The Real Purpose of Education
Education---like democracy, free markets, freedom of the press, and "universal human rights" --- is one of those subjects whose virtue is considered self-evident. So is the superiority of the industrially advanced countries in attaining them. Consequently, any package that arrives with one of these magic labels on it, automatically qualifies for the "green channel" at the entry ports of developing countries. No questions asked. This uncritical acceptance has severely crippled their discussion of all these vital topics. For example in education the discussion remains centered around literacy rates and graduation statistics. The central issue of curriculum, and even more fundamental issue of the purpose of education normally do not attract attention; they have already been decided by the "advanced" countries and the job of the rest of the world is only to follow in their footsteps to achieve their level of progress.
In the "first" world, education has become an extension of the capitalist system. Its purpose is to provide qualified workforce for its machinery of production and eager consumers for its products.
This linking of education to financial goals is extremely unfortunate. It degrades education and through it the society.
To bring home the forgotten role of education we need to recall that there is a fundamental difference between human beings and animals. Instincts and physical needs alone can bring ants, bees, or herds of beasts together to live in a perfectly functioning animal society. Human beings do not function that way. If they are to form a viable, thriving society, they must choose to do so. What drives that choice is the sharing of common goals, beliefs, values and outlook on life. The education system of a society produces the citizens and leaders needed for the smooth operation of that society, now and into the future. Its state of health or sickness translates directly into the health or sickness of the society that it is meant to serve.
Today we find many internal problems --- corruption, injustice, oppression, crippling poverty --- everywhere we turn in the Muslim world. These problems are largely traceable, directly or indirectly, to the education system that produced the people who perpetuate the problems. The rulers who sell out to foreign powers and subjugate their people; the bureaucrats who enforce laws based on injustice; the generals who wage war against their own people; the businessmen who exploit and cheat; the journalists who lie, sensationalize, and promote indecencies, they are all educated people, in many cases "highly" educated people. The problem plagues all layers of society. Muslim societies are sick because their education system is sick.
Before they began blindly importing from the Colonial powers what was current and popular, education in Muslim societies was always the means of nurturing the human being. Moral training, tarbiya, was always an inalienable part of it. The ustaz, (teacher), was not just a lecturer or mere professional, but a mentor and moral guide. We remembered the hadith then, "No father has given a greater gift to his children than good moral training." [Tirmidhi]. Our education system was informed by this hadith. Our darul-ulooms (Centers of Learning) still maintain that tradition but the number of students who pass through their gates is minuscule compared to the secular schools.
In the U.S. and Europe, the schools were started by the church. Later as forces of capitalism overtook them, they molded them into their image. Moral training was a casualty of that takeover. But capitalism and their political economy did need people trained to work under these systems. So citizenship training was retained as an important, though diminishing, component of the curriculum--- a religion-free subset of the moral training it displaced. Whatever civility we see here is largely a result of that leftover component. The imported versions in the Muslim countries, though, had even that component filtered out. And the results are visible.
We can solve our problem once we realize our mistakes. The first purpose of our education system must be to produce qualified citizens and leaders for the Islamic society. Tarbiya, real Islamic moral training, must be an integral part of it. This must be the soul of our education, not a ceremonial husk. All plans for improving our education will be totally useless unless they are based on a full understanding of this key fact. This requires revamping our curricula, rewriting our textbooks, retraining our teachers, and realizing that we must do all this ourselves. We do have a rich history of doing it. Are we finally willing to turn to our own in-house treasures to redo education the way it should always have been?
Source: Albalagh
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As a teacher you have inspired me to focus on what is important and true, that morals and manners are the foundation of survial in our society as far as education is concern.
It is expedient that the situation changes. And the only way I forsee this happening is to go back to the homes and the grassroots and begin there. We look at the progress the Islamic brotherhood is recording in Egypt. We, Muslims should start to think of change now or it will be too late!
As I always say Allah does not need us but we need him so therefore it is not just to leave everything to him but rather we must decide we want to change then He shows us how and give us the means. But if we become hypocritical, as always, in any way, He may do it his way and we know the consequence, in fact we are beginning to percieve this already!
