Child Education in Islam

b.1! is well-known that what leads to harm. or causes perdition

should be avoided, for practicing it is prohibited. Again, we have

the saying of the Prophet ~, '"No harm. and no reciprocating

injury." Since masturbatioo has its harmful physical, sc ~ua l,

psychological and mental effects, then it is prohibited .

A I'crtinent Question

Since masturbation is forbidden, what is the Sharf'ah ruliog in

regards to a person who ;s sexually overwhelmed, and would

probably fall into sinful adultery?

When it comes to weighing between sinfUl acts, a person

generally chooses, at moments of distress, what is less sinful: aod

here we have the juristic axiom, '"the choice of the less sinful, and

least vicious." That is why legal jurists have said, "M asturbation is

prohibited, if the act here is to arouse sexual desire when il is

dormant. But if the desire is so overwhelming that it causes

vexation and distress, and may lead to adultery, and there is no

other means of sexual abatement, then masturbation is permissible,

on the basis of mutual equivalence. Here the person barely escapes

penalty, for here he has neither reward nor punishment (I)."

Treatment

t. Early marriage: this is the most efficient way for eradica ting such

a dest ructive habit. and the best means of fulfilling the needs of

overwhelming desire.

2. Supenrogatory rasling (Nflj1): we have the saying of the Prophet

,*,"0 young fellows. anyone of you who i.< sexually compe/eI1l,

should marry; for this is more amenable to lo .... ering 01U!' .• gaze. lind

more immune for the private paris. But anyone .... ho cannol afford

fIIarriage, has to fost. for i/ is enough restraint. "

(I) ibid.

J. K~pi ng away from sexual incitements: keeping away from gazing

at nirtatious women, as well as abstaining from reading sexual

literat ure and liste ning to licentious songs are definitely helpful in

this respect.

4. KHping busy: of course, when the young find much spare time,

they begin to have all sorts of dreamy ideas, foolish conceptions,

and exciting sexual whims. and thus, they may suddenly get

sexually excited. Here, the youth find no other alternative other

than getting satisfaction through unburdening himself of such an

overwhelming passion. The remedy here is to keep busy through

physical traimng, useful cultural readings, developing an interest in

religious education, or military training.

S. RighteoltS companionship: one of the main concerns of parents is

to advise th eir young to choose for their company virtuous

companions, who would remind them in case of forgetfulness, and

10 advise them in case of deviation; for of course, a fellnw usually

adopts the ideals of his companions. In a Haditlt of the Prophet 3-

related by At-Tinnidh i: "A man embraces the religion ofhisfriendly

fellow." Thus, keeping away from dissolute friends and intimate

relations with righteous fellows are basic precepts.

6- Medical prescriptions: physicians and health specialists have these

recommendations for casing inordinate sexual desire:

- Bathing with cool water in the summer and washing his private

parts with cold water in other seasons.

- Regular physical exercises_

- Avoiding very spicy foods.

- Dispensing with tea and coffee as much as possible.

- Decreasing his consumption of eggs and meal.

. Sleeping on the right side of his body, and facing Qiblalt.

Finally, an omnipresent apprehension of Allah, attending

religious meetings, performing congregational, as well as

optional prayers. Togther with constant recitations of the

Qur'an, pre-dawn prayers (q;yam), optional fasting, reading

about the Prophet $ and his Companions, and reminding

oneself of death and the L.ast Day: all of these are dTective in

arousing a youth's feeling of devotion to AHiih and reali7..ation of

His Glory.

3. The Problem or Narcotics

Addiction is usually found among homeless people who have

lost their parents or guardians, as well as among dissolu te youths

in the company of immoral bands_ Here we deal with three aspects

of the problem.

a. Hannful effects. b. The Sha,{'ah ruling.

c. Effective treatment.

Harmful Effects

_ Physical and mental effects: it is already known that addiction

may lead to insanity, dissipated memory, distorted thinking, as

well as stomach ache, loss of appetite, and hardening of blood

vessels.

An addict is financially on the verge of bankruptcy since he

always finds it easy to squander his money on narcotics. Of

course, this leads to poverty, and causes lack of productivity and

many economic problems.

Such an addiction may lead to lying, cowardice, and lack of

ethical responsibility; all of these result in committing crimes of

theft, adultery, and a hosti le atti tude towards society. Then we also

find that imperialist powers may use narcotics as a weapon agamt

their enemies, with the purpose of causing instability, dissolution

and abating the sense of solidarity in the nation.

