Only recently I’ve started to ponder over the direction of the Ummah within the world, and I’m currently reading on “The Moors In Spain, Stanley-Lane Poole”, so far a very thought-provoking, eye-opening book on Islamic history in Spain, who the Moors were and what they brought to Europe, definitely recommend it to anyone interested. After only reading the preface I began to think about where we are lacking, and how, regardless of intentions, the Asian communities in the UK (where I’m from) are/were on to something when they advised their children (ordered them to some people lol) to become doctors, pharmacists, or at least IT consultants. I say that because they were aiming high, something that I think the Muslim ummah seems to lack in when it comes to dunya, balancing it with the deen, which I do believe wholeheartedly is important, but then without being able to able to function in society, progress, achieve and provide, by the will of Allaah.
Without being a positive, valuable asset to the community and wider society I think we are missing a trick. Especially when looking at Moorish Spain and how it was the epicentre of education for the rest of Europe, they brought with them science, botany, astrology, mathematics, amongst other things, bringing Europe out of a dark age where basic hygiene was so low that England was rife with disease, people lived amongst squalor, threw out their waste into the street and covering with straw.

Bringing it to a more recent time I look at the Muslim countries that contract outside of their own population due to lack of knowledge, why is this? Why is the focus of the Ummah one-sided when it comes to the type of education? Why do charities and organisations focus majorly on providing food, which is obviously an issue, and keeping the population dependent, rather than turning the focus towards education, so generations can progress and start to tackle the source of the issue or at least part of it.

As a Muslim I’ve been led to believe we should be an example to mankind, whether that’s in manners, character, faith or general living, so shouldn’t we as an ummah be aiming high in all aspects. There is a major focus on educating ourselves in Islam, but a lack of focus on academics, how can we progress and thrive if we are behind the times in education, how can we be innovative in countries that have different lifestyles, different environments, if we don’t even learn the foundations of agriculture, construction, science, mathematics, who are we kidding?

We receive bad press, slander, insults, physical violence, but none of this is new, this has always been the case, the only difference I see now is rather than those that are held in high esteem speaking of the accomplishments of Muslims from history, the benefit of Muslims in the world of education, such as algebra, nowadays this is less of an occurrence, and I feel it’s because we have no representatives in the fields that can be referred to, acknowledged or even mentioned as a having a beneficial, positive impact on the progress of our societies.

I’m sure there are many factors and reasons of why it’s not an easy thing to change, but upon thinking about it I did a search, and viola came across your article. I was pleasantly surprised that the thoughts were already out there, and I wanted to say Jazakallaahkhair for having this available to the public, I think it’s important that we start gearing towards the balance of deen and dunya, educating our ummah, and the wider population, Muslim or not, academically and religiously i.e. the Dawah of Islam, the true meaning, what it is, and giving a defence of our deen against the rhetoric that is currently circulating amongst our societies pushed by the media and their cronies.

May Allaah guide me and you and help us be a positive, beneficial asset to our communities, progress and deen whilst we are here, giving a more recognisable and less cowering stance against current times. What I mean by that is in the media they post stories of Muslims clearing snow, helping old ladies, feeding the homeless, which obviously is very good ma sha Allaah, yet we’ve been doing these things for years, and it’s almost an expectation of any community but especially the Muslims when you consider our 5 pillars and one of them being charity right?! These stories seem to be a poor portrayal of the Muslims within society, as though we are incapable of things that make big impacts to the communities, finding solutions and leading by example, even though it does happen, but with the media being the media, clearly these aren’t the focus of them, yet it also seems not to be the focus of us.

Br. Isa Muhammad

http://www.scribd.com/doc/78951055/Rejecting-Freedom-and-Progress-Book

Through Islamic Knowledge; we built our character, prepare ourself for Hereafter and for this dunya and help the world; worldly knowledge facilitates that goal.

#1 most important thing for our children is character development.  Prophet PBUH said, “a person can reach a high status in the hereafter by his good character though he may be weak in matters of worship, and he can also go down to the lowest part of hell by his wicked character. (Abu Dawood) 

#2 Give them worldly knowledge as the articles explains. 

We all know desire to do good doesn’t necessarily lead to good; our mind can easily trick us into doing bad by convincing us its good. We need set of rules that can guide our behavior; a systematic way of thinking; These rules will have to be applicable in every situation; weave out bad decisions; and universally apply to all situation. These rules and guidelines come from Qur’an and Sunnah. We use rules in Qur’an to develop pious character. It is important for us to realize Islam is not just about ibadah, it’s a very practical religion. One who can study Islam and learn to apply its teaching in real life situation will be successful. 

Once these children have their character solid; stopping their success is inevitable; they will come out to be very successful human beings; they will excel in science; math; marriage; community; dunya and the hereafter.

Jazakullah Khair, Nabeel Noor, Chicago, IL

Asalamu ahlaykum;)

Jazzakah lahukheir for this article and all these sites you just provided. I don’t even want to look at the TV anymore. This is exactly what i needed. Alhamdillah. Thank you;)