By Dr Wasim Ahmad,
I studied in a madrasah, Jami‘atul Falah, which has many nice objectives written down (http://www.jamiatulfalah.org/). Besides, however, the written objectives of Jami‘atul Falah, there is one more (implied) objective. It is to prepare individuals for Jamaa‘at-e-Islami (Tahreek-e-Islami ke liye afraad tayyaar karna). This is because the Jami‘atul Falah was founded by the members of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind.
I find a paradox here, though. An educational institution does not put a limit on its ‘products’. It does not specify the kind and type of its graduates. An educational institution can never envision how a specific individual will be like when he completes his education. It only facilitates the individuals to become leaders in a unique manner – with the power of critical thinking. If, however, an institution aims at grooming individuals to become members of a particular outfit it indicates something seriously wrong.
Additionally, there is a self-contradiction here between what should be the aim of an educational institution and the objectives of a Movement like Jamaa‘ate-e-Islami. While the former cannot and does not define what type of people it will produce keeping the immense possibilities of human creativity in view, a Movement already determines the kind and the type. If the educational institutions also start doing so then it is a sad commentary on the status and direction of education. It indicates that there is non-clarity about the goals of education. And it means undoing of one’s own efforts – which is a self-contradiction and which implies that truth is probably missing.
I have noticed that the most educated and well exposed among the graduates, too, aren’t able to come out of the conditioning effects of that learning environment of Jamiatul Falah. When I find that someone’s uniqueness and individuality is lost or is dissolved into someone else’s, it pains. I think that the uniqueness of one more person is gone. One more Titanic has sunk.
The sincere and devoted cadre of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami with a fresh orientation can do a lot. Currently, there isn’t a very clear direction in their ranks. Having the literature of Maulana Syed Abul A‘la Maududi at its back which primarily aims at establishing hukoomat-e-ilaahiyyah (as implied by iqaamat-e-deen) on the one hand and faced with the realities of life and living in a secular democratic country on the other, the Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind is not quite clear about what it wants. With every passing day the dream of hukoomat-e-ilaahiyyah, however, is getting farther and farther. The fact that there is already hukoomat-e-ilaahiyyah in this universe is missed out upon.
It will add to the strength of Indian Muslims that the Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind gives up its disorientation and confusion. Focuses on the agenda of education with a holistic view and clear civilizational goals keeping the following vision in view:
The students coming out of our Colleges and Universities should have Qur’an in the right hand, most modern scientific and technological advancements in the left hand and the crown of Laa Ilaah on the forehead. So that the Muslims regain the same glorious status of founders and promoters of science and technology as they did during the ascendance of their civilization.
It goes without saying that the earlier stages of education should also be aligned to and geared towards the above VISION as of course only a natural progression will serve the above purpose.
The Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind should do so channelizing its resources for this supreme objective and utilizing its network and workforce for this goal. All other worthwhile objectives will be served from this as it is the educated who ultimately assume various leading roles in all walks of life.
(The author is Head of the Dept of Islamic Studies, Preston University, Ajman, UAE. He can be contacted at Mob:+971505363235 Email:[email protected])