Arabic Learning, The Muslims and The Challenges

By Kamoru Sodiq Kamorusideeq@gmail.com

Nothing worries me more than the ugly state of Arabic learning in our society. It is universally agreed that brutality yields nothing particularly in conflict management. The Machevialian philosophy of ends justifies the means is a scam in religion. As lslam regulates both the input and output mechanisms, one by one. It is from the sociological point of view that school is one of the most vital agent of socialization. The reason is simple. It is the central connector of different home products. It mostly determines the kind of lifestyle a child may aspire to live in future. It is a societal factory where we nurture, shape and produce human resources.

This is why what operates in the society operates in school. School is relative depending on the object of focus and skills acquisition. It may be vocational, conventional or nonconventional, the fact is, they are all learning centres. It is called Modrasah in Arabic language. On a general note, it is expected to be a tender and soul-inspiring dormitory. No room for cruelty and abuse. This is the crux of this piece. The psychologists actually talk about the working of mental elements in line with knowledge internalization and improvisation. If your mind is unsettled nothing can pass across. It is like using bad internet service to download a weighty document.

The most devastating effect of the indigenous method of Arabic learning is the psyche imbalance. I am sure an average student will always make friend with a nice teacher. Someone who cuddles and cares for him like a pet. But by so doing, something impacting is going on. Knowingly or unknowingly, there is value transfer and exchange. The value might be positive or negative in nature. That is another thing on its own. The focus here is the approach. Comfort is an expensive commodity we all treasure. Wherever we find it, we tend to turn on our mental WiFi and experience adorable memories. It is natural. Everybody deserves comfort including the children and students.

In fact, the fundamental human rights has well-covered by the major modern International  Human Rights, including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948) and its 30 articles, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted in (1976) are right steps in this direction. Surprisingly, those powerful documents are mostly applied in violation than in compliance. As a matter of fact, its acclaimed promoters are the greatest abusers to humanity. The proclamations were just to deceive and destroy the perceived bad bloods anywhere in the world. This is the height of injustice. What do we make of someone who supposed to fight our war but stabs our backs?

This is to tell you there is no hope in sight unless we go back to the source, which is the Quran and Sunnah. Take no offence, the traditional approach has many advantages and I will never hesitate to roll out the drum when it is time to do so but, this piece is not for that. Back to the matter, I cannot believe it is the domestic helps offered by the students to Sheikhs that will make their knowledge to be beneficial as some traditional philosophers want us to believe nor will the brutality meted out to them give any lustre to their achievement. It can only at its best be a form of upbringing training which has many things to tell differently in life.The conventional belief about kidmoh (personal sacrifices) is a myth.

Unfortunately, the Muslim majority can be classified under the group of "illiterates" in respect to Islamic knowledge, a possible 80 percent majority of the Muslim population in the world. These individuals are greatly influenced by the directions of the educated. I don't actually know what our people read these days but one of the book I love reading is a book titled " Islam between ignorant followers and incapable scholars ," written by the Eminent Sheikh Abdul-Qader Audah. In the book sheikh said " We, Muslims, take pleasure in belonging to Islam and are proud of it. Yet, unfortunately, we do not know its most important injunctions and neglect its major issues... I think that the best service a Muslim can render to his brethren is to educate them..."

The modern needs to restructure and revamp the traditional Arabic system of learning is timeous and paramount, if we desire to get the oceans of teeming Muslims out of the muddiness of ignorance. Nothing is impossible. The indigenous approach in town today is not built overnight. It is established through strategic plan and spirited efforts. However, the bulk of this herculean task falls substantially on the laps of our various Arabic teachers and religious stakeholders. They should help us build an enduring and heart-winning template in order to make Arabic learning appear fascinating and easy-to-understand in nature. Our people are at the receiving end already. We cannot replace something with nothing. Things are not done that way.

If we want to go far as a nation, Islamic education must be spread far and wide. I know of many Islamic homes where none of the family members can recite Quran perfectly in tajweed. Compounding the issue will be to vocalize or read Arabic books, which is the language of Quran and Islam. Someone who cannot recite Quran, I don't know what people like him utter in solat (prayer).

At the height of it all, we claim, we are the vicegerents of Allah on the earth surface. I don't know those we want to lead without sound knowledge! Arabic knowledge is a sine qua non to practicing Islam. The worship which is the primary objective of our existence is rendered in Arabic language. Arabic learning is not optional, it is compulsory. But if our comfort zone (modrasah) where to milk Arabic learning is no longer comfortable, then, God help us.