Teaching into the future! Are you ready?
Imagine this scenario:
The year is 2009 exactly where we are now and through some planning Allah allows two professionals from 1808 to visit the world in their respective professional fields. The one is a doctor and the other a teacher. The doctor walks around and finds the clinic and begins to see if he can help when a patient is wheeled into theatre with severe pains in the chest. Immediately he is at a loss when he sees the huge operating theatre, the lights, the cameras, the heart rate monitors and everything else. Frightened and confused he looks for a way out. He walks out like a thief from a dark house because he feels like a fish out of water. He presses his time button and immediately he goes back to where he came from.
Then the teacher comes on the scene. The teacher walks around and he looks for the first school, madressah, vernacular class, lecture hall and he finds one school. Ahha! He looks inside and he sees the blackboard now green in colour, he sees the chalk, the pupils behind the desk, the ruler and pens etc. He walks in and takes over the lesson and feels so much at home. The 21st century teacher who sees all this and says to 18th century man: “Excuse me, but who do you think you are, coming into my class and taking over my math lesson?” He turns around and says, “Good morning dear madam, I am from the past, perhaps you should go there – we do things very much the same.” Saying that, he gives her his time button, makes her press it, and sends her back to the future!
Get it, the future of education in the 18th century meant a great development from what they already knew and practiced then therefore, we need to see how well we have progressed from then to now – 2009. But, take a critical look at how we teach today – in general sense we have not moved the centre. Believe it or not! You have been doing what you always do in the classroom for the past decade or decades and, some of us have become so outmoded in our practice of teaching that we sound like old records even though ipods are the in thing.
The emerging society then understood education for mainstream to be applicable for children who were just normal. Then people began to become sensitive to children who were born with disabilities, had learning disorders and were not ‘normal’ in their understanding of human development. In effect, studies began at a slow rate but it quadrupled as the years passed because educationists did not want a society where people with special needs are marginalised and sidelined. Together with this study, the technological boom affected everything.
The point made is that in this technological age the reasons to learn how to read, write and speak is still greatly important and therefore, we need to use technology to our advantage in dealing with children with special needs. This means then we need to train our people for the age they are living in. Our teachers of these special children need to embrace change with fortitude, zeal and optimism because we need prepare these children to live in the world without feeling that they are dependent on others for the rest of their lives.
Dependency can be a curse! For too long we as a Muslim community in South Africa have shied away from the situation of children with special needs and that is why, today we do not have established institutions that shows a formidable research base and practice with such children. Therefore, we need to work very hard to take pride in establishing ourselves to be leaders in the field of teaching children with special needs. In doing so, we need to embrace the full ambit of technology in this case as well. This means that we do not make a further distinction between the Revealed Sciences (Quran & Hadith) and the Applied Sciences (Maths, Science etc) and technology. We need to weld all of this together and develop ourselves to teach children with special needs in a very dynamic and practical way.
The dynamic practice is what we lack because we have of very recent taken on the tremendous challenge of establishing a school for special needs that has an Islamic ethos and foundation. Very much like the Muslim schools phenomenon, it is still recent in terms of how others have progressed with their educational endeavours on a global scale. In effect, we need realise that we will have great challenges ahead that will require more of our health, wealth and time. We need to therefore, look at how we can make ourselves independent of funding from charitable institutions to fund our schools, especially for schools for special needs children because, charity freezes peoples’ innovation, will and creative abilities.
Talking about freezing peoples’ creative abilities, children with special needs cannot be frozen because of illiteracy because very able people failed them. If this happens, then we have shamed ourselves as human beings. The special needs school that has just been established is a fledgling and therefore, it has to be nurtured with the right attitude and professional development.
The professional development we need is one that seeks to have the best person for the job and most refined in character. In having such a person for the job, the school will promote the right attitude to the public i.e. these special needs children deserve the best and like all other children, they deserve an equal opportunity in life. The fact that life is opportunity based in the realm of trials and tribulations, we need to ensure that the teacher who takes on the responsibility to teach these special children has the attitude that will be positive and realistic in the achievements of the children. While it is true that people rise only to extra-ordinary expectations, special needs children have every moment as an extra-ordinary expectation. What this means is that children with special needs are people who want to be independent like all of us but, their independence rests on how we view them. There are just so many examples of how people with disabilities achieved great things and are living normal lives because society allowed them opportunity without prejudice.
A prejudiced society is not progressive and the one prejudice we all have in varying degrees is that of people with disabilities. We need to identify with our own self worth and begin to address our prejudiced views on this matter so that when we educate them, we feel that we are educating a great human and not a ‘second hand’ human. In all of this what do we see as the core? It is education and attitude. Formal education in itself will not solve the issues, because it not the panacea but, it is a key to many doors. With the right attitude, children will become more streetwise with the education they receive when their formal learning becomes a real tool for them to cope with life and its challenges. In the end know that teaching is also a subversive activity, to take a cue from Niel Postman and therefore, we don’t always teach the right things to the right people. In effect, we need to be more circumspect and prudent when we teach special needs children.
Back to the future would mean then that we shape our minds to deal with all challenges and rise to the occasion because in the end, the true measure of a teacher is the pupil and the true measure of a society is how independent the ‘weak’ are.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The leash on lease.
Lyndie England had a little lamb in a pram
Found it to tame for fame
Conscripted voluntarily to Iraq for infantry
She found it nothing like her mother’s pantry
For in seeking the US dream with England’s cream
She made the world scream.
Abu Guraib led us to the leash on a lease
Bush holding the leash for ‘England’ to use it with ease.
In frenzy the world cried HORROR!
And Lyndie made a such a furore!
When she cried foul on the heath hoping for some care
The Pentagon went ‘Macbeth’ frenzy crying ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’
Iraq went sinister
Oh! So much of blister
A head in the bag
Got the world to sag
Abu Guraib still a shame
Its all a game that went lame in the name of fame.
Lyndie is pregnant
It was heaven sent
Then there was little Lyndie in England
Looking for mama’s memoirs in the desert sand
Only to find her mama the smoking gun
Revolting her mama in the desert sun
She screams to release
Then she knows she is on her mother’s leash
USA had her on lease for she carried her mother’s genes
And that’s how USA continues to be mean.
Are you on lease on the USA’s leash?
Lyndie was and she did as she pleased.
So please don’t be found deceased
On the USA’s geo-political leash
Allah will not be pleased.
Mr.A.Sujee
Lyndie England had a little lamb in a pram
Found it to tame for fame
Conscripted voluntarily to Iraq for infantry
She found it nothing like her mother’s pantry
For in seeking the US dream with England’s cream
She made the world scream.
Abu Guraib led us to the leash on a lease
Bush holding the leash for ‘England’ to use it with ease.
