"Being Muslims & its challenges" 2

8/14/2019 "Being Muslims & its challenges" 2

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Towards becoming Muslims -Towards becoming Muslims -

and its challenges.and its challenges.

What isWhat is

Ad-Deen al -Islam?Ad-Deen al -Islam?

Topic

ofdis

cuss

ion

2006ZhulkefleeHjIsmail


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UNDERSTANDING FROM THETERMS

AD-DEEN - usuallytranslated as the religionmore accurately it should bea total way of life or acomprehensive system of

living

a Muslim regard his/her entire life as a religiousexperience. Islam provides for guidance in not

only matters of worship but as to how he/she is to

conduct in daily matters - be it social, economic

etc.2006ZhulkefleeHjIsmail


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definition of Deen

from root word daa-na which can also mean :be indebted, to owe ones thanks, to besubjected, bow, yield, owe allegiance.

from dain which means debt, obligation,liability.

from dainuu-na which means judgement, LastJudgement.

related to the word maaddana which means tobuild or found cities to civilize, to refine and tohumanize from which the word tamaddunmeaning civilization and refinement in socialculture



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definition of Deen

The primary signification of the term deen thuscan be reduced to four:

(1) Indebtedness

(2) Submissiveness/submission/surrender

(3) Judicious power

(4) Natural inclination or tendency



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definition of Deen

Thus, the implication of religion in the ordinaryusage which tends to be affected by secularthoughts is not in accord to Islams concept of

religion which is life in totality, all-encompassingand cannot be dichotomized.

A Muslim always is mindful that ultimately he isa servant of God whether in mosque or in themarket place, in private or in public etc. Life ofthis world is intrinsically link with the Hereafter

(also referred to as Yaum al- Deen-The day ofJudgement).



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Dilemma of the Present-dayDilemma of the Present-day

Muslim.Muslim.

One can find in the Islamic world today a fullOne can find in the Islamic world today a full

spectrum of people ranging fromspectrum of people ranging frompurelypurely

traditional elementstraditional elements, through, throughthose who arethose who are

caught between traditional values andcaught between traditional values and

modernismmodernism, to the, to theblatant modernists whoblatant modernists who

nevertheless still move within the Islamicnevertheless still move within the Islamic

orbitorbit, and finally to the few, and finally to the fewwho no longerwho no longer

consider themselves to belong to the Islamicconsider themselves to belong to the Islamic

universeuniverseat all.at all.

(Prof. Seyyed Hossein Nasr in book Islam and the

Plight of Modern Man published by Longman)

* I have underlined passage to highlight four types or categories of Muslims he hasidentified2006ZhulkefleeHjIsmail


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Every child is born in a state of

Fitrah (pure innocence);it is the parent that will make himto be a Jew, or a Christian,

or a pagan (Majusi).

(Hadith of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.)

REFLECTIONREFLECTION



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STAGES OF DEVELOPMENTSTAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

INFANT PRE-SCHOOL

Parents may alreadyprovide nurturing inaccordance with Islamictraditions. Yet although

much time spent confinedat home, we must alsobecome aware of stronginfluences throughexposures of the massmedia and our familylifestyle and parentalbehavior.



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SCHOOLING PERIOD

EXPOSURE TO

TODAYS TEENS SUB-CULTURE

Although some basicknowledge of Islam mayhave been provided, yetwhen they sent thechildren to formal school,stress towards academicexcellence only and tendto neglect the Aqidah-mic element in theireducation which mustcontinuously be

complimented in tandemwith their developmentwhile in and throughouttheir schooling age.



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EXPOSURE TOTODAYS TEENS SUB-CULTURE

With lesser contact-time athome, and inadequatementoring & monitoringIslamically by parents,their education becomessecularized; childrenmay be left to peers andmedia influences. Islamicvalues may began to besubsumed by negativetrends and sub-cultures

opposed to Islam. Somemay begin to have doubtsabout Islam or even loosetheir Muslim identity.



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COLLEGE & VARSITY NATIONAL SERVICE /

TASTE OF WORKINGLIFE

At this level, our young maybecome more independent(less attached to family

influence); their idealismmay lead them to try out,to adapt and adopt valuesalien to Islam itself.



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COLLEGE & VARSITY NATIONAL SERVICE /

TASTE OF WORKINGLIFE

At this level, our young maybecome more independent(less attached to familyinfluence); their idealismmay lead them to try out,to adapt and adopt valuesalien to Islam itself.

Serious crisis of identityusually occur at this stage usually when they becomeworldly-wise but

unfortunately theirknowledge of Islamstagnates at kindergartenor primary level.



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Is part-time Islamic classesIs part-time Islamic classes

adequate?adequate? No, if approach to

learning Islam merelyas subjects to belearnt rather than a

lifestyle and characterbuilding.



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lifestyle and characterbuilding. No, when learning

does not conform toits systematic ways

according to tradition fardh ayn beforekifaayah; and beganwith eclectic beforespecialization.



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No, if parents merelydelegate tasks toteachers without theythemselves

participating in childsholistic development,and providing goodrole models.



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No, when their identity

as Muslims allowed tobe eroded by othervalues and idols asrole models.



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No, when their identity

as Muslims allowed tobe eroded by othervalues and idols asrole models.



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Is Islamic education achieved byIs Islamic education achieved by

integrating knowledge?integrating knowledge?

Mere integration (formal school withIslamic class) does not make it anIslamic education.



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It is only when the dominantworldview, approach and philosophy isthat of Islam; and the consciousobjective is of moulding a Islamicidentity becomes the primary concern.



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That it must proactively equip them to

discern between haqq and baatilwhen learning from other systems.



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That it must proactively equip them to

discern between haqq and baatilwhen learning from other systems. That the three primary Tawhidic

development of iiman, amal and ihsan

continues to be nurtured. f

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"Being Muslims & its challenges" 2