Educational Process Worth Reflecting Upon One of the early scholars in Islam explained the process of true Islamic education. Yusuf ibn ‘Ubayd (Rahimaullah) said,
With good manners – you will understand knowledge
With knowledge – your actions will be corrected
With correct actions – wisdom will be obtained
With wisdom – Zuhd (abstention) will be developed
With zuhd – comes abandoning (the unnecessary concerns of) this dunya (world)
With abandoning this dunya – comes the desire for the Hereafter
With desire for the Hereafter – the pleasure of Allah is obtained.
Musa Ramsey Islamic Studies Teacher Al-Iman School