The Shurr'uh Ruling

As for the rul ing in Isliim, we have a cunscnsus for prohibition

of intoxication and narcutics, Alliih Ili says against wine,

rtiJ :;':'.1i } .::li oF ~ ~; ;.WiJ ~.(.. .I ;i; ; ,i"-, ;if Wt i:t"l: ~¥ 0; ,

A';'~; ~ ;J1 4. of)\,, ;;i:i( ~ 2.1 J );:'11 ;"..; Ct ¢IS;''; , ~;.} p .w ~;~'i .;.; ;;.

"0 }'Ou who Mfiere! InlOxicunts (u f{ kinds of alcoholic drinks),

und gambling, and AI-AlISab, und AI-Adam (arrows for suking IlIck

or decision) lire an abomination of S haitan's (Salan) lIandiwork. So

avoid ( strictly all) lhat (llbominafion) in order thai yo .. nIll)' be

successful. SI,,~ilan (Satfln) wano only to excite enmil)' and hilired

Mt"'/.'I.'n }'OU with intoxicants (tUcolto/ic drinks) and gambling, und

hinder you from flu remtmhranct of AlIlih and f rom As-Sa/at (the

pruyet ) . So, !>'ifl ),ou /Wt thell ah)'luill?" (AI.Mi'idah, 90 -91)

We also have the lIadilh, related by Abu Dawud "Alltih Iws

cursed wine, those ... ho drink ii, or offer iI, its purchaser and seller,

the one who presses iI, ",ho asks il to be pressed, its carrier and Ihe

one 10 whom il is carried," As for narcotics, we have innumerable

l!Jdilhs forbidd ing them:

_ Narcotics could be included under Khomr (wine), since narcotics

inebriates the mind, and tilts it away from its judicious nature.

We have Al-Bu~~iiri and Muslim relating after 'Umar Ibn AIKha!~

ab, the Commander of the Believers':;', who addressed the

people, while he was standing on the minhar (pulpit) of the

Messenger of Alliih 3:" saying, "Khamr (wine) is what inebriales

Ihe mind,"

- Again, Umm Salamah ~ as related by Imam A~m ad and Abu

Dawfld said, "The Messenger of Allah ~ has forbidden

everything that intoxicates Of languishes," Of course, narcotics

are to be included here, since th ey have both pernicious elTects.

_ They arc also included under the word "vicious things" khabii'ilh

in the words of AILih ffi about the Prophet,

./. ~ ;-;,i ' _:i: >--' - . (,01 ,,1 i ,- :l.

't • . ....,.,.... r-<"'J , '. -"+' V-!':J T

"lfe allows them as law/u/ At- Tayyib", ((i,l'. all good und lawful)

as ugards '''ings, duds, beliefs, persofls,/QOfh), ulla pmhibiu ,Ir~m

as unlawful A/-K"ub';';tlr (i.£. all eril Illld Ufl/ .. Kiaills regards things.

deed.f, belir/s, persons, foods) ... " (Al.A"r';f 157)

Here we have again Ihe Prophet 3, as rcbled by A ~mad and

Ibn Maja h: "Nt) harm, Wid nO reciprocating injwy."

Effective Treatment

- Righteous Education

- Avoiding causes

- Punishmen t for perpetrators

Righteous Education

Religious upbringing is represented by belief in AlJ ~h, since th is

is II basic clement in et hical reconstruction and upbringing. A

relevant example is that of the pagan Arabs, who were addicted to

wine before Islam; and their vers;!tile poetry llbout mto~ ication is

abundant. However, once they embraced [slam ~nd devoutly

accepted its prohibitions, they quite voluntarily poured out their

preserved barrels of wine into the st reets of Madinah. Modern

societies arc strongly recommended to realize how devoted we

should be to the values of Islam and its characteri st ic rules fo r

righteous upbringing.

Avoiding Causes

An attack on addiction should primllrily be the responsibility of

the State. Here, selling and buying all sorts ofinto~icants should be

prohibited by competent authorit ies, thus Ica ~ing no means for

addicts to obtain them.

Punishment

or course we know that Ishim has prescribed forcible penalties

for drunkards (about 40-80 lashes). Penalties may also be through

imprisonment. finc~ , or confiscation.

