Our perspective of understanding education is based upon Islamic sources. To explain this perspective, we shall analyze three events of education recorded in Quran and Hadiths.
Quranul Kareem describes the first event of education of the human being in Sura Baqarah, verses 31-34. Allah (SWT) created Adam (AS) and taught him all the names, meaning the knowledge or ilm. When education of Adam (AS) was completed, he was presented in front of the angels. When asked about the names of different things, the angels failed but Adam (AS) succeeded by the virtue of his acquired knowledge. The second event comes from the life of Prophet (SA). He was known as ‘ummi’, one who was not educated by the traditional education system of human being. Yet, he (SA) was the most knowledgeable human being. How was he (SA) educated? Prophet (SA) was educated by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala through His most honorable angel Jibreel (AS). Allah (SWT) narrates, ‘taught him the one intense in strength, one with soundness’. The ‘one’ referred to in this verse was Jibreel (AS). From the time of receiving the Prophethood until departure from this world, Prophet (SA) was regularly educated by Jibreel (AS). The third event of education occurred when Prophet (SA) taught his companions. This education program continued for twenty two years and details of this program have been recorded in numerous Hadiths. The education program of Prophet (SA) was remarkable and it produced a new nation, ‘The Muslims’, who within a decade of world replacing powerful Byzantine and Persian Empires.
All three events mentioned above present
to us model of education. While we take lessons from all three events, our
attention specially turns to the Prophet (SA)’s education program to the
companions, for Allah subahnahu wa ta’ala says, “There has certainly been
for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is
in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often” (Sura Ahzab
verse 21). What lessons can we take from Prophet (SA)’s education program? We
can take following lessons:
· There was a teacher; he was Prophet (SA)- the best among the mankind. Allah Himself certified the Prophet (SA) by saying وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ (And you hold an exalted standard of character, Sura Qalam verse 4). Quran and Hadith explain in details about the Prophet (SA)’s art of imparting knowledge. So, our teachers must follow his way of teaching.
• There was a curriculum of highest quality; it was the ‘Ilmush Shariah’ derived from Quran and Hadiths. This curriculum had its foundation upon ‘tauhid’ and risalat’, and was also elaborate in fine proportion about all that were necessary to make a person successful in this life and in the hereafter. Therefore, our curriculum must be founded upon the ‘Ilmush Shariah’.
• There were thousands of students called ‘the companions’; they were the finest examples of knowledge seekers. Numerous Hadiths describe their manners and etiquettes of seeking knowledge. Therefore, our students will be taught the way of the companions.
• The companions always exercised the style of deep thinking or Tadabbur, for without ‘deep thinking’ it is not possible to reach the depth of the Book of Allah. The constant exercise of deep thinking had tremendous impact on the companions; soon they became the wisest generation of the Muslim Ummah. Therefore, we shall also try to inculcate the style of ‘deep thinking’ among our students.
It must also be mentioned here that the education program of Prophet (SA) does not prohibit imparting essential knowledge and skill by which the educated generation can build a secured and benevolent society.
Based upon the discussion above,
curriculum of International Islamic Institute has been made a mix of ‘ilmush
shariah’ and the ‘essential knowledge of the worldly affairs’. This mix will be
achieved through a fine balance; by keeping constant focus on ‘ilmush shariah’
as to be the foundation of the curriculum and ‘essential knowledge of the
worldly affairs’ to develop upon the foundation.