In frenzy the world cried HORROR!
And Lyndie made a such a furore!
When she cried foul on the heath hoping for some care
The Pentagon went ‘Macbeth’ frenzy crying ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’
Iraq went sinister
Oh! So much of blister
A head in the bag
Got the world to sag
Abu Guraib still a shame
Its all a game that went lame in the name of fame.
Lyndie is pregnant
It was heaven sent
Then there was little Lyndie in England
Looking for mama’s memoirs in the desert sand
Only to find her mama the smoking gun
Revolting her mama in the desert sun
She screams to release
Then she knows she is on her mother’s leash
USA had her on lease for she carried her mother’s genes
And that’s how USA continues to be mean.
Are you on lease on the USA’s leash?
Lyndie was and she did as she pleased.
So please don’t be found deceased
On the USA’s geo-political leash
Allah will not be pleased.
Mr.A.Sujee
The world on a leash. By Mr.A.Sujee
“How was he umpire! Sire is out of his shire
Oh! Don’t be liar
Cricketers play in the crease
He was in; so cease!
Sire, I appealed to say: “the world is on a leash!”
Lyndie England on a leash of whom we wish to impeach,
Bush & Blair holding Lyndie on the leash never having her ilk out of reach,
Sent out their dogs of war in the name of peace;
Afghanistan & Iraq the prize for a land piece
Socially engineered[1] by removing Taliban with propaganda
For Masonry, having ‘BBC’[2] on its leash, knew that what is good for the goose is good for the gander began all the slander.
Oh! Bush, Blair, Chirac all on the leash of Sharon for his wall
And he thinks he is standing tall
Oh! There were two pigeons; one named Peter the other Paul
Fly away Peter, flay away Paul; come back Peter come back Paul; went the rhyme.
Little do we see the expiry clock for Bush, Blair, Saudi Kings beginning to chime.
Lyndie’s chime was loud like a barking dog that won’t bite
All the furore on Sharon’s Wall is now just a bitter sight.
All allied forces holding the world in their flight of a new order
Hell bent to make Islam their fodder
Tighten their leash with relish
‘Eish!’[3]
The world on a leash is now on release.
With all the evils if you please.
Suffering in silence is all
For when there is the fall
You and I will be on call
As Allah promised people entering HIS religions in droves from mud houses to shires
So hold onto the rope of Allah with guts of fire
You will not be liars
Bush, Blair, Chirac, Saudi Kings, Sharon are sires of that all backfires
When lips will be sealed and hands and feet commanded to speak
All the truth will leak.
Then who will be on the leash?
Oh! You who read, be in the crease[4]
So you would live life to the lees
As you please in Jannat-ul- Firdose
With so much of rose.
The world on a leash!
You just be in the crease!
How was he UMPIRE ! asked the angels at SIRAAT[5]
“OUT in Jannatul-Firdose! For in Deen he was no tart, he played his part!”
Oh! Don’t be liar
Cricketers play in the crease
He was in; so cease!
Sire, I appealed to say: “the world is on a leash!”
Lyndie England on a leash of whom we wish to impeach,
Bush & Blair holding Lyndie on the leash never having her ilk out of reach,
Sent out their dogs of war in the name of peace;
Afghanistan & Iraq the prize for a land piece
Socially engineered[1] by removing Taliban with propaganda
For Masonry, having ‘BBC’[2] on its leash, knew that what is good for the goose is good for the gander began all the slander.
Oh! Bush, Blair, Chirac all on the leash of Sharon for his wall
And he thinks he is standing tall
Oh! There were two pigeons; one named Peter the other Paul
Fly away Peter, flay away Paul; come back Peter come back Paul; went the rhyme.
Little do we see the expiry clock for Bush, Blair, Saudi Kings beginning to chime.
Lyndie’s chime was loud like a barking dog that won’t bite
All the furore on Sharon’s Wall is now just a bitter sight.
All allied forces holding the world in their flight of a new order
Hell bent to make Islam their fodder
Tighten their leash with relish
‘Eish!’[3]
The world on a leash is now on release.
With all the evils if you please.
Suffering in silence is all
For when there is the fall
You and I will be on call
As Allah promised people entering HIS religions in droves from mud houses to shires
So hold onto the rope of Allah with guts of fire
You will not be liars
Bush, Blair, Chirac, Saudi Kings, Sharon are sires of that all backfires
When lips will be sealed and hands and feet commanded to speak
All the truth will leak.
Then who will be on the leash?
Oh! You who read, be in the crease[4]
So you would live life to the lees
As you please in Jannat-ul- Firdose
With so much of rose.
The world on a leash!
You just be in the crease!
How was he UMPIRE ! asked the angels at SIRAAT[5]
“OUT in Jannatul-Firdose! For in Deen he was no tart, he played his part!”
[1] Reference to Evon Ridley’s assertion on CII, 24 July 2004, that Afghanistan is now an ungovernable state and more pornography is available on its streets than the red light districts of the world therefore, polluting the social order & minds of the people who thrive on modesty and shame.
[1] BBC – standing for George Bush, Tony Blair & J.Chirac.
[1] A South Africanism adopted from the indigenous African languages. It is an expression of forgetfulness, despair, worry, anxiety and awe at a situation that could have been changed for the better.
[1] Where a batsman in a cricket match should be in to face a bowler or, to be in to avoid been out. Here it is used to show the safe zone in Allah’s domain where the believers are favoured.
[1] The thin bridge over Hell that all will have to pass after Allah has judged us according to our book of deeds.
[1] BBC – standing for George Bush, Tony Blair & J.Chirac.
[1] A South Africanism adopted from the indigenous African languages. It is an expression of forgetfulness, despair, worry, anxiety and awe at a situation that could have been changed for the better.
[1] Where a batsman in a cricket match should be in to face a bowler or, to be in to avoid been out. Here it is used to show the safe zone in Allah’s domain where the believers are favoured.
[1] The thin bridge over Hell that all will have to pass after Allah has judged us according to our book of deeds.
Iraq Poem
Saddam! Oh! Damn you, you have saddened me
They say you had WMD’s but none did I see,
Oil for food was the programme for peace
Little did it make my kids ‘drink life to the lees.’
You, Saddam came as a hero to the States
But little did you see were developed for hates
When you fought with Iran
The states ran
Yes! They ran to you Saddam! Oh damn you!
Then came Operation Desert Storm over Kuwait
Little could the States wait for the Islamic world was late
And Iraq tasted a gruesome fate
It appeared that Iraq died testate
For the States were ready with a will
And that’s how the States economy got its fill!
Then came Bush & Blair on Sharon’s chessboard with so much of flair
Blamed Saddam for having WMD’s in all of media’s glare
Then I was aghast
For in Bush’s blast
‘We will go it alone’ sounded the airwaves
Came no one to save!