4. Promiscuity and Sodomy

These represent two of the most dangerous sins committed by

adolescents and youth in general; and we know how many

adolcsc£nts have fa llen into these sinful acts due to the negligence

of fathers and educators. We will deal with these problems as

follows:

A. Harmful effects

C. Trea tment

B. The Slwrtah ruhng

Effects

Such grievous sins resu lt in many vencre

syphi lis and other infect ious diseascs Here we have the Itadi1h of

the M es~enger of AII;lh 3: related by Ibn Miijah, Bazzar and AIBayhaqi,

··No .... here are obscenities rampanl oYl!rlly. Ihen comes Ihe

spread of epiikmic.f amI maladies Ihal .... ere ne~er found before. "

Social, Ethical and l'sychological Effects

In the social, ethic

effects of these cnmes lead to confounded ances tries, di ssol ution,

and the dismemberment of fam ilies.

The Shart'ah Ruling

The ruling of Slw,t'ah is definite prohibition by the consensus of

jurists and legal theori sts. Such a prohibition is dearly stated in the

words of Albih If!:

1; .:iJ\ 1L :";'1 V .fi ,;·.~tl .:;y~ 'i; ';"1: ~! ~I 2. ~ 'i ~t "

~. ,H

"t: 0jo.).

"And those •.- 110 ill Fake liar Iln)' orher iltlit (god) ulollg ...i th Allah,

OM kill such penoniU Allah hllof forbiddeJI , uctpr for jUl r CIlUse, nOr

commit ill!.'ltll' luuol in fl.'rcou rse - and ... !weFer does rhi .• Ihal/ ruei.e

the punishmenr. " (Al- Furqiin, 68)

IOO ~=========================================P.~ Two

AI-Bukhiiri and Muslim reported that the Prophet $. said, "An

adu/lerer does '101 commil IIdullery eXCI!pl when he is no longer tI

believer . ..

As for sodomy, here we have the words of Allah 1fI :

of 0;.r~ ;,; rs1 oJ ~il .;; f3':; jJ :J;. ,:; ~J "

"And Ie/we thOle I<'hom Allah hus crealed for )'OU /0 he j'pur

wi.est NIlY, you ore a trespass;,,/.: pcop/d". (A.h-Shu'ara, 166)

We also have in the f-!!dilh related by Al-l-!akim that the

Prophet 3: said, ''The most dreadful/hi/Ig thai' fear its punishment

mas/ is Ihe crimes of lire hou.l'I,ho!J of I-ti! (sodomy). or course the

Shari"a" has its prescribed punishments. For adultery the two

punishments aTe:

1. Flogging of a 100 lashes and banishment, for Allah says:

of ~i Y!~ ~ ~t ~ r...:t t ~ ~~ Y; ~; :J ~~ ..j. ~ ~j; "

" The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual inlucouru,jlog

each of ,hem with 4 ltunrlr~rI stripes. Let "ot pify withhold yo" in

their ('1St. in a punishme"t preJ(:ribed by Alllih ... " (An_NUT. 2)

2. Stoning is the punishment for a marrie(,i miln or woman, as

attested. by many authentic lIadillu.

Punishment fo r sodomy: Here we have this statement by AIBaghawi,

"Scholars have differed aboUl puni,hment fo r sodomy;

some say that the punishment here is the same as for adultery: if

the person is married, then he is to be stone(,i; but if the person is

not married, then the punishment is a hundred lashes, and t his is

the most acceptable of two statements by Ash-ShJifi·i."

Some scholars including Malik and A~mad, see that a sodomist

should be stoned. whether married or unmarried . Another opinion

of Ash-Sha.fi"i is that both active and negative perpetrators arc 10

be killcd(I). The l:.Ian afi school says that the punishment is /a 'zI,

(I) Ar·Ta.ghib wa AI-Tarhl'b. vol. 4, p. 325.

(chastisement left to the ruling of the Imam) for the fi Nit time. If the

crime is r~peated, then the punishment is death. A Hadiih in

support of killing both culprits rela ted by At-Tirmidhi, Ahu

Dawud, and Ibn Majah, says, "Anyone you find committing Ihe

crime of/he people of LuI, you should kill bOlh culpri/s: the active and

passi.'e criminals." That is the opinion upheld hy the major jurists

and legal theorists.

Treatment

He re, treatment is the same as for masturbation.

Directions and RecommcooatiollS for Physical Education

We should all agree that parents and educators have to take all

precautions to protect their children from all possi ble dangers and

unexpected accidents. Here are some of the main steps in this

regard (1). Of course, protecting a one year-old child is the sole

responsibility of the parents. Starling from the second, the child

must be warned against possible dangers in a gentle way, L e telling

him that touching hot utensils or heaters is dangerous, while

allowing him to touch such things very lightly as a practic.allesson.

