The True Purpose of Education

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:

Islamic Ethics for a Better Society

In his special sermon of October 05, 2012 on the occasion of the Annual Conference [“JALSA SALANA”] of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius reflected on the fundamental values and structural norms on which the edifice of human society is constituted. Based on a holistic analysis of the profound Islamic ordinances, the Messenger of Allah of our times pin-points several ethical principles which, if kept in mind in our individual and collective life, would go a long way in making the world a better place to live.  

Read the Extracts from the Sermon:

Now, allow me to pinpoint certain directives offered by Islam to get rid of some social evils and build a better and progressive society:

1. There should be a good relationship between the high and the low, the aged and the young.

2. Beggary is looked down on with extreme displeasure. The Holy Prophet (saw) has said: “The hand of the donor is better than the hand of the taker.” There came a period in history when people had charity to give but there were no takers.

3. With regard to our neighbours, the needy and the orphans, the Holy Quran has laid this order: “And worship Allah and associate naught with Him and show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans and the needy, and to the neighbour that is a kinsman and the neighbour that is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Surely, Allah loves not the proud and the boastful.” (4: 37)

Muslim Parents and the Upbringing of Children

In his special sermon of October 05, 2012 on the occasion of the Annual Conference [“JALSA SALANA”] of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius reflected on the fundamental values and structural norms on which the edifice of human society is constituted. The proper upbringing of children is central to the evolution of an orderly society and Islam lays much emphasis on this by insisting upon, inter alia, the moral standing of parents themselves.

Read the Extracts from the Sermon:

“Now I should like to say a few words on the Islamic teachings concerning the right upbringing of children. Islam has laid a strong emphasis on this point. Many social evil can be removed by the way we bring up our children, and the future generation may be saved from a lot of difficulties if kids are brought up properly and made to follow certain lines of conduct. Because we belong to diverse religions and diverse races, our children grow up with certain prejudices that could be eliminated through proper education in their very childhood.

Let us teach our children to love one another irrespective of caste, colour or cult. Let us tell them that the same blood courses through their veins and the incidence of birth in different homes does not make them different from one another. All children are equal and hence they should love one another. The fact of belonging to such a religion or such a race does not make one superior and another inferior. All are children of God and there should be no ill-feelings, rancour or hatred among them.

The Moral Standing of Parents

The first guidance offered to us by the religion of Islam is that husband and wife should marry on the basis of virtue and good moral standing. All psychologists agree on the point that the moral standing of parents leave an abiding impression on the children born of their union. Another guidance is that at the moment of this sexual relationship the father and mother say this prayer: “O our God, keep us away from Satan and keep Satan away from us.”