Iraq! Oh you were dealt another operation within State law
Shock & Awe!
Iraq! Blasted to smithereens with B52’s
For the States & it Poodles hated to lose!
Oh! Saddam! Oh damn you!
Oh! Bush! Oh damn you too!
Iraq
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea!
Little did Saddam see what was behind the Bush for he was told: “Don’t see”
Now I bleed
And there is no lead to peace
Only the chase for an oil piece
It’s an all American pie
Covered in one big lie
WMD!
Iraq – you will prevail
As Allah avails
“With every hardship there comes ease, surely with every hardship there comes ease.”
They say you had WMD’s but none did I see,
Oil for food was the programme for peace
Little did it make my kids ‘drink life to the lees.’
You, Saddam came as a hero to the States
But little did you see were developed for hates
When you fought with Iran
The states ran
Yes! They ran to you Saddam! Oh damn you!
Then came Operation Desert Storm over Kuwait
Little could the States wait for the Islamic world was late
And Iraq tasted a gruesome fate
It appeared that Iraq died testate
For the States were ready with a will
And that’s how the States economy got its fill!
Then came Bush & Blair on Sharon’s chessboard with so much of flair
Blamed Saddam for having WMD’s in all of media’s glare
Then I was aghast
For in Bush’s blast
‘We will go it alone’ sounded the airwaves
Came no one to save!
Iraq! Oh you were dealt another operation within State law
Shock & Awe!
Iraq! Blasted to smithereens with B52’s
For the States & it Poodles hated to lose!
Oh! Saddam! Oh damn you!
Oh! Bush! Oh damn you too!
Iraq
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea!
Little did Saddam see what was behind the Bush for he was told: “Don’t see”
Now I bleed
And there is no lead to peace
Only the chase for an oil piece
It’s an all American pie
Covered in one big lie
WMD!
Iraq – you will prevail
As Allah avails
“With every hardship there comes ease, surely with every hardship there comes ease.”
Mr. A Sujee
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Tribute to Julie Soyanayala sister of Zaiboon Motala
Julie Sonyanayala - A Rose Garden. (Fill in date of birth and date of death)
The winter frost burnt the petals of the many rose trees and the sweet smell lingered on in the air and people still had the picture perfect image of that beautiful rose – ‘A rose by any name still smells so sweet’ harped the bard and so, late Julie Sonanayala is that rose whose memory will linger on.
Late Julie Sonyanayala has a history of cherished dreams built on adversities that made her a champion among the poor yet, a mother to a people. In 1954 Julie settled in Swaziland with her husband and began the noble work of caring for orphans, assisting the needy, helping the widows and establishing madrassahs for the poor – an effort steeped into the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W). In the effort of enjoining in good, hundreds of people accepted Islam at her hands; boys became Hufaaz, studied abroad, became scholars of Deen and in the secular fields and the list seem endless. In the humble setting of her unsophisticated office in the supermarket she and her husband managed, she empowered ladies to cook, sew, read, and write and so much more that they became independent beings who would take that example of learning and teaching deeper into the rural dwellings of Swaziland and abroad.
The beauty of a rose garden is forever etched in the mind because it added beauty to its surroundings and filled the atmosphere with a scented aroma that calmed the nerves. Similarly, Julie added beauty to peoples’ lives and gave their lives a meaning – a kind of meaning that it inspired those around them so much so that the presence of greatness of being enlightened the heart. When you walked in the streets of Swaziland, people took her name with pride and felt her to be the mother of the poor and the pillar of strength for the down trodden – this mercy is from Allah. Just like the rose garden is remembered in winter, Julie Sonyanayala is still remembered with a sweetness of scented rose with soft dew drops caressing its every petal. As every rose petal falls by the command of Allah to caress the soil, the place of its birth from a thorny tree, so to did Julie Sonyanayala leave the world to meet Allah.
Sadly, Julie Sonyanayala fell to her calling unlike the rose petal that caressed the soil and dispensed its scent, she died a brutal death. She was killed by a boy she took under her wing when he was just three years old only to take her life when he was 19. Shocked and grief stricken family members, people of Swaziland and many others from many parts of the world could not believe the news on July 10 2006 but, accepted the fate as the divine plan of Allah. And so the petal fell to the ground save that blood was spilt and not beautiful scent but, Julie Sonyanayala was serving the Deen when that tragedy happened. And so again we say the petal fell to the ground but this time as a martyr whose very blood before it touches the ground invokes Allah’s forgiveness of all sins and therefore, Julie Sonyanayala's grave would envelope her with gentleness because it was now home to a petal that fell in cause of Allah, in whose Hands all decisions rests.
Julie Sonyanayala will be remembered for work she did among the poor and her example will be there for us to follow. Just like the rose petal that fell, there grew others to offer us the same beauty so unselfishly, there will be many from her gardens of orphans, roses that will spring forth and take humanity into new horizons of moral integrity in the name of Islam.
Her life showed the quality of what Muslims should be i.e.: Muslims have come to give and not to take for surely, the one that takes is not liked. Julie Sonyanayala gave all her life and she gave her life too for the cause. Therefore, we should take example from her and pray that Allah grant her Janatul Firdose and make us imitate her example for her example was Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W).
Julie Sonyanayala - A Rose Garden. (Fill in date of birth and date of death)
The winter frost burnt the petals of the many rose trees and the sweet smell lingered on in the air and people still had the picture perfect image of that beautiful rose – ‘A rose by any name still smells so sweet’ harped the bard and so, late Julie Sonanayala is that rose whose memory will linger on.
Late Julie Sonyanayala has a history of cherished dreams built on adversities that made her a champion among the poor yet, a mother to a people. In 1954 Julie settled in Swaziland with her husband and began the noble work of caring for orphans, assisting the needy, helping the widows and establishing madrassahs for the poor – an effort steeped into the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W). In the effort of enjoining in good, hundreds of people accepted Islam at her hands; boys became Hufaaz, studied abroad, became scholars of Deen and in the secular fields and the list seem endless. In the humble setting of her unsophisticated office in the supermarket she and her husband managed, she empowered ladies to cook, sew, read, and write and so much more that they became independent beings who would take that example of learning and teaching deeper into the rural dwellings of Swaziland and abroad.
The beauty of a rose garden is forever etched in the mind because it added beauty to its surroundings and filled the atmosphere with a scented aroma that calmed the nerves. Similarly, Julie added beauty to peoples’ lives and gave their lives a meaning – a kind of meaning that it inspired those around them so much so that the presence of greatness of being enlightened the heart. When you walked in the streets of Swaziland, people took her name with pride and felt her to be the mother of the poor and the pillar of strength for the down trodden – this mercy is from Allah. Just like the rose garden is remembered in winter, Julie Sonyanayala is still remembered with a sweetness of scented rose with soft dew drops caressing its every petal. As every rose petal falls by the command of Allah to caress the soil, the place of its birth from a thorny tree, so to did Julie Sonyanayala leave the world to meet Allah.
