1. “MUQADDIMAH” - ISLAM: TAUHID, EDUCATION AND WAY OF LIFE. (part II).

....... to continue

CONCEPT OF EDUCATION

Islam as “Ad-Deen” i.e. a complete way of life, encompass a total system and does not recognize any form of separation or dichotomy between what is secular and what is religious; between the material and the spiritual; between the intellectual and moral. It stresses the need to moulding of a complete man and provides the balanced system based upon the concept of Tauhiid, unifying every aspect of his life under the concept of attesting to the Oneness of Allah. Therefore especially with regard to education, Islam's philosophy is unique and unsurpassed. Whereas in the past experience of the other religions where intellectual progress was only possible by 'secularism', Islam's success as the torch bearer of knowledge and civilization was because of the adherence ,of the Muslims to this total system of life. The main reason for the decline of the Muslims was when they begin to separate the wholesome teachings of Islam as a complete way and adopt the secularist thinking.

To do justice, it actually requires a much lengthier discourse on the subject specifically, but allow me to briefly summarise the approach of education just from the earlier mentioned three aspects that are necessary in Tauhiid - to show that stemming from this concept, Islam's philosophy of education is rooted.

(see also my * ADDENDUM to the Education of a Muslim – to be posted later)

Iiman (Faith/Conviction)

'iiman', which is usually translated as faith does not mean blind acceptance without a corresponding intellectual discernment. Islam stresses very much upon man's proper use of the gift of reason. But it does not encourage a purely intellectual acquisition devoid of any spiritual fulfillment or conviction. Rather, from the knowledge of certainty based on the revelation (Tauqifiiyah), we are required to confirm them with our faculties especially that of intellectual reasoning and by observing the signs and wonders of the whole creation until it develops into conviction. It is a gradual process of reinforcing ones awareness and belief and the Muslims are required to strive to strengthen this by acquiring all other knowledge. Thus the main subject which becomes necessary in the education of every Muslim is 'Usuulud-deen'- the basis of the Deen (theology), and the other important knowledge which becomes relevant, complementary and important are for example Astronomy, Geology, Anthropology, Biology, Natural Sciences ... etc. which would enhance conviction in Muslims of the Truth of his creed.

إِنَّ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّہَارِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬

لِّأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمً۬ا وَقُعُودً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَڪَّرُونَ

فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلاً۬ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّار

“Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of Night and Day,― there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.―

Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.”

(Qur’an: Surah aa-li ‘Imran: 3: 190-191)

‘Amal (Correct Practices)

From an Hadith, we learnt from the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. about the nature of iiman, thus :

"iiman is to be convinced in your heart (mind), and to express it in words and to manifest it in practice ('amal)"

(Reported by Muslim)

For man, ultimately, to function as he was created to function is the most sensible. The Creator, Who had prescribed the Way for man, enjoins him to adopt the path of Submission and Obedience (al-Islam). Thus, in a Muslim, iiman must correspond and be manifested with 'amal. Practice, for a Muslim is for a specific purpose - that of serving our Maker. Stemming from the concept of Unity of God, we see this vast creation as one whole in which man has been accorded with a special position and with it the responsibility as Allah's vicegerent on earth. This 'Amanah (Trust) is to be carried out in the best possible manner, guided by the whole teachings left behind by Allah's Final Messenger Muhammad s.a.w. Thus we see the growth of an outstanding world civilization spearheaded by the Muslims when they held fast to this concept that has benefitted all mankind. Alas, the world today is faced with so much turmoil because this Trust is betrayed. Man who does not adhere to the concept of Tauhiid, is experimenting with other ways with disastrous result - whereas the panacea for them is still to be found in the pristine teachings of Islam.

ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِى ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم

بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ

مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ كَانَ أَڪۡثَرُهُم مُّشۡرِكِينَ فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ

ٱلۡقَيِّمِ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِىَ يَوۡمٌ۬ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬

يَصَّدَّعُونَ مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيۡهِ كُفۡرُهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَمَنۡ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا

فَلِأَنفُسِہِمۡ يَمۡهَدُونَ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ

ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

“Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil).

Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before (you): most of them worshipped others besides Allah."

But set thou thy face to the right Religion, before there come from Allah the Day which there is no chance of averting: on that Day shall men be divided (in two).

Those who reject Faith will suffer from that rejection: and those who work righteousness will spread their couch (of repose) for themselves (in heaven):

That He may reward those who believe and work righteous deeds, out of His Bounty: for He loves not those who reject Faith.”

