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Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm ROLE OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION IN NATION BUILDING BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM. ASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH AND VERY GOOD MORNING. MINISTER OF ISLAMIC AFFAIRS, HONOURABLE DR. MOHAMED SHAHEEM ALI SAEED CABINET MINISTERS PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS SENIOR STAFF OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS STUDENTS FROM UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND HIGH SCHOOLS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Page 1 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 1. I RECENTLY LEARNT THAT THE MALDIVIAN PARLIAMENT HAS MADE IT COMPULSORY FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES TO BE TAUGHT IN ALL MALDIVIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FROM GRADES 1 TO 12. 2. A CULMINATION OF THE PROPOSAL MADE IN OCT 2012 BY THE LATE DR AFRASHEEM ALI. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROFOUND AND SIGNIFICANT MOVE: A SIGNIFICANT TESTIMONY OF MALDIVIANS’ FAITH IN ISLAM, A FAITH AND AS A WAY OF LIFE. 3. I AM IMPRESSED WITH THIS MOVE BY THE MALDIVIAN GOVERNMENT TO EMBRACE THE UNITY OF THIS FAITH FROM THE EARLIEST POINT. IF PROPERLY DONE, THIS WILL STRENGTHEN YOUNG MALDIVIANS WITH THE LEGACY OF ISLAM AND THE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION. Page 2 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 4. THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF THE MALDIVIAN GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE, IS ONE OF NATION BUILDING. AND TO BUILD A MUSLIM NATION THAT ADHERES TO THE IDEALS AND FUNDAMENTALS OF ISLAM. 5. NATION-BUILDING REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING A NATIONAL IDENTITY, WHICH AIMS AT THE UNIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE SO THAT THE NATION REMAINS IN THE LONG RUN POLITICALLY STABLE, SOCIALLY HARMONIOUS, AND ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPED. 6. BUT UNITY HAS TWO ASPECTS: FIRST, THE OUTWARD AND EXTERNAL UNITY—MANIFESTED IN SOCIETY AS COMMUNAL AND NATIONAL SOLIDARITY. SECOND, THE INWARD AND INTERNAL UNITY—WHICH REFERS TO THE UNITY OF IDEAS AND MIND, THE INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL UNITY. 7. EDUCATION PERTAINS TO THE UNITY OF IDEAS AND MIND, WHICH IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE REALISATION OF THE SOCIAL AND NATIONAL SOLIDARITY. INDEED, NATIONBUILDING NEEDS PROPER EDUCATION AND CONSTANT GUIDANCE, SO AS TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF NATIONAL Page 3 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm CHARACTER AND ETHOS, VALUES AND LANGUAGE, INSTITUTIONS AND INFRA-STRUCTURES. 8. THE MOST PRECIOUS ASSETS OF A NATION ARE ITS PEOPLE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CAPITAL, THE UPGRADING CAPACITY OF OF A THE MENTALITY NATION IS AND ONE OF INTELLECTUAL THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACED BY MUSLIM TODAY. 9. IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALISATION, HIGH QUALITY HUMAN CAPITAL HAS BECOME A NECESSITY. THE APPROACH MUST BE HOLISTIC AND EMPHASISE THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL IN FIELDS SUCH AS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE MUST DEVELOP A CULTURE THAT IS PROGRESSIVE, COUPLED WITH HIGH MORAL AND ETHICAL VALUES. 10. ISLAM IS ALLAH’S SUPREME GUIDANCE TO MANKIND. HUMANS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FULFIL THEIR DUTIES AND AND THIS REQUIRES THEM TO EMBRACE KNOWLEDGE, Page 4 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm SKILLS AND EXPERTISE IN ORDER TO BUILD CAPACITY. ISLAM MAKES IT COMPULSORY FOR MUSLIMS TO EMBRACE TRUE KNOWLEDGE IN ALL FIELDS. 