Sadly, Julie Sonyanayala fell to her calling unlike the rose petal that caressed the soil and dispensed its scent, she died a brutal death. She was killed by a boy she took under her wing when he was just three years old only to take her life when he was 19. Shocked and grief stricken family members, people of Swaziland and many others from many parts of the world could not believe the news on July 10 2006 but, accepted the fate as the divine plan of Allah. And so the petal fell to the ground save that blood was spilt and not beautiful scent but, Julie Sonyanayala was serving the Deen when that tragedy happened. And so again we say the petal fell to the ground but this time as a martyr whose very blood before it touches the ground invokes Allah’s forgiveness of all sins and therefore, Julie Sonyanayala's grave would envelope her with gentleness because it was now home to a petal that fell in cause of Allah, in whose Hands all decisions rests.
Julie Sonyanayala will be remembered for work she did among the poor and her example will be there for us to follow. Just like the rose petal that fell, there grew others to offer us the same beauty so unselfishly, there will be many from her gardens of orphans, roses that will spring forth and take humanity into new horizons of moral integrity in the name of Islam.
Her life showed the quality of what Muslims should be i.e.: Muslims have come to give and not to take for surely, the one that takes is not liked. Julie Sonyanayala gave all her life and she gave her life too for the cause. Therefore, we should take example from her and pray that Allah grant her Janatul Firdose and make us imitate her example for her example was Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W).
The Interview…by Zaiboon Motala
Al-Huda attempts to interview people who have made progress in their respective fields of study and work. In this regard we hope to shed light of the potentials Allah has blessed them with and how they use it. Therefore, we hope that you will be inspired and motivated to tap into your talents and use it to progress in life to please Allah.
Teacher of the year
In this month’s edition we interview Abdullah Sujee who won the Innovative Teachers’ Award in South Africa and then represented South Africa in the International Teachers’ Forum in Philadelphia, USA where he was voted in as the runner up in the best teacher category. In an interview with him I wanted to get a deeper insight to this person who I know for a long time. The competition was first national and than All of Africa and thereafter, the two winners were selected i.e. Abdullah Sujee of Roshnee Islamic School and Paul van Zyl of St.Johns.
The ITF in the USA was judged on 3 C’s and the fourth been the teachers’ choice of the best educator. The first C : Content i.e. how you use the curriculum design of your country over a number of years to produce innovative ideas that lends itself to ICT – integrated computer technology and Media orientation. The second C: Community i.e. how the school and its community is involved in your teaching style in overt, subtle, direct and indirect ways through the integration of the school’s extr-mural and co-curricular activities. The third C i.e. collaboration – this means how you formed Joint Ventures over a number of years with schools, communities, companies and established avenues of learning such that the image of one’s country is enhanced. The fourth category is where all the teachers who won in their respective countries or continents would vote in whom they thought was the best educator – it was in this category that Abdullah Sujee won an award. The judges were from various countries and are involved in education in various ways.
Zaiboon: Abdullah give us a background to your study years and you’re first few years of teaching so that we can paint a picture of you to the readers.
Abdullah : In the name of Allah, the Merciful. I completed my schooling in Roshnee at the Roshnee Secondary School and then pursued my studies at the University of Durban-Westville now known as the University of KZN. The career of course was teaching. After completing my studies I began teaching at Roshnee Secondary school and I really enjoyed teaching at the school. Allah blessed me with the HoD English post and then the Deputy Principal post at the same school. However, shortly after attaining that position I decided to go abroad to Saudi Arabia to teach English. My wife and taught at the same school in Saudi Arabia for one year and then returned to South Africa. Upon returning I took up a temporary teaching post at General Smuts High School and I was then offered a permanent post at the Roshnee Islamic School to teach Islamic studies, which I accepted. Allah blessed me with the Deputy Principal post again, the HoD English and to steer the Life Orientation Department. In a nutshell this is my background.
Zaiboon: Al-hamdulillah. Why did you choose teaching as a career and not law or another career for example?
Abdullah: Well, what makes you think I wanted to be a lawyer…Anyway, it was career choice but of the three options I made for myself, teaching felt the career Allah opted for me because, I made inroads into study Textile Technology, Personal Management and Bproc Law but, it did not gel into reality as did teaching. You should know that the year after matric I did not study because of the issues around career planning. Teaching therefore, is more a vocation for me than a career because; it requires you to love the profession more than life itself because teaching is life! As a Muslim therefore, teaching is a great practical sunnah because it revolves around developing the human potential to recognise Allah.
Zaiboon: Tell us about all that you do that made you win the Innovative Teachers Awards in South Africa and the Award in the USA and do you see yourself as the teacher of the year or the best in SA.
Abdullah: Let me begin with the last part of the question first. I do not see myself as the best nor do I consider myself as the best in SA or anywhere else for that matter. What I do see myself as, is a person that wants to be the best in whatever I do because, that is the Prophetic example. I felt the competition/forum that was organised by Microsoft was only a means to get some exposure to the great teachers of the world and their innovative practices.
Zaiboon, All praise is for Allah, the thrust of the classroom is to connect the world outside the classroom with the classroom itself. Therefore, the world of media plays a major part in all my lessons such that today I use PowerPoint Presentations, audio streaming, radio, TV and Integrated Computer technology in lessons. This means making learning more integrated and holistic. For example, in the teaching of Shakespeare’s plays, pupils would have to produce an audio assignment on the play i.e. they had to produce a main news bulletin, secondary news flash, an advert, a letter to the editor and anything else. All this has to come out from the play thus, enticing the pupil to read the play – you do know that pupils today don’t really read their novels and plays. The same lesson would apply to novels and short stories. Pupils would also produce a film on a play or novel and you can imagine how they would have to ‘read’ the set work to identify setting and props to produce the effect of the writer. Mind you, it made pupils read more critically i.e. looking into the text for specific clues to heighten the image on screen. Furthermore, when pupils would be taught poetry through the use of P.P.Presentations and the internet, they would post their comments on the web and compare their comments with people across the world – this was an amazing feat! The ideas that I presented here has been presented at various national conferences as well therefore, many issues were revised after the conferences because teachers would make you aware of things you did not think of.
Zaiboon: Tell us about your international experience at the International Innovative Teacher Forum in the USA in December 2006.