Here are other practical ways to help prevent accidents:

- Poisonous materials should be locked up and kepI away from

children, with the names of each container clearly labeled.

- Unused medicines should be dispensed with so as to be kept out

of the reach of child ren. When adUlts are using medicine, it is

better not 10 use them in the presence of children, since children

arc generally fond of imitation and mimicry.

-A screen should be placed in front of every heating and wanning

appliance. Special attention should be given to electric machines,

and caution while in the kitchen is necessary.

(I) AI_M",Ui/al As-SwlJlciyy

Boha.ior) by Dr. Nabilt AI·Ghabroh, p. In.

- K mves, scissors and glassware should be kept out of the reach of

children.

Some toys for chidren are dangerou~ . playing with ropes and

plastic bags may present the danger of choking. Similarly

dangerous is eating nuts in a playful way, like throwing them in

the air and catching them by mouth.

- A baby should not sleep in his mother·s bed. Light pressure on

the baby by the unwary mother may end with choking or even

death.

Windows of the upper stories should be stu rdily built. and the

railings should be so high as to prevent chlldren from seeing

through or climbing them.

- Electric and mechanical machines are dangerous. A chIld'S fingers

or hands can possibly get caught.

- The outer door or gate should always be locked, lest any of the

children should stray out un·noticed.

- Care should be taken while closing or opening doors for fear of

mi!"lOr injuries to hands Or reel.

Thus, we havc above the positive and protective means orrered

by Islam fo r the physical education of children; and doubtless we

stand in great need nowadays to adopt these means, so that the

younger generation would be able to undertake the responsibility

of spreading the message of [sliim.

TI>< R .. po"';bWIy for Intolloctu.1 Edocotion ~~~~~~~~~~~ 103

Chal'tcr Four

The Res (lOosibilily for IlIlcllc<.:I ual Education

This means the mental upbringing of the young according to the

concepts of !>Iam, together with elements of modem scientific

knowledge_ Here, educalors are responsible for;

I. Education

2. Intellectual enlightenment

3. Menial Health

Educational Responsibility

In this respect, Islam has laid a great responsibili ty on parents

and educators for the proper upbringing of the young, culturally as

well as mentally. Here we lind many 6y61 (verses) from Qur'an and

many I!adilhs urging for thc acquisition of knowledge. In the

words of Allah. we have:

1 kj~ 1 ZJ~ 5ft:; ;:,jl ~p S; ,

"Are thou who know equal to those who know not!, .. " (Az.Zumar, 9)

Again, we have:

~ 4 --i;~ ~;jJ'

"And say: "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." (Tli.Ha, It4)

Also, we have:

~ ; '",; :;iJi ~) ~~t ~ Ip: ~)i ~I &i ,

"A fllih wifl exult in degree 'hose aryan who fuli~~~, and tholt who

ha~~ bun gran/ed knowledge, And Alliih is Well-Acquainted with

what you do." (Al·Mujiiciatah, II)

In ITgardS to haJilh, we have, as related hy AbU Hurairah G, the

Messenger .tt: saying, "Anyone who follows a way for seeking

knowledge, AI/ah will guUk him along u way leading 10 Ihe Garden."

Again, we have Imam Muslim relating rrom AbO. Hurairah the

104 ~~~~~~~~==================~~~~~ P.nTwo

Messenger ~ said. "When Ibn Adam (a persQn) dies, his deeds are

eXlinCI. except jor three accomplishments: on-going dona/ions, or

some useful knowledge for olhers, Or a righteous son whQ would

inyoke Ihe bll'ssings of Alldh for him."

Finally, we h.ave At-Tinnidhi relating from Abu Hurairah that

the Messnger $ said, "This world i.r cursed, and whaleper if worldly

is also cur5ed, exapl Ihe remembrallce of Allah. and what i.J

associated ",ilh ii, and anyone leaching or learning Ihal."

Based upon these precepts from the QUT'an and Sunnah,

Muslims since the lime of the mission, and following generations,

dedicated themselves to the study of universal realities,

taking knowledge from other civilizations and putting information

into the context of Islam. The entire world went on for centuries

adopting much of this culture until the Western Renaissance. This

also made much use nfthe Muslim contributions in Sicily, Andalus

and the period of the Crusades. This is in fact, what has been

acknowledged by equitable philosophers of the West.

What is the secret IJtohind this culiul1Il and scientific enlightenment?

