The session started. After saying a salaam and conveying the opening kalima, Dr Swan expressed, "O my brothers and sisters! The starting point towards reestablishment in realigning a righteous family that will contribute to building up an ideal society, is the responsibility on the part of educators, towards those whom they are responsible for educating, instructing and teaching. It is certainly a serious and important responsibility, and when an educator accomplishes his task in its full scope, no doubt, a righteous person will be brought up. The Quran and Sunnah call on people to fulfil the duty of education. Allah says,فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْـَٔلَنَّهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَۙ عَمَّا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ"So by your Rabb, We will surely question them all, about what they used to do." [QS. Al-Hijr (15):92-93]Malik bin Huwairith, radhiyallahu 'ahnu, reported, "We went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and we were all young men and stayed with him for about twenty nights. The Prophet (ﷺ) was very merciful. He (ﷺ) said,لَوْ رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَى بِلاَدِكُمْ فَعَلَّمْتُمُوهُمْ، مُرُوهُمْ فَلْيُصَلُّوا صَلاَةَ كَذَا فِي حِينِ كَذَا، وَصَلاَةَ كَذَا فِي حِينِ كَذَا، وَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ، وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْبَرُكُمْ'When you return home, impart religious teachings to your families and tell them to offer perfectly such and such a prayer at such and such a time and such and such a prayer at such and such a time. And at the time of the prayer, one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.' [Sahih al-Bukhari]Educators, especially, parents, who are cared about educating, instructing and guiding their children, are guided by the Quran and Sunnah guidance and instruction. There are several responsibilities on the part of educators.First, the responsibility for Faith Education. What is meant by faith education is to link the child, from when he starts to realize the principles of faith, and teach him the pillars of Islam, and the foundations of Syari'ah. By the principles of faith, we mean, belief in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and Divine predestination. By the pillars of Islam, we mean, witness to Allah’s Oneness without partner and that and Muhammad (ﷺ) is the messenger,fasting, zakah, and pilgrimage to is whoever can offord it. And by the foundation of of Shari'ah, we mean all that is related to Islam, as creed, worship, manners and rulings.So, the educator must inculcate such concepts of faith and Islamic recommended teachings instilling into the the principles child’s soul, and Prophet (ﷺ) recommended instilling the principles of faith and pillars of Islam into the chil'd mind during his early years of his life.Second, the responsibility for Ethical Education, the set of ethical principles and moral values that have to be inculcated in the child, in order to be acquired by him as customary behavior from his early years, through the time he becomes legally capable, up to his full adulthood. Evidently, such ethical principles and moral values are the product of deep belief and righteous religious upbringing.So, it is clear that, when the child is brought up, from his tender years, upon belief in Allah, he will develop an innate faculty for acceptance and pursuit of moral standards and values and noble behavior. Similarly, if the child is brought up in an atmosphere alien to Muslim tenets, void of all religious orientation, then such a child becomes prone to dissolution and immorality, or even error and heresy. Thus, it is no wonder that Islamic Law has given special priority to the moral education of children.Third, the responsibility for Physical Education, that it is the parents’ and educators' responsibility for bringing up the children healthy and sound in body.Four, the responsibility for Intellectual Education. This means, the mental upbringing of the young, according to the concepts of Islam, together with elements of modem scientific knowledge. Here, educators are responsible for education, Intellectual enlightenment, and mental health.Five, the responsibility for Psychological Education, means training children from an early age to be bold, frank, having the capacity for goodness to others, to be self-disciplined when angry and of sound moral behavior.The aim of this education, should be to keep the personality of the child steady and balanced. It is the duty of educators to train the child to avoid all factors which may affect his honor and dignity, or harm his human personality, in a way which may lead him to pessimism and envy. Among the most important factors which educators should try to do is, to free their children and pupils from such phenomena: shyness, fear, inferiority-complex, envy, and anger.Six, the responsibility for Social Education. The concept of social education is to rear a child on good social morals and noble psychological principles based on Islam. So, a child will acquire good breeding, politeness, and sound behaviour. There is no doubt that social education is the most important responsibility in rearing children.Seven, the respossibility for SexuaL Education. The meaning of sexual education is, to teach a child, enlighten him, and be frank with him from the time he reaches puberty, so that when he becomes a responsible adult and understands life, he will know what is lawful and what is unlawful, and will be neither driven by desire nor led to debauchery. Sexual education consists of the following staged;
- Between the ages of 7 and 10 years: the age of recognition: a child is taught the rules of permission to enter and of looking at women,
- Between the ages of 10 and 14 years: the age of adolescence a child should be kept away from all forms of sexual arousal.
- Between the ages of 14 and 16 years: the age of puberty; a child is taught the manners of sexual intercourse if he is ready to get married.
- Post-puberty is also called the age of youth ; he should be taught to be chaste if he is not able to get married.