(Qur’an: Surah Rum: 30: 45)

Thus in ‘Amal, the important subject is the knowledge of the "Shari'ah" (literally means “the Way”) - which encompasses personal duties of Muslims; matters of family law; aspects pertaining to economic and social transactions; law for the establishment of order in society; distribution and utilization of wealth; administration of justice and government; international law .. etc. The other knowledge, which is complementary thus then becomes relevant and necessary, such as accountancy, medical sciences, environmental and physical sciences .... etc. which are required to fulfill the aim of “Shari’ah” – bringing benefits to mankind and removing every harm – in the most efficient manner possible, in accordance with our capabilities.

Ihsan (Best conduct/excellence)

As stated earlier, the Tauhiidal approach in education is towards the moulding of a complete man. Basically Islam stresses the potential goodness in the nature of man - "created in the best of mould." It also stresses the need for man to aspire towards perfection, if not he will be debased to become the lowest of the low. Thus having a certain conviction and establishing good upon the face of this world itself would be superfluous if the disposition (akhlaq) of man is not at the same time elevated. The western world today (and to a certain extent, imitated by the Eastern people too) is a paradox in that although the western 'modern' man has the technology towards conquering the outer space, he has not been able to conquer his passion and beastly desires. So much material advancement has been made and yet their world is faced with moral decay. Western man is covered with so much material comfort and yet his inner self is in turmoil, lacking that inner peace and tranquility. All of which indicate the shortcomings of their approach in education. Alas, these shortcomings too are being copied by the under-developed or developing countries in the East - unable to differentiate what are beneficial (admittedly there are many that the West can offer especially science & technology), and what are not beneficial (especially those decadent culture & sub-culture) that came with the transfer of technology.

Thus the aspect of Ihsan which is the third component of Tauhiid is primarily concern with the refinement of the disposition of man, dealing with the attitude and inner awareness of man. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. has stated :

"Al-Ihsan (righteousness and best conduct) is that you serve (worship) Allah as though you are seeing Him. Even though if you don't see Him you are convinced that He sees you"

(Hadith reported by Bukhary & Muslim)

Thus the branch of knowledge prescribed in the concept of education in Islam is "aI- 'ilmul-Akhlaq" -the science of the Disposition of man (more than mere Ethics)-, based upon the perfect model in the Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬ لِّمَن كَانَ

يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬

"Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah."

(Qur’an: Surah al-Ahzab: 40:21)

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ۬

"And thou (O Muhammad! standest) on an exalted standard of character."

(Qur’an: Surah al-Qalam: 68: 4)

Thus as can be seen, the system of education founded upon the concept of Tauhiid is the most profound, most excellent to produce the best of mankind. It is complete and balanced for it is based upon Divine Guidance and modeled after the Messenger of Allah, and that period in the history of mankind which produced that Unique Qur'anic generation- the "Khay-ra-Ummah" (best community).

صِبۡغَةَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبۡغَةً۬‌ۖ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ عَـٰبِدُونَ

“Say: Our life takes its) colour from Allah! And who could give a better colour (to life) than Allah? And it is He (alone ) Whom we worship.”

(Qur’an: Surah al-Baqarah: 2: 138)

WAY OF LIFE

As Muslims, our way of life is one i.e. “al-Islam”. We all belong to that single Universal Brotherhood of Islam, consisting of different and varied people united and bound by “al-Tauhiid”. It is that way of life which has been perfected and completed - based upon the Guidance of the Quran and the life example of Allah's Final Messenger Muhammad s.a.w. The sources of its teachings which are still available with us, enshrined in AI-Qur'an (Dustuu-runa - our constitution) and As-Sunnah (Oudwaa-tuna - our examplary model). What is now required of us is to strive to live it. For we, as people who have Faith in the Oneness of Allah, must heed His commandment:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِى ٱلسِّلۡمِ ڪَآفَّةً۬

وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَٲتِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

فَإِن زَلَلۡتُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡڪُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ فَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ

أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَڪِيمٌ

"O ye who believe! enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy.

If ye backslide after the clear (signs) have come to you, then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. "

(Qur’an: Surah al-Baqarah: 2: 208-209)

We are to always remember that this vast dominion of our existence belongs to Allah s.w.t., and that life is a test. To strive in Allah's Way is the only path to success as people who attest, that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

“Blessed be He (Allah) in Whose hands is Dominion: and He over all things Hath Power―

He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving―”

(Qur’an : Surah al-Mulk: 67: 1-2)

WaAllaahu a'lam

MAY ALLAH GUIDES US ALL UPON THE RIGHT AND TRUE PATH, AND SUSTAINS US IN HIS MERCY AND EXALTS US UNTO THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO HIM.

WA-BIL-LA-HI TAU-FIQ-WAL HIDAA-YA WAS-SALAA-MU-'ALAYKUM-WARAH-MA-TULLAA-HI-WA-BARAKAA-TUH

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Text prepared by : Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail,

for "Konvensyiun Pelajar Islam 2
(1409H / 1988)" - (Al-Qur’an Centre, Singapore)
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