Abdullah: It was an amazing and an exhilarating experience that made me appreciate teaching even more. You know when you meet with teachers from all over the world, from more than 30 countries, you realise just how little you know and do. My colleague, Paul van Zyl, also from SA shared the same view. What impressed me greatly was how teachers from other countries appreciate what we are doing in South Africa. They were really impressed by the establishment of Muslim Schools as a world wide phenomenon. It’s very difficult to express what I learnt in the short space of time save to say that the sponsors, Microsoft and SchoolnetSA, made it more memorable in that they highlighted our ideas to the world. The overwhelming feeling was when my name was called out as the runner up in the teachers’ choice – it was something I really did not expect from amongst the great teachers from across the world. Allah loves me and therefore, I believe this award is a gift from Allah because; I joined the profession feeling that it would take me across the world and yes, I see it happening – alhamdulillah.
When we visited the School of the Future in Philadelphia, I was flabbergasted at this institution. It is a school that is really high tech and it has all the trimmings and trappings to make teaching a dream, for example each lesson is recorded and can be downloaded from the school’s webpage and all the pupils have their own laptops as ‘notebooks’. There is just so much to say however, the one thing that really surprised me is the ignorance of Islam even in the teaching fraternity. The fact that I teach at a Muslim school some teachers wanted to know what brand of Islam I teach – I don’t blame them save to say that they are so caught up in web of deceit of Islam on the airwaves and that is why I focus on integrating media into lessons. I have so much more to say but, it would need more time. If log on to www.schoolnetSA.co.za you will find more details and also the Thutong Portal on the world wide web you will learn more of the Innovative Teacher.
The one teacher’s work with grade 1’s really made me jump out of my skin. It was a school in New Zealand where grade 1 pupils would create their own blog on the world wide web, have their own dedicated website and post all their work on their blog and this would be carried through to the next grade – it was really awesome to see these children’s work on the web. It’s not just writings but, picture drawings, assessments and so much more. So you can imagine what their Grade R learning is like.
Zaiboon: That sounds really interesting and yes, all praise is due to Allah, HE has blessed you. Now tell me about Cii and SAFM and your articles you write for this magazine.
Abdullah: I tell my pupils that ‘I do what I tell you to do’ therefore, when the idea of radio broadcasting came to mind I had to get on radio. Allah presented me with the opportunity with Radio Islam from its inception where I did the Youth Forum slot which I then handed over to my pupil, Asad Sather, back then who managed it for 4 years. When I joined Cii after my return from Saudi Arabia, I wanted to focus on a slot that was exclusive to education. Omar Farouk, the programme manager of Cii, allowed me that privilege and the programme is now 3 years old and going very strong – alhamdulillah. The name of the programme is Educational Forum and every year pupils that I teach are identified to do the programme in December of that year. This year Muhammad Shaahid Abdool handled the program with so much verve and it makes me feel so good. Cii is really keen in this part of its social outreach programme. Cii is really interested to make a difference in their standards all the time and are very appreciative of the work all their employees do. It has come to our notice at Cii that we are doing something unique on this regard in that we have a special programme dedicated to education on a weekly basis. The programme is aired on Wednesday evenings at 8pm CAT (Central African Time).
About SAFM (104-107 on FM), well I do the program called ‘This new day’ – it is a program where presenters from the major religions present a 3 minute inspiration every Friday mornings at about 5:30am or 6:05am. It was the exuberant Mr Idrees Khamisa who introduced me to the SAFM team and got me to do a programme and since then, I have been on SAFM – Alhamdulillah. In the year I would present for 3 or 4 months.
About writing for Al-Huda, may Allah reward you for the opportunity you gave me and, it is a pleasure and again its part of the motto to my pupils that ‘what I tell you to do I do’. The articles are characterised by current issues and whatever I feel is important to write about. In fact all the articles are posted on my blogspot: rendezvousofminds@blogspot.com
Zaiboon: I have so much more to ask but time and space is a limitation save to say that it is pleasure listening to your programme. I am still eager to know why you cut your teaching stint short in Saudi Arabia, which school was and is the best for you, the number of A’s you attained this year at the RIS and something brief about the madressah, Sabeerlur-Rashaad, that you are part of in Sharpeville.
Abdullah: Now that’s a lot of questions…lets take it from the top. In KSA I found that the education system did not lend itself to innovative practice and it limited the teacher and pupil. For example, in all the expensive textbooks the teacher would use an industrial stapler to staple pages together that had anything to do with the holocaust – a ghastly deed we as Muslims had nothing to do with even if there was an Al-Qaeda back then! Furthermore, in lower grades you had to shade in the trunk of the elephant because it is considered as a phallic symbol. Therefore, my wife and decided to come back citing the above as just one of the key issues of discontent. However, I should say that many South Africans are teaching in the KSA and are enjoying it. I found it strange that a people who have so much potential are duped by an unsuitable Americanised syllabus in keeping them backward when they have the language of the Quran to spur them on to be the educational leaders of the world. Really Zaiboon, money is not an issue in KSA – I have been to a school in KSA that is so huge and beautiful and has an Olympic size swimming pool on the second floor! This should tell you that they can put up the best of the best institutions of learning in the world at any cost but, the system needs to address the socio-political issues more relevantly and correctly.
I have no best school save to say that I make the school I teach in the best and believe it can be the best in the world. If there is a best school for me, it would be the raised platform in blessed Madina where the best (Sahaba R.A.) learned from the very best – Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W).
Zaiboon, This whole “A” symbol campaign drive concerns me. I don’t teach for an ‘A’ symbol but, for life because, life is what people live and not their A’s. Al-hamdulillah, the pupils I taught attained 8A’s, 7B’s many attained C symbols and fortunately none of the pupils failed… I mean did you ever ask the doctor how many A’s he/she got before you take the treatment?... Yes, you do need ‘A’ performing candidates but, that is not the end all and be all of teaching because, every pupil has the potential to serve humanity. Finally on this point, Allah says in the holy Quran to the effect that HE does not look at your wealth and appearances but at your hearts and your deeds, therefore, we need to impress service to humanity in our teaching. Thus, an “A” candidate with this impression will leave a legacy of greatness for others to follow… What’s the point of an ‘A’ candidate without a refined Islamic character and sense of service to humanity? – A mere mortal living like an animal.
Unfortunately, today’s world dominates the mind and heart towards self-aggrandisement and we have become brainwashed to the extent of fighting with teachers if our children don’t get A’s! Somehow all this makes my stomach churn. I mean, Zaiboon, Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W) was unlettered but He had the desire for truth and Allah made Him a Nabi and gave Him the holy Quran for guidance therefore, if we can instil in our children the desire seek truth & knowledge Allah would make them great and acceptable as HE did with the Sahaba (R.A.) Please give this thought and lets talk about it at a later stage –inshallah.
