The Purpose of Study
I have been given the opportunity to see him grow up and continue hoping for the best for him.
Why we study something or even study at all, is not a topic that is usually delved into with our children, it is something we do as we go about life. A child of two may not be mentally aware of why he wants to learn something, yet there is this inner drive in him to be like the adults around him and learn about his surroundings.
Dr Montessori describes it as "a vital force" within that guides his efforts towards his goal (Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p83). You see it in a child eager to help you do the housework even when he can't hold a broom straight, in children asking questions incessantly and that bookworm who doesn't seem to get enough out of the books he has already read.
Somewhere down the line though, some children lose that spark, for whatever reason.
As Muslims, knowing why we study should be a basic foundation of the learning process because every deed is rooted in intention. It is narrated in the first Hadith of Imam Nawawi's 40 Hadiths:
Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended
Al Zarnuji said learning allows us to strive for the good will of God, the future life, the removal of ignorance...the conservation of religion, and the survival of Islam. (Cook, B J, Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought, p113).
Hence the purpose of learning should be God-centred, like everything else in our life. Not that professional status, not that big cheque at the end of the month, not for honour and pride.
How do we translate this to children?
In Waldorf education, fairytales are seen as ways to awaken the spirit of the child, in fact so much of Waldorf education is in connecting with the child's spirit. The natural toys, the unformed forms, the nature walks.
Much has been criticised about the school of thought, but this is one aspect I always take away from Waldorf- that of the spiritual education. As a Muslim, we believe that a child is born in fitrah- a natural form that is inclined to good and submission to Allah.
In my opinion, we should;
Be a model to our children- nature begets nature; and what closer to a natural being to a child than his mother?
Be a model to our children- nature begets nature; and what closer to a natural being to a child than his mother?
Let children grow among nature.
Make God central to family life.
What can a mother do to maintain a child's fitrah for as long as possible? Before I go on, I seek forgiveness from Allah for my shortcomings in being a mother and for His guidance to be consistent in my deeds.
If I could sum it up in one sentence; a mother should be a model to her children and pray for the best for them in this world and the hereafter.
As mothers, we greatly shape our children's outlook, especially if you are opinionated, as they are the first ones they will encounter.
We should thus check where we are coming from when we share our opinions with our children and always link it back to Islamic teachings. If like me, you came from a secular system it can be a challenge at times.
I once heard about how the Prophet's daughter Fatimah prayed not only for her children but also their friends because as a classical Arabic verse reads;
Do not inquire concerning a man but observe his companion,
for verily one companion imitates the other companion;
And if the companion is evil, then quickly shun him,
but if (the companion) is good, associate with him.
In this way you will be led in the right direction.
(Cook, B J, Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought, p118)
We can try to be the best parents to our children but sometimes things still don't work out but ;
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily your Lord is Generous and Shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication) He becomes shy to return them empty.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
So make dua for our children, it might be the last thing you want to do when they get on your nerves but as a mother who wants the best for our children and have their best interest at heart, let go of your ego and ask for what's best. I pray Allah lets me overcome my ego.
On nature, I once told my husband, that the people in our country are so distant and indifferent because we are so 'concretised', our flats are near other flats and we spend most of our lives looking at other concrete, metal, etc built-up structures. He gave me a 'confused eyebrow' look.
Nature holds so much of Allah's marvels- the sweet-smelling flower, the green leaves, the fresh air, the different-tasting fruits, the rain, the rainbow. You can feel Allah's presence in almost every part of nature.
Children love being in nature because its close to what they intuitively are and being around nature gives us that opportunity to inspire their awe and marvel in Allah's creation.
Bring nature home- plant something, put a flower in a vase on your dining table, eat salad, look out the window to see the birds flying...
Have toys made from natural parts instead of plastic... and observe how your child is calmer and dreamier.
Chuck those laptops, ipads and samsung notes away... I know its difficult, I struggle too but at least try to have the kids more in nature than tapping at those gadgets.
Lastly, how can we create a God-centred home? For me, solat is one of the most basic ways to do so. Our activities at home are centred around solat times. We can have the azan turned on when it's time or always have quran reading at home.
When teaching the children correct values and behaviour, we try to bring God into the picture where possible. For example, this is done on the need for telling the truth and carrying out our responsibilities even when an adult is not around to monitor them.
In fact, I try to bring in the quran and hadith when possible or an Islamic leaning when teaching the children. This is easiest for science - see the link with nature? You can also try bringing in Islamic scholars and try to amplify how they pursue knowledge fervently to motivate your children to emulate them in their studies.
Wallahua'lam
I once heard about how the Prophet's daughter Fatimah prayed not only for her children but also their friends because as a classical Arabic verse reads;
Do not inquire concerning a man but observe his companion,
for verily one companion imitates the other companion;
And if the companion is evil, then quickly shun him,
but if (the companion) is good, associate with him.
In this way you will be led in the right direction.
(Cook, B J, Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought, p118)
We can try to be the best parents to our children but sometimes things still don't work out but ;
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily your Lord is Generous and Shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication) He becomes shy to return them empty.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
So make dua for our children, it might be the last thing you want to do when they get on your nerves but as a mother who wants the best for our children and have their best interest at heart, let go of your ego and ask for what's best. I pray Allah lets me overcome my ego.
On nature, I once told my husband, that the people in our country are so distant and indifferent because we are so 'concretised', our flats are near other flats and we spend most of our lives looking at other concrete, metal, etc built-up structures. He gave me a 'confused eyebrow' look.
Nature holds so much of Allah's marvels- the sweet-smelling flower, the green leaves, the fresh air, the different-tasting fruits, the rain, the rainbow. You can feel Allah's presence in almost every part of nature.
Children love being in nature because its close to what they intuitively are and being around nature gives us that opportunity to inspire their awe and marvel in Allah's creation.
Bring nature home- plant something, put a flower in a vase on your dining table, eat salad, look out the window to see the birds flying...
Have toys made from natural parts instead of plastic... and observe how your child is calmer and dreamier.
Chuck those laptops, ipads and samsung notes away... I know its difficult, I struggle too but at least try to have the kids more in nature than tapping at those gadgets.
Lastly, how can we create a God-centred home? For me, solat is one of the most basic ways to do so. Our activities at home are centred around solat times. We can have the azan turned on when it's time or always have quran reading at home.
When teaching the children correct values and behaviour, we try to bring God into the picture where possible. For example, this is done on the need for telling the truth and carrying out our responsibilities even when an adult is not around to monitor them.
In fact, I try to bring in the quran and hadith when possible or an Islamic leaning when teaching the children. This is easiest for science - see the link with nature? You can also try bringing in Islamic scholars and try to amplify how they pursue knowledge fervently to motivate your children to emulate them in their studies.
Wallahua'lam
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