11. THE MISCONCEPTION THAT THERE EXISTS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SO-CALLED SECULAR KNOWLEDGE AND RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE MUST BE CORRECTED. ISLAM DEMANDS THE MASTERY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF SKILLS AND EXPERTISE. MANY VERSES IN THE QURAN THAT TOUCH ON THE NEED TO MASTER BENEFICIAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE STUDIED. ALL MUSLIM STUDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF ISLAM’S CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE RENAISSANCE IN EUROPE. 12. FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS, MUSLIM CIVILIZATION WAS THE ZENITH OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT. MUSLIMS WERE THE LEADING PHILOSOPHERS, SCIENTISTS, AND INNOVATORS OF THEIR ERA. IN THOSE DAYS, MUSLIM STATES WERE SHINING EXAMPLES OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS, SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. Page 5 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 13. THROUGH THE SPREAD OF EMPIRE, MUSLIMS BROUGHT UNTO THEMSELVES GREAT WEALTH AND PROSPERITY. THE NAMES OF DAMASCUS, BAGHDAD, CORDOBA, AND ISTANBUL WERE ETCHED IN HUMAN HISTORY AS GREAT CENTRES OF EMPIRE AND WEALTH. MUSLIM TRADERS BECAME MASTERS OF GLOBAL TRADE, AND MUSLIM SHIPPING ROUTES DREW THE WORLD TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT WAS UNPRECEDENTED AT THAT TIME. Page 6 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 14. ISLAM ALSO GAVE BIRTH TO THE LEADING SCIENTISTS AND INNOVATORS OF THEIR TIME. MUSLIM CIVILIZATION CAN PROUDLY NAME DOZENS OF THINKERS AND DISCOVERERS AMONG ITS FAMOUS SONS, INCLUDING AL GHAZALI, IBN SINA, ABU MUSA AL KHAWARIZMI, OMAR KHAYYAM, AL BIRUNI, AL FARABI, AND AL KINDI. 15. AS MUSLIMS, WE NEED TO RECLAIM THIS GOLDEN LEGACY THAT WE HAVE SADLY LOST TO THE AGES. WE CANNOT REMAIN MERE SPECTATORS IN A WORLD THAT IS RAPIDLY MOVING AHEAD; WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO ENHANCING OUR COMPETITIVENESS IN ORDER TO PLAY A CONTRIBUTING ROLE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION, AS WAS THE LEGACY OF ISLAMIC NATIONS IN THE PAST. 16. I BELIEVE THAT OUR WAY FORWARD NEEDS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE MUST RENEW THE SPIRIT OF UNITY AMONG MUSLIMS. TODAY, ISLAM IS A GLOBAL FAITH THAT BINDS ARABS, PERSIANS, TURKS, INDIANS, AFRICANS, EUROPEANS, MALAYS, AND MALDIVIANS TOGETHER IN A COMMON BOND; A BOND THAT WAS FOUNDED ON TAWHID Page 7 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm AND SUBMISSION TO ALLAH S.W.T. MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO RENEW OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM. WE MUST EMPHASISE OUR COMMON HERITAGE, AND PUT ASIDE ANY SECTARIAN DIFFERENCES WHICH CAN LEAD TO DIVISION AND CONFLICT. 17. ULTIMATELY, ISLAMIC EDUCATION HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BUILDING AN ISLAMIC CULTURE THAT BALANCES THE NEEDS OF THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT, AN ISLAM THAT BALANCES FARDHU KIFAYAH SCIENCES AND FARDHU AIN KNOWLEDGE. WORLDLY AFFAIRS THAT ARE CONDUCTED WITH SINCERITY WILL RECEIVE ALLAH’S BLESSINGS AND WILL BE FAVOURABLY LOOKED UPON IN THE HEREAFTER, INSYA’ ALLAH. WE MUST GIVE PRIORITY TO PROPER DEVELOPMENT AND A REALIZATION THAT MUSLIMS BECOME AN ADVANCED PEOPLE. TO SUCCEED, MUSLIMS MUST ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THIS WORLD AS WELL AS EQUIP THEMSELVES TO FACE THE HEREAFTER. “BUT