The example of the thamud and the Ad people is there for us to ponder. Somebody would say but these people reject the message entirely or rather that Allah has promised not to do same untill the promised day! Brother! I say that we are more than them (Q4:150-151) and Allah has promised to change people if they change themselves!
I have not read such a wonderfully insightful article in a long time. It is due time that we write our own history starting with the ink of our own past. May Allah be pleased with your efforts and may this concern be heard insha Allah. It delights my heart to see responible journalism.. the likes of which I only seem to find on Islamicity.com! JazaakAllahu Khair... was salaam ma'al ikraam.
The literacy rate is very low in muslim countries.The prophet Muhammad(PBUH)laid much stress on getting knowledge.Why we have forgotten this Hadith.We should initiate the self accountability by ourselves if we want to attain a respectable status in the world.
Assalam O Alaikum
Sincerely,
Ben J. Bloomgren
This is a very good article. I agree. I have read from a secular source regarding education and society that, for about the last 300 years, education has been designed to meet the objectives of the government (or rulers). For the United States and much of the western world, that purpose has been defined as 'economic viability' and not the moral formation of the individual or society. This means that we as parents and religious educators need to dedicate ourselves to teaching our children and our brothers and sisters the correct understanding and practice of Islam.
Sincerely,
Fatima Thompson
Wappingers Falls, NY
Assalamu Aleikum
fundamental problems and looking at them in
a positive pro-action view point. Allhumtolillah.
We must look to the great Islamic empires of
the past era and how they managed to lead
the world in all fields of education and society,
take lessons and advice and then impliment
them. Thankyou for finally putting these ideas
on paper and making them accessible to the
poeple of the world.
You are absolutely right that we are producing sick Muslims as the education system we are following is sick. Let me add one thing more in it that Pakistan was divided into two parts not by the uneducated people but highly intellectual (so called) and educated people. So, our education system is producing morally sick persons. One gets more dangerous, for both of his own country and people, as he becames highly educated.
Now what would you suggest for this dilemma of Muslim countries? Is there any solution? I am not talking about a single person rather I am worried about the whole umma. Because no body is ready to think and take action in this regard. How could we participate to overcome it except in one way that we on our own behalf must be honest.
Any ways, thank you for giving such a good thinking about Muslims current dilemma.
Regards,
Rizwan.
I am from Manufacturing Engineering background and I always remember the following incident whenever I analyze an issue.
Often the first answer to a problem is not the root cause. Asking "Why" a number of times will identify several causes. This is much more likely to indicate the root cause. Following is the example given by a former Toyota Vice President Taiichi Ohno into the cause of the machine stoppage.
Q1: Why did the machine stop?
A1: Because the fuse blew due to an overload.
Q2: Why was there an overload?
A2: Because the bearing lubrication was inadequate.
Q3: Why was the lubrication inadequate?
A3: Because the lubrication pump was not working right.
Q4: Why was the lubrication pump not working right?
A4: Because the axle was worn out.
Q5: Why was it worn out?
A5: Because sludge got in.
By repeating "Why" five times, it was possible to identify the real cause and hence the real solution: attaching a strainer to the lubricating pump. If the workers had not gone through such repetitive questions, they might have settled with an intermediate counter measure, such as replacing the fuse.
What you do is synonymous with just that of changing the fuse in the above incident.
Do you want to go up to the root cause of Islam and Muslims facing today and find a solution, please let me know your intention. Let us work together.
Wassalam
M S Mohammed
Masha'Allah, I agree with the brother and now that we recognize our mistake, we have to fix it and make Tarbyia an intrinsic part of our children's education. But how do we get from point A to point B if we ourselves have not been educated under such a system? To create Islamic schools in the west with North-American trained muslims or to bring in teachers from "muslim" countries who were educated in a system adapted from the Western, capitalist one is not the solution. But what is? How do we first educate ourseleves and then learn to teach Tarbia?
Jazakum Allahu khairan,
Aisha
Khalid Baig Al balagh's, "the Real Purpose of Education," is a credible but weak commentary on the poor and decrepit state of the educational system in Muslim countries.
I disagree with his instinctive bias and prejudice against the 'educational system' of the West. Albalagh is still living in the ancient past...!
