By Syed Zubair Ahmad
From Delhi, we drove to Muzaffarnagar to attend the Republic Day celebrations at a madrasa in Phulat village , Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh . The mere mention of madrasa had already filled our minds with the set of narratives with which we grew up over the years. We expected some students in crumpled kurta and pyjama with a pair of unclean shoes would welcome us with Indian flag – a potential picture of madrasa students. But the perception faded as we entered the campus of Vision International Academy. To our surprise , we come across a spectacular building presenting the look of a convent school. Big playground, well-designed dining hall, clean class-rooms and well kept-parks have suddenly changed our perception.
The students dressed in white Jubba and Nehru Jacket with white skull caps shining like stars foretelling their future. We were spellbound looking the zeal and cheerfulness on their faces. All of them were Hafiz-e-Quran who got admission in this academy to realize their dream of becoming doctors, engineers and other professionals. Braving chilling cold, they were cheerfully waiting for us under the tricolor in play-ground facing their hostels. The tricolor was unfurled by Ameer Ahamed Manappat, the Kerala-based philanthropist-cum-businessmen who is the mentor of this unique institution.
Unfurling tricolor was followed by the recitation of the national song in a mesmerizing voice of a Hafiz-e-Quran. The recitation of the Holy Quran, Naat and the national anthem were presented by new young Huffaz.
The education is the only remedy that can treat the disease of Muslim community, said Hafiz Abdullah while delivering his speech in eloquent English. The main attraction of the event was an informative play where students depicted the evils of the current educational system which is devoid of ethics.
“Professions without ethics have only created problem in modern times. For example, a doctor without ethics will only suck the blood of patients until they die. A doctor with ethics will be a great asset for community, country and humanity at large,” said Syed Zubair Ahmad, editor MuslimMirror.com, addressing the students of the Academy.
“You are the ambassador of communal harmony and future leaders,” said Ameer Ahamed Manappat in his presidential address. Inspiring the students to come out with their best, he said, “Only you can bring a change and no one can do it for you. When you keep your ambition high, sky is not the limit. We have started a revolution to get freedom from poverty, illiteracy and negativity.”
Vision International Academy is a brain child of Ameer Ahamed Manappat which was started six month back with 75 Hafiz e Quran, all teenagers.
VIA is one of the primary projects of Vision 2040 which provides an educational platform for Hifz e Quran passed out students to complete formal 10th and 12th standard examinations along with providing extensive coaching for getting admission into reputed higher education institutions such as IITs and IIMs.
While stereotyping of madarsa students as a meek, docile and educationally backward lot is not uncommon, a visit to this school can change mindsets and strongly-held perceptions. The desire to succeed was clear from the smile on the faces of the students. It seems they are determined to break the stereotypes of madrasa students and make a difference.
I am very happy to know about your institution.
Please intimate
1- When (year) did it start functioning ?
2- How many students are studying in it ?
3- Is there a Boarding also ? If yes, how many are staying in the Boarding ?
4- You have mentioned only Hifz-e-Quraan etc. Which examination do they pass to be able to join IIT etc. ?
Excellent work for ummah mashaallah. May Allah accept it and help in carrying out the mission.
I remember Ameer Ahamed sahab addressed us on the occasion of sor Syed day in SS Hall South amu aligarh and expressed his views and vision. Really a very nice person. May Allah give him best rewards
Indiscipline, incivility, binge drinking, drug addiction, gun and knife crimes, teenage pregnancies and abortion are part and parcel of British schooling. These are the reasons why majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Only less than 10% attend Muslim schools and more than 90% keep on attending state and church schools to be mis-educated and de-educated by non-Muslim monolingual teachers.
Muslim schools teach Muslim children that sex outside marriage is a sin. Homosexuality is also a sin. sex before marriage and homosexuality are western values and Muslims are not supposed to adopt them.