Of course, the secret lies within the principles of the eternal

Sha,/ah:

Isliim cares for spirit and matter, the present life and the

Hereafter, and lIS motto is found in the words of Alliih !fl,

..: Q]I ,/.>! ,iI ' ,./ c;.~; !A'9I ).]i ~ /.1'~I: Y.! &:-t,

"But seek, "'ith ,ha' ( w~alrh) which Allih hu.s bestowed on you, the

home of tile lIeuafter, Qnd f orget nat YOIJf portion of lawful

enjoyment in ,1Ii1 ,,'orld ... " (AI-Qa~a~. 17)

- Islam also calls for human equality, as seen in His Words Ii:

,,:~~~~~1 !-(4 ~~1~,

"Surely the most honorQblt among you in the pro _idenu of Alliih

are the most piolls ... .. (AI.Hujurnl. 13)

- Again, Islam encourages friendship and co-operation, as in the

Words of Allah 918:

,

~ t;~Q ~"G; ~ t:r~; 5.ot j. ~ .vii' ~ .;61 ~~ ,

"0 mallkilld} We hal'e creaTed )'o,./rom a male alld alemall!. alld

mllde you illTO 1I111iollS lUId IriIHs, Ihill ),OU mil)' kilo", olle

allolher .. , "(AI-Il ujunil, 13)

The principles of IsHim encompass all laws of stability and

evolution, and satisfy the necds of humanity at every time and

place.

- Islam is a religion that makes education compulsory starting from

the very tender years of child ren. Here we have Ibn Miijah

relating after Anas ,*", that the Messenger of Allah ~ said, "The

quest for know/edge is an ordinance on every Muslim. " Ibn Miijah

also relates after Abu Sa'id AI-Khudri $, that the Messenger of

Allah ~ said, "'Anyone who keeps secret any information about

religion that A/liih has revealed, ond Ihol is of benefil /() people,

wili be shackled by Fire on the Resurreclion Day."'

In regards to knowledge, islam has spoken of two types:

obligatory and optionally collective. Recitation of the Qur'an,

ru les of worship, matters of lawfulness and unlawfulness and

every ordinance for individuals relating to worldly and religious

ordinances are obligatory on every Muslim male and female . All

useful knowledge related to agriculture, industry, commerce,

medicine, geometry, electricity, and even nuclear science-all of

these arc optionally collect ive. If a group of Muslims acquire any

of these types of knowledge, the responsibility will be: abrogated

from the rest of the community; and if no group achieves such

knowledge, all the community would be held responsible.

Such ordinances represent the secret of the great impulse

provided by Islam for the nourishing of cultu re and civilization

among the early generations of Muslims. So the cultural decadence

we see nowadays is the resu lt of ignorance, on the part of Muslims,

of lhe noble realities of Islam, of the estnlngement of Islam from

all fields of life toda y, and of the attack of Islam's enemies. The

re,ult of all th is I, the separation of state from religion, and the

confinement of Ishim wit hin the realms of worship and ethics.

So, the day the Muslims come to understand the truth of islam.

adopt its comprehensive system in all fields of life, and become

wary of the conspiracies of its enemies, then they can regain their

ascendancy, and can be the best nation that AlIiih has created as

the leader of humanity_

Again, we have to emphasize the fact that the duty of educators

is to teach the yo ung how to recite the Qur'an, to know the history

of the Prophet ~ and his Companions, and relevant Sha,,~ah

teachings. This is in accordance with the ordinance by Ihe Prophet

4. related by At-Tabarani: "'Emphasize. in the ed,lcmion of your

children, three areas: love for yOllr Prophel. love for his houuhold.

reciling Ihe Qur'an, for the upholders of Qur'un will be in Ihe shade

of the throne of Alliih on 0 Doy .... hen Ihere is no shade except the

Throne's shode."' Such education should start from the early years,

when the young have a fresh memory, and are more readily

inclined to education.

What sbould be the sllarc of women in such educatiou?

Here, scllolars lIave unanimously agreed that women's

obligatory share is the same as that for men, for two rc~sons:

I. Women arc equal to men in legal capacities, i.e. prayer,

fasting, Zakah (poor-dues), pi lgrimage, sell ing, buying, pawning,

deputizing, as well as comm3nding goodness and

forbidding evil , and all such responsibilities, with the exception

of some ordinances of which women are exempted by the

Grace of Allah 1i'lI.

2. Women are equal to men in regard, to reward in tile Hereafter.