The madressah in Sharpeville is about 13 years old and it began with some very dedicated men who are still involved in the affairs of the madressah and this year we hope to build the first masjid in Sharpeville. My job is just to administrate the madressah on a part time basis.
Zaiboon: Alhamdulillah. I knew your dad, Mr.Ali Bhai Sujee, and he was remarkable man. Tell me what your thoughts are when you know that people know your father more than you because, you were very young when he passed on to Allah.
Abdullah: Al-hamdulillah…It’s the most difficult thing to live in the shadow of a great personality but, it is so inspirational to have your father as an icon of success especially when he enjoined in good and forbade the evil to please Allah alone. Therefore I really miss him, may Allah grant him Janatul-Firdose, in these times because, I also believe he was a remarkable man. However, I have my mother and that makes me proud because, she is a pillar of strength and makes me know who my dad was. Then my late father’s friends… you know they inspire me more because, they would talk about him as if he was alive and is advising them on issues of faithful work for Allah…really it’s amazing. In all of this again, I feel blessed to have had a dad like my dad. So I say to all and sundry, look after your parents because, the legacy they leave behind are the ones you follow… Allah teaches us that Allah’s displeasure lies in one father’s displeasure and that Jannah lies at the feet of the mother…
…Conversely, I say to all parents be noble and create a legacy of good to please Allah because, that is what will be your Thwaab-be-jarriah. And what better way to receive it i.e. through your own children’s actions.
May Allah help and guide us.
Zaiboon: Alhamdulillah. Now we out of space and time what are your future plans?
Abdullah: Allah knows best. I hope to advance my studies and progress in the field of education to the best advantage for the ummah and to write books – inshallah.
Zaiboon: Jazakallahu-ghairan for your time any may Allah grant you your dreams and wishes.
Al-Huda attempts to interview people who have made progress in their respective fields of study and work. In this regard we hope to shed light of the potentials Allah has blessed them with and how they use it. Therefore, we hope that you will be inspired and motivated to tap into your talents and use it to progress in life to please Allah.
Teacher of the year
In this month’s edition we interview Abdullah Sujee who won the Innovative Teachers’ Award in South Africa and then represented South Africa in the International Teachers’ Forum in Philadelphia, USA where he was voted in as the runner up in the best teacher category. In an interview with him I wanted to get a deeper insight to this person who I know for a long time. The competition was first national and than All of Africa and thereafter, the two winners were selected i.e. Abdullah Sujee of Roshnee Islamic School and Paul van Zyl of St.Johns.
The ITF in the USA was judged on 3 C’s and the fourth been the teachers’ choice of the best educator. The first C : Content i.e. how you use the curriculum design of your country over a number of years to produce innovative ideas that lends itself to ICT – integrated computer technology and Media orientation. The second C: Community i.e. how the school and its community is involved in your teaching style in overt, subtle, direct and indirect ways through the integration of the school’s extr-mural and co-curricular activities. The third C i.e. collaboration – this means how you formed Joint Ventures over a number of years with schools, communities, companies and established avenues of learning such that the image of one’s country is enhanced. The fourth category is where all the teachers who won in their respective countries or continents would vote in whom they thought was the best educator – it was in this category that Abdullah Sujee won an award. The judges were from various countries and are involved in education in various ways.
Zaiboon: Abdullah give us a background to your study years and you’re first few years of teaching so that we can paint a picture of you to the readers.
Abdullah : In the name of Allah, the Merciful. I completed my schooling in Roshnee at the Roshnee Secondary School and then pursued my studies at the University of Durban-Westville now known as the University of KZN. The career of course was teaching. After completing my studies I began teaching at Roshnee Secondary school and I really enjoyed teaching at the school. Allah blessed me with the HoD English post and then the Deputy Principal post at the same school. However, shortly after attaining that position I decided to go abroad to Saudi Arabia to teach English. My wife and taught at the same school in Saudi Arabia for one year and then returned to South Africa. Upon returning I took up a temporary teaching post at General Smuts High School and I was then offered a permanent post at the Roshnee Islamic School to teach Islamic studies, which I accepted. Allah blessed me with the Deputy Principal post again, the HoD English and to steer the Life Orientation Department. In a nutshell this is my background.
Zaiboon: Al-hamdulillah. Why did you choose teaching as a career and not law or another career for example?
Abdullah: Well, what makes you think I wanted to be a lawyer…Anyway, it was career choice but of the three options I made for myself, teaching felt the career Allah opted for me because, I made inroads into study Textile Technology, Personal Management and Bproc Law but, it did not gel into reality as did teaching. You should know that the year after matric I did not study because of the issues around career planning. Teaching therefore, is more a vocation for me than a career because; it requires you to love the profession more than life itself because teaching is life! As a Muslim therefore, teaching is a great practical sunnah because it revolves around developing the human potential to recognise Allah.
Zaiboon: Tell us about all that you do that made you win the Innovative Teachers Awards in South Africa and the Award in the USA and do you see yourself as the teacher of the year or the best in SA.
Abdullah: Let me begin with the last part of the question first. I do not see myself as the best nor do I consider myself as the best in SA or anywhere else for that matter. What I do see myself as, is a person that wants to be the best in whatever I do because, that is the Prophetic example. I felt the competition/forum that was organised by Microsoft was only a means to get some exposure to the great teachers of the world and their innovative practices.
Zaiboon, All praise is for Allah, the thrust of the classroom is to connect the world outside the classroom with the classroom itself. Therefore, the world of media plays a major part in all my lessons such that today I use PowerPoint Presentations, audio streaming, radio, TV and Integrated Computer technology in lessons. This means making learning more integrated and holistic. For example, in the teaching of Shakespeare’s plays, pupils would have to produce an audio assignment on the play i.e. they had to produce a main news bulletin, secondary news flash, an advert, a letter to the editor and anything else. All this has to come out from the play thus, enticing the pupil to read the play – you do know that pupils today don’t really read their novels and plays. The same lesson would apply to novels and short stories. Pupils would also produce a film on a play or novel and you can imagine how they would have to ‘read’ the set work to identify setting and props to produce the effect of the writer. Mind you, it made pupils read more critically i.e. looking into the text for specific clues to heighten the image on screen. Furthermore, when pupils would be taught poetry through the use of P.P.Presentations and the internet, they would post their comments on the web and compare their comments with people across the world – this was an amazing feat! The ideas that I presented here has been presented at various national conferences as well therefore, many issues were revised after the conferences because teachers would make you aware of things you did not think of.
Zaiboon: Tell us about your international experience at the International Innovative Teacher Forum in the USA in December 2006.
