In a special sermon on 06
October 2012 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius called the attention of one and all to
the true meaning and purpose of education in life. Based on a specific message
received from Allah the Almighty, the Messenger of our times points to the gaping
holes in the contemporary education system. The students are merely acquiring degrees and do not understand the real significance of
education. Modern educational system, on the whole, has become centres of
factory production of graduates, limiting its functional effectiveness in resolving the complex
contingencies of modern life. It has made people self-centred and
individualistic, rather than socially-oriented and empathetic to the
less-fortunate in society.
“True education”, says the Khalifatullah “is that which develops your inner vision,
provides spiritual illumination and helps you experience everlasting bliss”. Such
an education focuses on the moral and spiritual growth of the individual who
acquires noble qualities and keeps under control his sensory organs. “Only
when you achieve sense control can you become a learned man in the real sense
of the term. Hence, control your senses and become a master of the world”, reminds
and exhorts the Khalifatullah.
Read the Extracts from the Sermon:
“By the grace
of Allah, I am presenting before you today, especially our youths and the
parents, a message which I initially received from Allah during a Safar
Zikrullah in the Divine Manifestation of this era, so that you may profit from
the same blessings and advices which come from both Allah and His humble
Muhyi-ud-Din of this era. And that you may keep away from the harm which Allah
and His Muhyi-ud-Din are warning you about, and that you may reform yourselves
in such a way that you become the true soldiers of Islam. I know that it is not
easy to just reform all at once, but when there is a will, there is a way. When
there is trust and firmness in Allah, then Allah Himself shall help you.
Therefore listen carefully to what Allah and this humble self have to tell you:
O you, the
youth, Hope of a new day… You are like pure gold. You are endowed with noble
qualities. Your life is very precious. But some evil-minded people may try to
put you on the wrong path. Even if others try to mislead you, do not deviate
from your chosen path. Stand firm. You will then, Insha’Allah, acquire a
good name and the whole world will praise you. But if you lose your character,
you will ruin your life.
O Muhyi-ud-Din! Tell them, this is My advice to all of you
regarding your education. O members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, nobody
(nowadays truly) teaches moral education; Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam will teach
people Moral Education, Insha’Allah.
Morality
is the most important aspect of education. Money comes and goes, morality comes
and grows. Therefore, cultivate morality. That will earn you a good name in
society. Have full confidence in Allah. Allah is your Sole Refuge
wherever you may be, in a forest, in the sky, in a city or a village, on the
top of a mountain or in the middle of deep sea.
Cultivate noble qualities. I am prepared to give everything to those who
cultivate noble qualities and to those who teach them. Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam
has been created to put you on the virtuous path. Lead a noble life and earn a
good name. This is what your Rab, expect from you. You must be in a position to
receive My Grace. I am yours and you are Mine. Try to understand My love for
you. Character is your Greatest Protection in life.
Do not feel
proud that you are pursuing higher education. It is not worth even the alms a
beggar gets in the street. Instead of craving for degrees, one should cultivate
noble qualities. Education without character is useless. In fact, education
finds its fruition in character. Today many students read useless books. Such
books should not be sold in the market. The Sahib-al-Faraj,
the Muntaqa, the Mujtaba and the young Siraj
Makin should read only such books, which develop their character. They
should participate in sports and games in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
This advice applies equally to the Mujtaba and young Siraj Makin as well.
O Muhyi-ud-Din! You know, today there are a large number of
educational institutions all over the world, but nobody seems to have
understood what education really means. Students fill their heads with mere
bookish knowledge, write examinations, secure pass marks and claim that they
are educated. This process of teaching and learning does not reveal eternal
truths to the learner.
True education
is that which develops your inner vision, provides spiritual illumination and
helps you experience everlasting bliss. In what way are the students benefited
by the present system of education? They merely acquire degrees without
understanding the real significance of education.
Modern
system of education is making the students narrow-minded instead of developing
their power of discrimination. It neither imparts true wisdom nor does it help them to become
broad-minded. Education today has therefore become meaningless. The textbooks
that are prescribed for students do not contain the essence of true education.
It is surprising how the government sanctions such textbooks! It appears that
those responsible for recommending these textbooks are not making the
government aware of this reality. The government is not realizing that this can
bring a bad name to it. In fact, this trend in education is on the rise in the
entire world.
Students today
are interested only in bookish knowledge, not in the essence of education.
Their only concern is to get a degree and secure a job. They do not understand
the real meaning of education. The parents also do not bother whether the
textbooks contain the desired knowledge or not. They are happy if their
children score high marks in their examinations. They are not concerned about
the numerous bad remarks their children get. If only they care to look into the
remarks, they will truly understand the type of education their children are
receiving. The sole aim of education today is to get a degree.