He correctly identified many causes of public mismanagement in Muslim lands, traceable to tyrant leadership, corruption, injustice, oppression, greed, bankrupt morality, and perpetual poverty. But he placed the blame for all of these societal ills squarely at the feet of the backward educational system in these lands. This is only a half true.
Many Muslim countries, until lately, continue to follow the ancient 'madrassa' system as the mainstay of their educational standards, which is primarily responsible for the massive illiteracy and intellectual backwardness of Muslim peoples.
Those Muslims, leaders, skilled technicians, professionals in the sciences, and all other trained laymen, who are considered to be truly educated, in most instances, have been schooled and tutored in the West, where education as a system of transmitting knowledge and vocational proficiency---practical, technical and scientific, has been established in a pedagogical hierarchy that is open, transparent, rational, and logical.
To cast aspersion on such a system, however imperfect it may be, is to expose a mind that is warped and demented.
Finally, to suggest that "we can solve our problem once we realize our mistakes" is a prescription built on sand. Muslims have been suffering from a severe case of scholastic deficit for some 400 to 500 hundred years, when the orthodox `Ulamaa' decreed that the door to all knowledge has been closed, based on the dreaded doctrine of taqlid.
As nations of people, we must learn from those (in other lands) who have triumphed in education--while remaining true to our traditions and teachi
of the situation is correct and your thought and
concern are quite ethical ! But,all this good
thought would remain idealistic and monumental,
till Muslims have their absolute freedom and say
in their own countries,till they can get rid of
their leaders who have sold themselves to advanced
industrial powers,till they can come up with their
own industry based on their own indigenous and
pure technology and ethical education,strong
enough to beat the industry of the west,till they
have their own and universally acceptable economic
system which can defeat the capitalism and consum-
erism of the west.The question is when all this
will happen ? Such a radical change requires a
revolution ! nothing short of it ! when will that
happen ? what steps have been taken in that direc-
tion ? Are there any models and examples on which
to pin our hopes ? Has it anytime been successful?
Where is the road map? where is the blue print ?
I appreciate your effort but you must also come
up with the solution to the problem,and mind you,
not utopian but practical!You will do a great service to Islam and Muslims if you show us the
practical and effective Islamic industrial and
technological strategy to defeat Industry and the
capitalism of west which affects us so badly !
To begin with please show the Muslims the Islamic
way to remove the " Bad Dictator"-Saddam Hussain!
And when will that be ? Before or after the Muslim
Ummah acquires Tarbiyah ? !
Perhaps in the US we should turn our educational system over the religious right, than in a few years, together we can incinerate the world.
You point to external causes for the demise of the Islamic world, when the primary cause is that which you exspouse, your narrow scope on education.
Open the minds of your youth instead of closing them.
Perhaps Travis could obtain a translation of the Quran by A. Yusuf Ali which I found easier to understand because of numerous footnotes given to explain the verses
Salams and better luck next time.
Indian freedom efforts led by Mahatma Gandhi first derived its legitimacy by fueling the spirit of education against subjugation. Gandhi learned a lot by Prophet Muhammad's (SAS) message and brilliant example of doing, and he(Gandhi)said so praising Muhammad(SAS). Even this Islamic Tarbiyah those Muslim leaders of his time could not demonstrate.
So the author is right. First thing first-- you want to change your society change your educational system first. Education is the soul of the of the new civilization.
I like these commentaries. Let the best write the best. Let it be the the bulletin for the rest!
Hamid Khan
hussein
I have been, since birth, brought up as a Catholic and I am not fond of it. There are many contradictions between my understanding and morals, and what it preaches. A main problem that I see with a lot of people in Christianity, is that they, not only pray, but worship Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and even some, Mary! This will never be accepted by me, because, I believe that God is one, never born, and no children. He is eternal; never will die, and we as people, are like servants to him, and should worship him and only him. I feel it is ok to pray for Jesus and other religious figures, just not worship. There is a big difference.
So, to get to the point of my letter, do you have any brochures, books, cds, etc., that I can order to help me with my curiosity of Islam? Please respond soon. May Allah be with you always.