Abdullah: It was an amazing and an exhilarating experience that made me appreciate teaching even more. You know when you meet with teachers from all over the world, from more than 30 countries, you realise just how little you know and do. My colleague, Paul van Zyl, also from SA shared the same view. What impressed me greatly was how teachers from other countries appreciate what we are doing in South Africa. They were really impressed by the establishment of Muslim Schools as a world wide phenomenon. It’s very difficult to express what I learnt in the short space of time save to say that the sponsors, Microsoft and SchoolnetSA, made it more memorable in that they highlighted our ideas to the world. The overwhelming feeling was when my name was called out as the runner up in the teachers’ choice – it was something I really did not expect from amongst the great teachers from across the world. Allah loves me and therefore, I believe this award is a gift from Allah because; I joined the profession feeling that it would take me across the world and yes, I see it happening – alhamdulillah.
When we visited the School of the Future in Philadelphia, I was flabbergasted at this institution. It is a school that is really high tech and it has all the trimmings and trappings to make teaching a dream, for example each lesson is recorded and can be downloaded from the school’s webpage and all the pupils have their own laptops as ‘notebooks’. There is just so much to say however, the one thing that really surprised me is the ignorance of Islam even in the teaching fraternity. The fact that I teach at a Muslim school some teachers wanted to know what brand of Islam I teach – I don’t blame them save to say that they are so caught up in web of deceit of Islam on the airwaves and that is why I focus on integrating media into lessons. I have so much more to say but, it would need more time. If log on to www.schoolnetSA.co.za you will find more details and also the Thutong Portal on the world wide web you will learn more of the Innovative Teacher.
The one teacher’s work with grade 1’s really made me jump out of my skin. It was a school in New Zealand where grade 1 pupils would create their own blog on the world wide web, have their own dedicated website and post all their work on their blog and this would be carried through to the next grade – it was really awesome to see these children’s work on the web. It’s not just writings but, picture drawings, assessments and so much more. So you can imagine what their Grade R learning is like.
Zaiboon: That sounds really interesting and yes, all praise is due to Allah, HE has blessed you. Now tell me about Cii and SAFM and your articles you write for this magazine.
Abdullah: I tell my pupils that ‘I do what I tell you to do’ therefore, when the idea of radio broadcasting came to mind I had to get on radio. Allah presented me with the opportunity with Radio Islam from its inception where I did the Youth Forum slot which I then handed over to my pupil, Asad Sather, back then who managed it for 4 years. When I joined Cii after my return from Saudi Arabia, I wanted to focus on a slot that was exclusive to education. Omar Farouk, the programme manager of Cii, allowed me that privilege and the programme is now 3 years old and going very strong – alhamdulillah. The name of the programme is Educational Forum and every year pupils that I teach are identified to do the programme in December of that year. This year Muhammad Shaahid Abdool handled the program with so much verve and it makes me feel so good. Cii is really keen in this part of its social outreach programme. Cii is really interested to make a difference in their standards all the time and are very appreciative of the work all their employees do. It has come to our notice at Cii that we are doing something unique on this regard in that we have a special programme dedicated to education on a weekly basis. The programme is aired on Wednesday evenings at 8pm CAT (Central African Time).
About SAFM (104-107 on FM), well I do the program called ‘This new day’ – it is a program where presenters from the major religions present a 3 minute inspiration every Friday mornings at about 5:30am or 6:05am. It was the exuberant Mr Idrees Khamisa who introduced me to the SAFM team and got me to do a programme and since then, I have been on SAFM – Alhamdulillah. In the year I would present for 3 or 4 months.
About writing for Al-Huda, may Allah reward you for the opportunity you gave me and, it is a pleasure and again its part of the motto to my pupils that ‘what I tell you to do I do’. The articles are characterised by current issues and whatever I feel is important to write about. In fact all the articles are posted on my blogspot: rendezvousofminds@blogspot.com
Zaiboon: I have so much more to ask but time and space is a limitation save to say that it is pleasure listening to your programme. I am still eager to know why you cut your teaching stint short in Saudi Arabia, which school was and is the best for you, the number of A’s you attained this year at the RIS and something brief about the madressah, Sabeerlur-Rashaad, that you are part of in Sharpeville.
Abdullah: Now that’s a lot of questions…lets take it from the top. In KSA I found that the education system did not lend itself to innovative practice and it limited the teacher and pupil. For example, in all the expensive textbooks the teacher would use an industrial stapler to staple pages together that had anything to do with the holocaust – a ghastly deed we as Muslims had nothing to do with even if there was an Al-Qaeda back then! Furthermore, in lower grades you had to shade in the trunk of the elephant because it is considered as a phallic symbol. Therefore, my wife and decided to come back citing the above as just one of the key issues of discontent. However, I should say that many South Africans are teaching in the KSA and are enjoying it. I found it strange that a people who have so much potential are duped by an unsuitable Americanised syllabus in keeping them backward when they have the language of the Quran to spur them on to be the educational leaders of the world. Really Zaiboon, money is not an issue in KSA – I have been to a school in KSA that is so huge and beautiful and has an Olympic size swimming pool on the second floor! This should tell you that they can put up the best of the best institutions of learning in the world at any cost but, the system needs to address the socio-political issues more relevantly and correctly.
I have no best school save to say that I make the school I teach in the best and believe it can be the best in the world. If there is a best school for me, it would be the raised platform in blessed Madina where the best (Sahaba R.A.) learned from the very best – Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W).
Zaiboon, This whole “A” symbol campaign drive concerns me. I don’t teach for an ‘A’ symbol but, for life because, life is what people live and not their A’s. Al-hamdulillah, the pupils I taught attained 8A’s, 7B’s many attained C symbols and fortunately none of the pupils failed… I mean did you ever ask the doctor how many A’s he/she got before you take the treatment?... Yes, you do need ‘A’ performing candidates but, that is not the end all and be all of teaching because, every pupil has the potential to serve humanity. Finally on this point, Allah says in the holy Quran to the effect that HE does not look at your wealth and appearances but at your hearts and your deeds, therefore, we need to impress service to humanity in our teaching. Thus, an “A” candidate with this impression will leave a legacy of greatness for others to follow… What’s the point of an ‘A’ candidate without a refined Islamic character and sense of service to humanity? – A mere mortal living like an animal.
Unfortunately, today’s world dominates the mind and heart towards self-aggrandisement and we have become brainwashed to the extent of fighting with teachers if our children don’t get A’s! Somehow all this makes my stomach churn. I mean, Zaiboon, Nabi Muhammad (S.A.W) was unlettered but He had the desire for truth and Allah made Him a Nabi and gave Him the holy Quran for guidance therefore, if we can instil in our children the desire seek truth & knowledge Allah would make them great and acceptable as HE did with the Sahaba (R.A.) Please give this thought and lets talk about it at a later stage –inshallah.
