Dr M Athar Khan
WHILE reading this series of articles on Madrassah, the reader must always keep in mind that the nomenclature, ‘Madrassah-the Islamic institution of Education’ is not the same as the “Institution of Islamic Education’. The latter refers to the traditional Deeni Madaris, which organize teaching in areas of Qur’an, Hadith, Fiq’ha and essentials of Islamic religion. Deeni Madaris are usually attached with mosques, or they function within the premises of mosques. Deeni Madaaris have also established as full fledge religious education institutions. However, they still exist and function as organizations within the greater or the mother institutional organization of the Madrassah-the Islamic institution of education. Madrassah, as Islamic institution of education symbolizes all of the philosophy, organization and management of a perfect system of education based upon and derived from the eternal truths of the verses of the Qur’an, which provide guiding principles, objectively definable concepts and copyable models for all aspects of an institution of education as they are conceivable in the present times as well as in the times to come.
Reader of the present series of articles on Madrassah: the Islamic Institution of Education should always keep in mind that terms used in reference to the Madrassah are not necessarily defined and translatable in terms as they are used in the modern education institutional contexts. Madrassah as institution of education of its own kind had come into existence long before development of the education institutions of the modern world. All terms used in reference to Madrassah, therefore, have specific contexts and connotative significance which are not necessarily translatable in the modern educational terms. The terms and concepts used in reference to Madrassah, therefore, must be understood and interpreted in their own rather than in the modern contexts. Curriculum of Madrassah, as of any education system and institution forms core and sets principles and standards for all that relate to organization and management of teaching in the Madrassah. Viewed in the modern context, the curriculum of Madrassah consists of the four basic elements that include (1) goal and objectives, (2) content, (3) principles, methods and material of instruction and finally (4) the evaluation of the performance of the institution, teachers and students as it refers to the achievements of the objectives of the curriculum. Nevertheless, elements of Madrassah curriculum have their own contexts and meaning as they are derived from and based upon the Qur’anic concepts of Iq’ra, Ilm, Ibaadah and Kasab (see article-3).
Goal and Objectives of Madrassah Curriculum are derived from the goal of Ummah as it is in case of the entire social or sub-organizations within the Ummah. Concept and meaning of the Arabic word Ummah are based upon and derived from the meanings and explanations of the Qur’anic verses: (In the beginning) Mankind was one community (Al Baqarah 2:213): Mankind was one community; then they differed (Yunus 10:19): You are the best community that has been raised up for mankind (Aal-i-Imran 3:110): I created the Jin and Humankind, only that they worship me. (Al zariyat 56:51) The goal or the purpose of the Ummah is not set by the people as it is customary in case of traditional organizations. The goal and purpose of the Ummah have already been defined by the Creator Himself as it is stated in the Qur’anic verse, “Wama Khalaqtal jinna wal insa illa le’yabudun” (I created the Jin and Humankind, only that they worship me.) (51:56). In Qur’an the word Ibaadah carries a special meaning, which implies a three-fold responsibility of mankind in terms of Huqooq Allah (Man’ responsibility to Allah), Huqooq-e-Zaat (Man’s responsibilities to his self) and Huqooq al Ibaad (Man’s responsibility to all the others—humans, animals, plants, elements and all things in his environments both natural and created by men for their benefits).
Man’s responsibility to Allah consists in obeying His commands and living life according to His Will and following Awamir o Nawahee (do’s and don’ts) as laid down in the Holy Qur’an. Man’s responsibility to himself relates to his physical, mental and spiritual well being, for which permission to use ‘Halaal’ things and practices (declared in Qur’an as permitted or lawful), and abstinence (restraining oneself) from all things and practices that are Haraam (forbidden by God). The two terms, Halaal and Haraam have wider application in the life of Muslims and refer to all things, relations, acts and practices, preaching and learning and the overall behaviour of man in life As it relates to the man’s responsibility to others to include all those persons, and things which concern one in any way. Man’s responsibility to others has been specified in terms of ‘Huqooq-al-Ibaad’. The term ‘Huqooq-al-Ibaad’ has a wider connotation in reference to the individual’s responsibilities as they relate to one’s place and position in the organization.
Kainaat (Universe), which constitutes Nature in all its aspects, presents, in its wholeness, an organized and integrated whole of innumerable organizational units, all of which share the one common purpose of creation of the universe and the man in it. In them-selves all of the organizational units are bound together, and subjected to the same laws and principles that regulate the universe. In the same way the human organization—the Ummah, as an organizational unit within the universe, is subjected to the laws and principles that regulate the universe. In itself, the Ummah presents an organized and integrated whole of organizational units of human organizations and institutions, all of which in them-selves are bound together, and subjected to the same laws and principles that regulate the Ummah and the nature at large. Accordingly the Madrassah-both as an institution and an organization within Ummah is subservient to its goals and subjected to the same laws and principles that regulate the Ummah for achievement of the purpose of creation of man as vicegerent of Allah on earth.
—The writer is Prof & Advisor to the VC, Sarhad University, Peshawar.