Sincerely,
Travis Wisdom
WOW! DID YOU READ MY MIND OR WHAT? I am homeschooler of 3 and I have just received a new curriculum, I hate it. It is non relevant to our needs as homeschoolers and the infromation is abstract. So why "learn" it, because says so. When ever i hear the words curriculum my skin crawls because i know what it really entails BRAiN WASHING. excuse me for my rambling but i know to have a truly functional society knowledge of Islam must come first.EVRYthing else must follow there after so I struggle with state standards and my standards.YA Allah>
as salaamualaikum
khadijah ummhasna
I like to leave a comment, but any one read them ?
thank you
Mohamad
Also, can you tell me where and how to obtain the book, "on Striving to be a Muslim." I am an 18 year-old Muslimah and wear Hijab for modesty, but I think that this book, by its title, would be most helpful for me in learning to be a better Muslim.
Thank You Very MUCH!!
Ay-Salam,
Arden Barbara Beyer
[email protected]
At the same time, i agree there must be a seperation of church and state. Let us remember the witches of Salem. Women killed in many differant ways, just to prove that they wernt witches. All this was done in the name of God by the Catholic church. Now here we are in the USA, giving so called witches there freedom to practice, and i have yet to see any witchcraft take over the world. So these women of Salem were killed uneededly, it would appear to me.
I have to wonder what in the name of religion is being done to Muslims. I think that it is time for the Arab world to wake up, and form that seperation of church and state themselves. Have to remember, that those in state power, would be elected officials, and the masses under the teachings of the church, could vote him/her out of office, if state rule becomes to viscious. There is more to education then just learning new facts, or ways of thinking. There must be the freedom to try things u learn, experiment with them, and learn what works and what doesnt. If a church of Hamsters, see's you praying to a Gerbal, that hampster would be dead meat in a church led world. In a free world, the hampster would pray, and pray, and decide which fur ball does the job better for him.
I am not college educated, but i survive.
correcting the educational ills many of our leaders may want to change, but just don't have the willpower nor stamina to do so. Also, we should ask Allah to protect us from
those people who institutionally, are harming our educational systems and provide us with fundamentally clear and better ideas for educating our communities.
The thesis that the basis of any educational system must be morally based is a very important point. I have seen the public educational system in my country degrade, as it continues to devolve, as it began to seperate its self more and more from its moral foundation.
I observe, as the author of this article pointed out clearly that the public education in this country has become nothing more than a stimulus response training machine to indoctrinate young minds to be (1) team player work force members to keep the machinery of industry going and (2) to produce quality consumers who will be conditioned to confuze needs with wants and spend their lives toiling for the vanity of the material world with no moral training to give any balance in their lives.
Sadly, many of our churches and religious organizations, while generally giving more moral instruction than their public counterparts, have not escaped the cancer of excess materialism and so many of the same pitfalls end up in their schools as well.
Education begins in the home. Parents in all nations of the world must again take the reigns in hand and take responsibility to educated their children in morality and the basic rights and wrongs, the good and the evil themselves and not entrust the seed of the next generation to governments and other organizations. Having received the basic moral training at home from the begining, when a child then enters the educational system outside the home, they will have a solid moral foundation to build upon rather than no foundation at all when they begin their formal education.
The real purpose of education should be to allow people to ask the question what is the purpose of creation. Not to deny creation and numb peoples innate senses, or mistify them with theories and uncertainties. In the current educational system people gather knoledge to climb on the ladder of material success, and learn that the most ruthless survive. All byproducts to 'theories' such as Evolution and Big Bang which have changed the face of rationality in the human race. The ball is now in the court of the 'rocket scientists'. The ones who had the priviledge to graduate from institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge or Harvard. But then to an evolutionist this was all a product of selective breeding and survival of the fittest. Is there any way for Justice to emerge from such a 'civilization' ?
My this find your families and loved ones in peace.
I read this "...In the U.S. and Europe, the schools were started by the church." this is true in the US the church had infulance in the school but The schools were part of the public system, not the religious system.
Education is now a matter of vocational trainning, we have lost our way and this makes us part of the animal kingdom, pray for all of us in this world.
education system of an islamic state should be like.education should not be linked with financial
gains otherwise it loses its soul n spirit.
when i did inter people used to give money to
get more marks in the practicles.so that they would get admission in medical colleges n become doctors.that is the reason that mostly doctors
are not truly serving the mankind.
wassalam.