The Success in Education is with the Qur’an and Sunnah
The Success in Education is with the Qur’an and Sunnah
By
Umm Kareemah Ameenah Rutherford Simmons
Chester, PA 19013, USA
(Published by the Wisdom Enrichment Foundation Website, 24 March 2003)
(Note: The following is sister Umm Kareemah’s enlightening article, which she submitted as part of the requirements for WISDOM International Islamic Learning Program Learning Module 1: “Authentic Knowledge of Islam: The Key to Development and Supreme Success.” The management and staff of the Wisdom Enrichment Foundation (WEFOUND) express their thanks and congratulations to sister Umm Kareemah for her enlightening article. May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala accept it as a good deed worthy of His supreme rewards especially in the life hereafter. Ameen.)
It is every parent’s goal to have children who go on to be successful in studies, careers, and life in general. As parents we emphasize the importance of good education and upbringing in our homes. Many of us carefully select our child’s schools, extracurricular influences, clothing, diet and even their friends. By nature, this concern for our children is an integral part of parenting. We can find in the Qur’an and Sunnah the proper approach to parenting but also the example of what we should desire for our children to become.
"And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alyhi wa salaam), fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful ones."
We are responsible for the generation that follows us. This lays a heavy burden on the community as whole. It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu that the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa salaam said: Beware. Every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.
We are in a time where filth is abundant and decency is scarce. We are living in a world where people are consumed with the temptations of this life and are not concerned about the reckoning with their Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer). Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) as saying: “It is from the conditions of the Last Hour that knowledge would be taken away and ignorance would prevail (upon the world), the liquor would be drunk, and adultery would become rampant.”
They claim as Allah states in the Qur’an:
There is nothing but our life of this world! We die and we live! And we are not going to be resurrected!
Television is a major contaminant, from the images of violence and nudity to the subliminal undertones of accepting deviations such as same sex relationships, Satanism, witchcraft and more. The major deception lies not in those programs that are blatantly indecent, but in those programs that are seemingly innocent and informative. Even reading for children has become polluted with the evils of witchcraft, soothsaying and other atheistic content. The upsurge of both wizardry shows and books has been remarkable. Parents are trading values and decency to get their children to pick up a book and read. It has been narrated by Abu Huraira radiallahu anhu that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said: “Avoid the Mubiqat, i.e., shirk and witchcraft.” Where does this leave our children?
School is another problem for our children. If one is unable to send their child in a sound Islamic school that abides by the Qur’an and Sunnah, or educate their child at home, I fear for the parents and the children of that situation. The horrors and atrocities that plague western public schools rival that of a war zone. As you enroll your child in public schools, you are subjecting your child to hours a year of mixing of the sexes to include sexual abuse and harassment, anarchy in the classroom in which powerless teachers power struggle with out of control students, violence including guns, knives, acid and the like. It would be unjust include the constant bombardment and forced celebration or recognition of non-Islamic holidays, festivals, and practices. Your child will also be bombarded with song after song, none of which are in remembrance of Allah.
“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Qur’an) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).”
So off to school…you send little Aisha and Abdullah to a fitnah filed day of kufr and shirk with little or no defense depending on their ages to fight it all off alone… a feat that most adults cannot conquer alone. Where does this leave our children in regards to their success? Do we truly trust the disbelievers to nurture and educate our children, leading them to the correct path?
“Take not as (your) Bitânah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, etc.) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand.”
I am sure that if your main goal is to prepare you child to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer you will find yourself successful in this world. However if you firmly believe that the true success is not in this life but in the Hereafter, it is a must that your prepare your child with tools that they need to live a successful life by pleasing their Creator, Allah subhana wa ta’ala.
“O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.”
There is little gratification in watching your child grow into a morally bankrupt Muslim or non-Muslim although they may have a college degree and successful business. The true success lies with Allah subhana wa ta’ala.
“So whatever you have been given is but a passing enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah (Paradise) is better and more lasting for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah, Islamic Monotheism) and put their trust in their Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (concerning all of their affairs).”
Allah has sent his Messenger Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) sallallahu alayhi wa salaam as an example of what a true success is. Our Messenger was surrounded by honorable family members and companions radiAllahu anhuma who were pleasing to their Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) first and successful in the earth as well all while maintaining servitude to the Creator.
When laying the foundation for the future of our children, we need to give them the examples of the truly successful. We must fill our homes with the tools to gain the knowledge of the Qur’an, Hadith, and the lives of the illustrious Companions. In the end a degree is simply a piece of paper, a great career is just work, but success with Allah is an innumerable bounty. Allah subhana wa ta'ala tells us:
“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds (five compulsory prayers, deeds of Allah’s obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allah with glorification, praises and thanks, etc.), that last are better with your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) for rewards and better in respect of hope.”
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