Little incidents with any significance had happened for the past few days. However, today I was meeting my uncle who had offered to teach Islamic lessons. He had asked me to meet him to discuss his lesson plans and it was eye-opening, in a way.
He offered to teach a 6-to-7-years (altho we can extend up to twenty years if we like) course - studying kitab-kitab Hadith and also Feqh.
He said he would be teaching in Arabic so our Arabic has to be good. Altho he did say that in the beginning, he would allow us to speak in Malay. But after awhile, he won't rlly pay attention to those who aren't speaking in Arabic.
Anyway he told us that he would be teaching Kitab As-Sittah (for those who studied Mustalah Hadith shud know this) which are books written by the six imams - Bukhari, Muslim, Termizi, Abu Daud, Ibnu Majal & Nawawi. Well, not exactly teaching. He would ask us to read by ourselves (most of the books don't have tasykeel so we would have to prepare prior to the classes with him) and he would just listen and correct us. Afterwards he would explain what the contexts in the books mean.
The best part? No examinations. No certificates. No recognition or whatsoever. Now why would that be the best part when joining this course could not provide you a degree? Or a job? Or any kind of benefits in this world?
Brothers and sisters, without those distractions that could contaminate your purpose of studying, it's easier to set your reason for studying these sacred knowledge for Allah SWT and for Allah alone.
Still, I hesitated bcos I wanted to go to the UK and this course would take seven years. He stressed on the fact that we would have to give this course our full commitment. We would have to constantly read the books, absorb them. We would have to make it our routines. But going to the UK would not allow me to do so bcos well, it's not in Brunei (duh) and his classes would be here.
When I voiced this out to him, he said it doesn't matter what my aim is. I can get my degree, I can my master, a job, whatever, as long as during the nights, I read Hadith with him. BUT if I want to go overseas, then don't take it. Simple as that.
He even asked why I wanted to go there. He said why Brunei is sending the best students to other countries - non-muslim countries even.
The ones with outstanding results are thrown to the non-muslim countries, to train them to be doctors, engineers. All of them for Dunya. And the ones that are left behind are studying to be teachers. The best should've been the teachers! The best should teach the new generations to produce the best generations!
Those average students are sent to fulfill the conquest of spreading knowledge, to fulfill what Allah SWT had ordered us! Why are we not giving Allah our best? Why do we give him our average? Why?
And the Islamic lessons in universities, both in Brunei and other countries, they only teach arnd 15% (!!!!!) of the knowledge of Hadith. What is going on here!
In era of Rasulullah (PBUH), the best are asked to seek knowledge and when they are qualified, they are asked to spread it. The ones left are asked to be engineers, doctors, etc. The best ones are asked to be TEACHERS! Teachers are supposed to be smarter, better than all other professions! Because they are the ones who gave knowledge to doctors, engineers, etc! SO WHY ARE THE BEST AMONG US SENT TO BECOME MINISTERS, DOCTORS, ETC THAT ONLY BENEFITS DUNYA?
There are lots of graduates, lots of masters, lots of PhDs but NONE OF THEM ARE 'ULAMA. NONE. If you look at the lecturers for Islamic studies, they are mostly foreigners! What is up with that. Why do we have to import scholars from different countries to teach our kids! Where are the Bruneian scholars! WHERE ARE THEY
It is not wrong to study sciences. But as muslims, we NEED to study about our religion more. It is more essential that we send the best among us to seek and spread knowledge, like what happened in Zaman Rasulullah & Sahabah. And you wonder why Islam is being oppressed nowadays. Why Islam is not mighty today. Why Islam is not influential today. Blame ourselves and not the non-muslims! We are the ones who are neglecting our religion's knowledge! How can we beat them? How can we beat them without knowledge! We hear everywhere that knowledge is power but why do we keep neglecting our Islamic studies!
Masha Allah, Nastaghfirullah.. What he said, was truly...wow. I felt so ashamed I...wasn't able to form any sorta thoughts on it. It was just so clear and so shameful it's suffocating.
So he said to me, he never taught girls before and now that he's getting older, he wants to teach girls. So that we can teach other girls. Bcos he said, it is so hard to find knowledgable females on Islamic studies. Which is true. Cuz even tho there are a lot of female teachers here that teaches Islamic studies but only a few really understands what Islam is all about. Only a few teaches Islam for the sake of Allah. Only a few teaches Islam and does not feel bound to any type of examinations. Altho I haven't met any, which is very heartbreaking.
Although I probably know that lots of people (teachers, especially) will be offended when they read this but if the traits do not apply to them, they should not be offended. Because learning and teaching for the sake of Allah should not make you crave for credits. Just His approval and love.
Although I do apologize to whoever feels offended but take into consideration that we, the Islamic community now, are in need of eligible teachers to teach Islamic lessons.
So this cycle of sending the best to study Dunya needs to stop somewhere. Let's try and stop it together, yeah? Give Allah the best ones and in shaa Allah, He will give the muslims victory once more. Aameen Ya Rabb.
I shall leave you with an excerpt from The Holy Quran ♥
Til next post, Assalamu'alaikum. ♥