I think, for this material, the da'wah, is enough here. Let's come close to an apologue, presented to all, both among species and between species, regardless of ethnicity, race or religion.By the way, as you all know, an apologue, is a short moral story, meant to advice the reader something. You'll sometimes see various kinds of animals—as in George Orwell's Animal Farm—or are inanimate objects, in an apologue.An apologue is distinguished from a fable, in that, there is always some moral-judgement presented in the former, which there need not be in the latter. An apologue is generally dramatic, and has been defined as "a satire in action." Unlike a fable, the moral is more important than the narrative details.An apologue differs from a parable in several senses. A parable is equally an ingenious tale intended to correct manners, but it can be true in the sense that "when this kind of actual event happens among men, this is what it means and this is how we should think about it", while an apologue, with its introduction of animals and plants, to which it lends ideas, language and emotions, contains only metaphoric truth, "when this kind of situation exists, anywhere in the world, here is an interesting truth about it."The parable is always blunt and devoid of subtlety, and requires no interpretation; the apologue by nature necessitates at least some degree of reflection and thought to achieve understanding, and in this sense, it demands more of the listener than the parable does.The origin of the apologue is extremely ancient and comes from the Middle East and its surrounding area—Persia, Asia Minor, Egypt, etc.—which is the Classical fatherland of everything connected with allegory, metaphor and imagination. Length is not an essential matter in the definition of an apologue, those of La Fontaine are often very short.So let's getting in,The lingo of man narrated, in a peaceful but barren land, known as Bhumi Suska-Santi, there lived an ape, Mrs Vinta, with her two young ones. The elder, Pheddo, and the younger, Chiddo. They lived in a valley, where there were no more shady trees. The gorillas, had been forced the elephants to tear down the trees, and rendered it as their nest land. All that remained in the valley, was grass and shrubs. Not a single tree growing, even if there were, would be grabbed by the gorillas.Somehow, the mother, was doatingly fond of Chiddo, but disregarded and slighted Pheddo. We know, all mothers aren't like this, except this peculiar one. Mrs Vinta, tend to dole out more food on Chiddo than on Pheddo. Before having breakfast, lunch or dinner, Pheddo had to work early, cleaning the house, bathroom, watering the yard and everything his mother commanded.Pheddo noticed, his mother was praising Chiddo a lot, more than him. Chiddo had always been considered exceptional than Pheddo, and he often caught, his mother bragging about Chiddo.Mrs Vinta, giving different privileges to Chiddo. Once, Chiddo made some noises, and Pheddo scolded him. Chiddo snitched to his mother, so day and night, Pheddo stayed in a cage. On the contrary, when Pheddo did something, could't be wrong, while Chiddo felt disturbed, then there was no bargaining and arguments, a cage would wait for Pheddo.Chiddo once threw a big stone at Pheddo's head, instead of denouncing Chiddo, Pheddo was the one to blame. Mrs Vinta argued, Pheddo was careless, so the cage became Pheddo's friend for the whole day. Once, in front of this strange Mrs Vinta, Chiddo mocked and humiliated Pheddo, yet she remained silent.
Citations & References:Just like the story of "Snow White," Pheddo, in his childhood, knowing and accepting, that he was the black sheep of his family; that his younger brother were loved and cherished in a way that he was not. Least favorite child, could experience various repercussions based on how they felt they're perceived. Some include, feeling sad, angry or hurt; low self-esteem, or feeling bad about themselves; feeling left out of activities; fighting with siblings; acting out or getting into trouble; less motivation and skipping in learning; poor performance; feeling down or depressed.Yet, unlike other children in his age, by the grace of the Creator, in Pheddo's soul, a good thought was formed. He kept in mind, that his affliction was a test from the Creator, which carries tidings of forgiveness and mercy for him. Thus, he should accept it with patience and satisfaction, asking the Creator to reduce his suffering, as preceded. He should avoid complaining about his affliction, as that was an indication of objecting to the Creator’s decree, ill mannerism, or soliciting pity for himself. Regardless of how severe was the affliction, he won't wish for death, avoid blaming the affliction, or cursing it for his suffering.One day, Mrs Vinta heard the barking of dogs, warning the hunters were approaching. She was surprised, and had much ado to escape. Nonetheless, she did not forget her favourite young one, Chiddo, which she took up in her arms, that it might be the more secure. While Pheddo, which was neglected, by natural instinct, leapt upon her back.And so, away they scampered together. Unfortunately, there were no more trees could be used as a hiding place, the trees where they once climbed and hung, and jumped between the trees. All they could do was, run and run, in the middle of whistling stun-bullets. Mrs. Vintha continued to race and looked back, until the sound of the barking of the dogs was no longer heard. They were able to break away from the hunters. However, in her precipitate flight, blinded with haste, she fell out, dashed her favourite’s head against a stone, and killed him. The hated one, clinging close to her rough back, escaped all the danger of the pursuit."Dr Swan pointed out, "O my brothers and sisters! By indulging their favourite children, some parents, spoil and ruin them; while those, of whom they have been the least fond, have done very well. The child that knows, it can command its parent’s affections, will hardly be brought to know how to obey. The fondness of indiscreet parents to favourite children is blind as love itself; they are so far from seeing any blemishes or imperfections in them, that their very deformity is beauty, and all their ugly tricks graces.The indulgence which parents shew to their children, arises from the most amiable of human weaknesses; but it is not the less injurious in its effects, and therefore, it is of great importance to guard against it, and not to suffer a blind fondness to transport us beyond the bounds of a discreet affection, for this often proves the ruin of the child. This happenned in the folly of a system of favouritism in families, for experience shews that, those children who are the least pampered and indulged, usually, make the best and cleverest men. And Allah know best."
- 'Abdullah Nasih 'Ulwan, Child Education in Islam, Dar Al Salam
- Samuel Croxall, D.D., Fables of Aesop and Others, Simon Probasco
- Thomas Bewick, Bewick's Select Fables, Bickers & Sons
- Al-Imam Al-Izz bin Abissalam, Trials and Tribulations : Wisdom and Benefits, translated by Abu Rumaysah, Daar Us-Sunnah Publishers