The madressah in Sharpeville is about 13 years old and it began with some very dedicated men who are still involved in the affairs of the madressah and this year we hope to build the first masjid in Sharpeville. My job is just to administrate the madressah on a part time basis.
Zaiboon: Alhamdulillah. I knew your dad, Mr.Ali Bhai Sujee, and he was remarkable man. Tell me what your thoughts are when you know that people know your father more than you because, you were very young when he passed on to Allah.
Abdullah: Al-hamdulillah…It’s the most difficult thing to live in the shadow of a great personality but, it is so inspirational to have your father as an icon of success especially when he enjoined in good and forbade the evil to please Allah alone. Therefore I really miss him, may Allah grant him Janatul-Firdose, in these times because, I also believe he was a remarkable man. However, I have my mother and that makes me proud because, she is a pillar of strength and makes me know who my dad was. Then my late father’s friends… you know they inspire me more because, they would talk about him as if he was alive and is advising them on issues of faithful work for Allah…really it’s amazing. In all of this again, I feel blessed to have had a dad like my dad. So I say to all and sundry, look after your parents because, the legacy they leave behind are the ones you follow… Allah teaches us that Allah’s displeasure lies in one father’s displeasure and that Jannah lies at the feet of the mother…
…Conversely, I say to all parents be noble and create a legacy of good to please Allah because, that is what will be your Thwaab-be-jarriah. And what better way to receive it i.e. through your own children’s actions.
May Allah help and guide us.
Zaiboon: Alhamdulillah. Now we out of space and time what are your future plans?
Abdullah: Allah knows best. I hope to advance my studies and progress in the field of education to the best advantage for the ummah and to write books – inshallah.
Zaiboon: Jazakallahu-ghairan for your time any may Allah grant you your dreams and wishes.
The editorial: Jan 2007.
Life is good!
This month’s issue is packed with the lifeblood of young minds that show through their words that life is good when you have focus. The spirited vision that charges the heart in the article, ‘The courage to lead’ is close to my heart because in my experience as a teacher it warms my heart to see and hear that people want to do something in education for the greater benefit. To the parents of Ahmed* (not his real name), I really admire you and I know you will be able to achieve the dream of opening up the school for children who are challenged. In-shallah, I would support you in ways that I can with the help of Allah. What touches me deeply about the parents here is their desire to help others in the same boat and to teach them how to row that boat in such a way that it overcomes the worst of storms.
Again, when I read the article on the ‘Life in the fast lane’, the young man, Abdullah Moolla, makes me realise just how good life is i.e. the company of the good teacher made such an impression in the life of a student that the change become words of wisdom for us today. In effect, the article on the ‘Dating Game’ gave me courage to know that there are young people in the ummah who shun zina and are prepared to encourage others. Yes, life is good!
The interview with Abdullah Sujee was lengthy but, it was an interview I really wanted to do. It is my belief that he has excelled and today, his late father, Mr.Ali Bhay Sujee (may Allah fill his kabr with noor) would be pleased with his son. Yes, life is good when you see a son in the footsteps of his father – may Allah grant Abdullah conviction and sincerity of intention and purpose in his life. The interview was done also to inspire young men to become teachers because we need more Muslim males who are really sure of their gender to become teachers. Why do I say this? You see with this whole saga of gay marriages and the likes who knows who will teach our children in the years to come. Therefore, if we don’t inspire men to be teachers we should prepare ourselves for some degree of a societal psychological imbalance on the moral platform because Education is about morality that Allah has decreed.
I know you will enjoy the book reviews and you would be inspired to buy the books because life is good when you inspired to do something good. In all of life, we will be judged on how we enjoined in good and forbade the evil. So read! It was the first revealed word.
Finally I hope you will cherish this month’s issue and anticipate the next issue because life is good when you wait for things that will inspire you to the pleasure of Allah. The year 2007 looks good because, it was ushered in by hajj and therefore, look up and say “Allahu-Akbar”!
You know I enjoyed all the articles and cannot fathom how to express my views about all of them in my condensed space save to say that, we need to give thanks our mothers because they nurtured us that today, we are ambassadors of Islam. Jazakallahu-ghiarun to all the people who have contributed to this magazine’s success.
Enjoy the magazine and do good and forbid evil because life is good!
Editor:
Zaiboon Motala.
This month’s issue is packed with the lifeblood of young minds that show through their words that life is good when you have focus. The spirited vision that charges the heart in the article, ‘The courage to lead’ is close to my heart because in my experience as a teacher it warms my heart to see and hear that people want to do something in education for the greater benefit. To the parents of Ahmed* (not his real name), I really admire you and I know you will be able to achieve the dream of opening up the school for children who are challenged. In-shallah, I would support you in ways that I can with the help of Allah. What touches me deeply about the parents here is their desire to help others in the same boat and to teach them how to row that boat in such a way that it overcomes the worst of storms.
Again, when I read the article on the ‘Life in the fast lane’, the young man, Abdullah Moolla, makes me realise just how good life is i.e. the company of the good teacher made such an impression in the life of a student that the change become words of wisdom for us today. In effect, the article on the ‘Dating Game’ gave me courage to know that there are young people in the ummah who shun zina and are prepared to encourage others. Yes, life is good!
The interview with Abdullah Sujee was lengthy but, it was an interview I really wanted to do. It is my belief that he has excelled and today, his late father, Mr.Ali Bhay Sujee (may Allah fill his kabr with noor) would be pleased with his son. Yes, life is good when you see a son in the footsteps of his father – may Allah grant Abdullah conviction and sincerity of intention and purpose in his life. The interview was done also to inspire young men to become teachers because we need more Muslim males who are really sure of their gender to become teachers. Why do I say this? You see with this whole saga of gay marriages and the likes who knows who will teach our children in the years to come. Therefore, if we don’t inspire men to be teachers we should prepare ourselves for some degree of a societal psychological imbalance on the moral platform because Education is about morality that Allah has decreed.
I know you will enjoy the book reviews and you would be inspired to buy the books because life is good when you inspired to do something good. In all of life, we will be judged on how we enjoined in good and forbade the evil. So read! It was the first revealed word.
Finally I hope you will cherish this month’s issue and anticipate the next issue because life is good when you wait for things that will inspire you to the pleasure of Allah. The year 2007 looks good because, it was ushered in by hajj and therefore, look up and say “Allahu-Akbar”!
You know I enjoyed all the articles and cannot fathom how to express my views about all of them in my condensed space save to say that, we need to give thanks our mothers because they nurtured us that today, we are ambassadors of Islam. Jazakallahu-ghiarun to all the people who have contributed to this magazine’s success.
Enjoy the magazine and do good and forbid evil because life is good!
Editor:
Zaiboon Motala.
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