With the rise of this trend in education, the study of Holy Quran and Sunnah of Holy Prophet
(saws) had declined. No Muslim is making efforts to understand My Divinity and
My existence, in other words
the Unicity of Allah and the Sunnah of My loving Prophet, Hazrat
Mohammad (saws). In this situation, how can the present system of education
impart real knowledge to the students?
O Muhyi-ud-Din, tell them that Parent should Take
Responsibility for inculcating virtues in children. Students! You should acquire such education, which will be beneficial to
society and the world at large. What is the present state of society? In what
way can we make it ideal? How should we work for its advancement? These are the
questions we should ask ourselves. But nobody seems to think on these lines.
The present system of education does not address itself to the needs of
society. In this situation, the elders should take up the responsibility to
give proper direction to their children. We should follow the teachings of the
Holy Prophet (saw) who has given us the true meaning of education.
It is a sign of foolishness to become egoistic by
merely acquiring a few degrees. We should understand the needs of society and utilize our education for
its progress. People say they are serving society. But what is the use of this
service without understanding the requirements of society? Such service is not
social service but lifeless activity. A
proper system of education is essential for the advancement of society and the
progress of the people. As the craze for modern education has increased,
people have forgotten even the ABC of ancient system of education.
Parents should teach their children what is good
and what is bad, right from their childhood. They are
satisfied when their children secure a seat in a college and acquire a degree.
They do not care whether their child is imbibing any virtue or not in the
process of learning. It is for the parents to see that their son/daughter grows
up a responsible person and utilizes his/her talent in the service of society
and the nation. This responsibility cannot be left entirely
to the educational authorities and the government. In fact, the parents
should encourage the children to work for the country and for the Jamaat
Ul Sahih Al Islam and earn a good name.
But nowadays
parents do not have such broad-mindedness. The teachers on the other hand think
that their responsibility ends with imparting bookish knowledge to the
students. They do not even enquire whether the information contained in the
textbooks is beneficial to society or not. Even if some teachers raise this
matter, they soon get discouraged by the indifferent response of the
authorities. In this way, educational institutions have been turned into
factories, which produce degree holders.
Students
alone are not to be blamed for this state of affairs. The mistake lies with
parents, teachers and the government also. It is not enough if a student stands first in his
class. He should also work for the Progress of society and the nation and thus
bring a good name to his parents. The parents on their part should monitor the
progress of their children from time to time, inculcate virtues in them and
mould them into responsible citizens. They should not rest satisfied if their
children get good marks. They should also observe what type of books their
children read at home. Some students read meaningless novels. But the parents
do not bother to correct them. On the other hand, they say, “What
is wrong in reading novels? It is enough if they are happy.” It is a
big mistake. In this way, they spoil their children themselves. They do
not care to observe how and where their children play and what they do in their
absence. There is no point in merely exposing the children to formal education
without correcting their behaviour. Modern parents should emulate the ideals of
our ancients who brought up their children in the most ideal way.
At present
student’s agitation is on the increase. However, it is not their fault. They
are in themselves very good. The fault lies with the books they read and the
teachers who teach them as also the educational authorities who prescribe such
books. There are no two opinions about it that the present system of education
cannot bring about any improvement in the life of the students. It is high time
that the parents realise the gravity of the situation and take steps to see
that their children acquire proper education.
What is the use of that education which does not
lead one to immortality? What is the type of education, which makes one
immortal? That is spiritual education. O Muhyi-ud-Din! Da’wa
Academy is a great opportunity for them. The parents should therefore encourage
their children to pursue spiritual education. Of course, secular education
should be complemented with moral, ethical and spiritual education. Character
is your Greatest Protection in life.
O youth! Do not
misunderstand my words. I am telling you all this for your own welfare and
progress. You should acquire such education, which will bring a good name to
you and uphold the reputation of your family. Do not become egoistic and take
to wrong ways in the name of freedom. I caution the youths not to look here and
there while walking on the road. Some of them, while riding their bicycle or in
the car, keep looking at girls who are passing by. In the process, their
attention is diverted (may cause accident). Keep your senses under
control. Always maintain high character. If you safeguard your character, your
character will protect you. Hence, have a check on your vision, listening and
speech.
Why
are the eyes given to you? Is it to look here and there? No. The eyes are meant to see the beautiful Form of
your RAB. Why are the ears given to you? Is it to listen to vain gossip? No.
The ears are meant to hear the glories of your RAB.