You better teach your children in your own schools and let migrant communities teach their children according to their needs and demands. British Establishment and society should concentrate on the evils of their own society and stop trying to change the way of life of Muslims. Muslim community does not want to integrate with the British society, indulging in incivility, anti-social behaviour, drug and knife culture, binge drinking, teenage pregnancies and abortion. Prince Charles, while visiting the first grant maintained Muslim school in north London, said that the pupils would be the future ambassadors of Islam. But what about thousands of others, who attend state schools deemed to be “sink schools”? In education, there should be a choice and at present it is denied to the Muslim community. In the late 80s and early 90s, when I floated the idea of Muslim community schools, I was declared a “school hijacker” by an editorial in the Newham Recorder newspaper in East London. This clearly shows that the British media does not believe in choice and diversity in the field of education and has no respect for those who are different. Muslim schools, in spite of meagre resources, have excelled to a further extent this year, with couple of schools achieving 100% A-C grades for five or more GCSEs. They beat well resourced state and independent schools in Birmingham and Hackney. Muslim schools are doing better because a majority of the teachers are Muslim. The pupils are not exposed to the pressures of racism, multiculturalism and bullying.
Muslim children in state schools with non-Muslim teachers are not in a position to develop positive self-confidence and self-esteem. Muslim children
need state funded Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.
Muslim community would like to protect their children from the evils of the western society. You better educate your children and let Muslim community
educate their children according the needs and demands of the parents.
Speaking English does not promote integration into British, American and Australian societies, and broaden opportunities. English speaking Muslim youths are angry, frustrated and extremist, thanks to state schools with monolingual non-Muslim teachers and English language. English language is not only a lingua franca but also lingua frankensteinia. Human right are also covers linguistic right. Cultural and linguistic genocide are very common. British schooling is murdering community languages like Arabic, Urdu and others. English is today the world killer language. Linguistic genocide is a crime against humanity and British schooling is guilty of committing this crime. Language is not just a language. It defines one’s culture, identity and consciousness. It defines how we think, communicate and express ourselves. The fact is the most South Asian Muslims have come to know Islam by way of Urdu, the children’s alienation from the language that connects them the heritage of their parents and grandparents is disturbing. As a matter of fact, one has to get to know his mother tongue well if one is to master any other language.
“A good grasp of one’s mother tongue is an essential base for a child who then has to get to grips with the language of their host country,” reckons
Amelia Lambelet of the Fribourg Institute of Multilingualism. Therese Salzmann, an expert in multilingualism at the Swiss Institute of Youth and Media, agrees. “The teaching of mother tongues reinforces self-confidence and gives the child a feeling of security.” She adds that “taking account of a child’s double cultures is a determining factor in their social integration and professional success.”
I regard Muslim schools not just Faith schools but more or less bilingual schools. I set up the first Muslim school in Forest Gate London in 1981. Special
attention was given to Standard English, Arabic and Urdu languages along with National Curriculum. The teaching of Standard English will help them to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village, he/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit.
The sound knowledge of one’s owns language would appear to help – not hinder the acquisition of a second language and bilingual children may even have cognitive advantages and that the ability to speak more than one language is going to be increasingly important for the world of the future. Therefore, Muslim children and young Muslims have potentially a major educational advantage, although sadly this is not being developed well at present. British policy makers now recognise bilingualism as an educational asset rather than a problem. Education plays a central role in the transmission of languages from one generation to the next. The teaching of mother tongues is essential in terms of culture and identity. Arabic is a religious language for the Muslims but for Pakistanis, Urdu is also essential for culture and identity. Blind Muslim children in Bradford are learning to read Arabic and Urdu Braille, by a blind teacher who travelled from Pakistan. Now blind Muslim children are not going to miss out on culture, religion, language and the social aspects and integration into their own community and identity.
As a British Asian myself, and a Muslim, I am deeply proud of my heritage and language. At home i speak my own languages, Punjabi and Urdu.
A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit. A Muslim must learn and be well versed in
Standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. At the same time they must learn and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural heritage and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry. English is their economic language while Arabic and Urdu are their religious, social and emotional languages. It is purely an educational question.
British values, which are said to include respect for legally protected characteristics such as homosexuality, religion, gender change, disability, race and marital status. what a warping of British values, the British values I was taught are respect for the institution of marriage, freedom of religious pursuit, freedom of speech, respect for the monarch. respect for others.
IA
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
The school needs a Principal. I am 64 years old as per records and I served in Ethiraj College for 31 years, in the Department of Economics. I am happy to see the profile. I am applying for the post of Principal. I do not know my eligibility. Regards. Thank you. Sincerely M.Gowhar Jhan.