We forget to understand the philosophy of educating a person, and where/how it counts the most.
Below is a set of tweets I put out, during a quick lecture by Habib Ali Alhamid, at the Maulud we were at for one of my cousins new baby. It is on education in the Islamic perspective, included the of parent to child context, followed by some of my personal comments on the matter. Please don’t take any of this conclusively as they were mere excerpts of both Habib Ali’s words as well as my view.
Habib Ali Alhamid quick talk: the need of parents to be proud of their childrens life achievements,AND values for afterlife.
Habib Ali Alhamid: speaking of parents to child education, using Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael as example. ..
..He says, how was it that Ishmael who was barely raised by his father, Abraham, cld be of such great character, and obedience. ..
.. To the point tht when d instructions fr Allah came for Abraham to slaughter his son Ishmael, Ishmael agreed based on his faith to God. ..
.. Habib Ali says, the education to Ishmael, was fr 2 key sources. 1 – the prayers of geographically distant his father, Abraham. 2 – that Ishmael was raised well by his mother. Fr my understndng, Habib Ali Alhamid is saying, dnt under estimate the power of a childs education,character,knowledge, faith,by way of his parents care upon him/her. The power&responsibility of parent to child. ..
..On a similar topic, I once learned tht education as per the Islamic understanding has 3 schools. Home, school (as we know it), society. ..
.. If I remember, tht point was made to emphasize tht it begins at home. In line w my gripe w/ our obsession of modern day education system. Which I don’t think is a sphere or approach in life we shld neglect,but not rely on in the same way most of us do today. Its not workable.
..A simple illustration,how can u expect teachers whom u barely spend time w/ or care for,to teach ur child so much abt everythng. .. We might say this to be untrue,but when a youth is ignorant, the line is always either ‘what r schools teaching the kids nowadays?’ Or ‘The edu system today is rubbish.’ When we 4get to undrstnd the philosophy of educating a person,n where/how it counts the most.
*Additional notes by me based on comments I got from FB,
“Sorry not sure if I conveyed it properly. But it was narrated that Prophet Abraham constantly prayed for his son Prophet Ishmael, throughout the lifetime of Ishmael, whether he was near or far. It was to illustrate that the prayer of a parent for his/her child is important, and part parcel to his upbringing. And that the slaughter was an instruction and test from God. Sorry if tht didn’t come out right.
I rely on my trust that he is the Prophet, and that he raised his children his own way, for the best of reasons.
People like Prophets, are at places, near or far from their family or people, for the best of reasons. Unlike us, they have a responsibility, if I could use that word, to be and do what they’re suppose to, by virtue of their privilege, if I could use that word, of Messenger with God, contact with Angels.
While I agree that action is one thing, I also have faith in the power of God to be able to answer any parents prayers to Him, meant for their child, geographically near or not.
That said, I trust that that is also done with sincerity, and not mere prayer and leaving it all up to the divine powers. That is my understanding.
On the note of the Qur’an, like law it can be read literally, or otherwise, rendering it to be misread.”
