A Teacher’s guide

“Teaching Students

what they should be Taught ...”

Written by Shaykh Muslim Bhanji

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 students what they should be taught about the TRUTH and REALITIES of the life as our Creator Allah i 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 bedevilled 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 students the TRUTH about life from the Divine Qur’anic perspective, and not from the prevalent secular and materialistic outlook, otherwise we have failed in our duty.

 

TEACH STUDENTS THE FOLLOWING LESSONS ABOUT

THE TRUTH OF LIFE FROM THE QUR’ANIC 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. Qur’an 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. Qur’an 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 7, Bibi Fatima I and the 12 Imams E. 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 7 and after him the 12 Imams E:“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 students 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 students, 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, students 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, Qur’an 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 B 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 i: “Verily this Ummah of yours is a single community.” (21:92). Thus the worst current enemies of mankind in this modern age are:

1. Secularism which divides the religious and political roles and responsibilities into two separate entities..

3. Man-made religions and ideologies like capitalism and socialism which declare the role of Allah i as non-existant e.g. Marxists, or partial i.e. spiritual only, or anti-modern and old.
d.. 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 students should know that Allah i is the Most Merciful and 70 times more kind than their own mothers. The meaning of “Ar Rahmanir Rahiim” must be elaboratively explained. Unfortunately the figure of Allah is demonised 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 the directly appointed representatives of the 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.