The ears are given to hear good words and lead a
virtuous life by putting them into practice. Hazrat Buddha (as) realised
that human life was given to acquire virtues and not to indulge in sensual
pleasures. Having thus set a goal for himself in life, Hazrat Buddha (a.s)
left his home after renouncing his wife and only child. I am not, however,
advising you to leave your wife and children and go to the forest like Hazrat
Buddha. You should look after them well and fulfill your responsibilities
towards them. [Inset: a statue of the Buddha from Sarnath, India, 4th Century CE]
Teach your children noble qualities and bring them up in life. Lead a
life of virtue. This is what Hazrat Buddha (as) taught. Having realised that
God had given the sense organs for the purpose of leading a virtuous life,
Hazrat Buddha (as) discarded all other spiritual practices and tried to control
his senses. He
realised that conscience was his true Master. He understood that if the eyes
and tongue were brought under control, all the other senses would automatically
come under control. If you are able to exercise control over your vision and
tongue, the whole world will be under your control.
Do not pay heed
to the wrong advice of others. Foster noble qualities. If you can control your
senses, that itself amounts to realizing the essence of the Holy Quran. The study of the Holy Quran is meant to
transform you into a man of virtue. Only
when you achieve sense control can you become a learned man in the real sense
of the term. Hence, control your senses and become a master of the world.
This is what you have to strive for today. Explain to your parents also about your priorities
in life. Tell your parent! You expect me to go for a job with a big salary. But
high salaries are not as important as a virtuous life. If we give preference to
money over virtues, our life itself will be ruined. You will become a man of virtue only when you keep
your senses under control. You will also gain the strength of character.
Hazrat Massih
Ma’oud (as), the illustrious devotee of his Master, Hazrat Mohammad (saws), is
an example of such noble qualities. He is extolled as serene, virtuous and valorous. He became the Promised Messiah & Mahdi because
of his noble qualities. All of you must emulate his example.
True education
is that which develops your inner vision, provides spiritual illumination and
helps you experience everlasting bliss. In what way are the students benefited
by the present system of education? They merely acquire degrees without understanding
the real significance of education.
Do not be influenced by the modern society. But do not get perturbed by these distracting
influences. First and foremost, make proper use of your
senses. Respect your elders like your father and mother. Earn a good name by
your good words and good deeds.
Through My
Muhyi-ud-Din, I have introduced Study circle every week in Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,
this is a great opportunity for you all. Join good company, speak
and listen good words, cultivate good vision and pursue good education. In fact, this is what your parents also want. No
father or mother will like his or her children to go on the wrong path. But
they are unable to tell their children emphatically out of some sort of
inhibition. O Muhyi-ud-Din, advise them, with all the emphasis at my Command. Sacrifice is the noblest of all qualities. Keep
away from sensual pleasures. In fact, sensual pleasures will lead you to
disease.
O Muhyi-ud-Din! Let me reveal these verses in
Sanskrit to you: Na karmana Na prajaya Dhanena Thya genaike Amruttattwa Manasu.
Immortality is not attained through action, progeny
or wealth; it is attained only by sacrifice.
O members of Jamaat
Ul Sahih Al Islam, cultivate noble qualities. Prepare yourself to
sacrifice anything for Me. But you must also be in a position to receive My
grace. I am yours and you are Mine. Try to understand Allah’s Love. All that I
am saying is meant to put you on the right path. Some children in Jamaat
Ul Sahih Al Islam, do not realise the hardships their parents undergo
for the education. Your parents even forgo proper food to educate their
children. Parents are your first teachers. Never disobey your parents. Speak sweetly
and softly to them.
The time is
coming, where many students will join our Da’wa Academy Insha’Allah. In
the Da’wa Academy, there will be no business education, but only peace. But
where is peace? Can you buy peace in the market? There is no peace anywhere but
only pieces. You can find peace only
when you inculcate virtues in your heart.
People want to
be good but they follow the wrong path. They want to eat sugar but they get all
that is bitter because there is no coordination between their thoughts and
deeds. Those whose thoughts, words and deeds are in perfect harmony are noble ones;
those who lack harmony of these are wicked. I like such people whose thoughts,
words and deeds are in perfect harmony.
O members of Jamaat
Ul Sahih Al Islam! Knowingly or unknowingly you might have committed
some mistakes in the past. But at least now, cultivate good qualities and try
to make your parents as well as My servant (My Muhyi-ud-Din of this era) happy.
When they will be happy with you, I also will be happy with you all. Insha
Allah. You shall notice that Allah has put much emphasis on a Dawa Academy.
Insha-Allah, I shall address you on that precise subject: The history,
importance and actualisation of Dawa, and the institution of a Dawa Academy.
May Allah bless
you all – especially you the youths and hope of tomorrow’s generations – and
Allah enable you to put into practice those precious advices so that your life
may become a refreshing piece of heaven on earth. Insha- Allah, Ameen.