SEEK, THROUGH THAT (WEALTH) WHICH ALLAH HAS GIVEN YOU, THE HOME OF THE HEREAFTER, AND FORGET Page 8 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm NOT YOUR PORTION OF LAWFUL ENJOYMENT IN THIS WORLD; AND DO GOOD AS ALLAH HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU, AND SEEK NOT MISCHIEF IN THE LAND. INDEED, ALLAH DOES NOT LIKE THE MUFSIDUN (THOSE WHO COMMIT GREAT CRIMES AND SINS, OPPRESSORS, TYRANTS, MISCHIEF-MAKERS, AND CORRUPTERS.)” (AL QASAS: 77) 18. ISLAMIC EDUCATION MUST ENABLE MUSLIMS TO ENGAGE THE WORLD IN A POSITIVE MANNER. LIFE ON THIS EARTH IS A JOURNEY THAT REQUIRES US TO DISCHARGE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO SOCIETY IN AN HONEST, TRANSPARENT AND TRUSTWORTHY MANNER. MANKIND WILL NOT FULLY BENEFIT FROM THIS LIFE IF THEIR ATTITUDE AND WORLDVIEW IS NOT AS IT SHOULD BE; BECAUSE ALLAH CREATED MAN TO BE KHALIFAH (LEADERS) ON EARTH. IT IS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE FOR MUSLIMS TO ARM THEMSELVES WITH KNOWLEDGE AND WITH SKILLS, TO ENABLE THEM TO SUCCEED. CONSISTENT WITH THIS, THE CONCEPT OF LIFE AS SERVICE TO GOD AND THE CONCEPT OF WORK AS WORSHIP, HUMANS AS CALIPHS AND THE OBLIGATION TO SEEK STRENGTH IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE MUST BE ACCENTUATED, IN Page 9 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm PARTICULAR, THE HIGHER OBJECTIVES CALLED MAQASID AL SYARIAH WHICH SEEKS TO SAFEGUARD, DIGNIFY AND EMPOWER RELIGION, INTELLECT, LIFE, PROPERTY AND PROGENY. 19. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE UMMAH TO BE GUIDED IN UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICING ISLAM AS A COMPREHENSIVE WAY OF LIFE AS A MEANS TO BUILDING A CIVILIZATION. A WHOLESOME WAY OF LIFE WILL CREATE THE BALANCE BETWEEN OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER. ISLAM IS NOT MERELY A RITUAL, BECAUSE RITUALISM IS MEANT SOLELY FOR THE HEREAFTER. ISLAM TOO, OPPOSED SECULARISM THAT REJECTS THE HEREAFTER AND OBSESSED SOLELY ON WORLDLY MATTERS. ISLAM MUST BE LIVED AS A SYSTEM THAT INTEGRATES THE WORLDLY LIFE AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 20. WE MUST AIM KNOWLEDGEABLE, TO BUILD A COMPETITIVE, NATION HAS WHICH A IS HIGH PERFORMANCE CULTURE, INTEGRITY AND STRONG MORAL Page 10 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm VALUES—ALL WITH RELIGION AS THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION. IT IS ALSO A SOCIETY OF LEARNED PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE CULTURE, HERITAGE, AND THE HISTORY OF THEIR NATION AND RELIGION. THIS SOCIETY IS KNOWN BY ITS STRONG SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND IS NOT EASILY SWAYED BY THE WAVES OF GLOBALISATION. THIS SOCIETY IS STEADFAST IN ITS FAITH IN GOD AND LOYALTY TO THE COUNTRY. 21. I PROMOTE ISLAM HADHARI THAT STRESSES ON NOBLE UNIVERSAL VALUES. EMPHASISES IT IS DEVELOPMENT, AN APPROACH CONSISTENT WITH THAT THE TENETS OF ISLAM AND FOCUSED ON ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE. IT AIMS TO ACHIEVE THIS VIA THE MASTERY OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND BALANCED THE NATION; DEVELOPMENT AN THAT INTEGRATED AND CREATES A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HIGH-PRINCIPLED PEOPLE WHO HOLD TO NOBLE VALUES AND ARE HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY, AND PREPARED TO TAKE ON GLOBAL CHALLENGES. Page 11 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 22. THE APPROACH OF ISLAM HADHARI IS AN EFFORT TO BRING THE UMMAH BACK TO BASICS, BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS, AS PRESCRIBED IN THE QURAN AND THE HADITH THAT CIVILIZATION. FORM IF THE ISLAM FOUNDATION HADHARI IS OF ISLAMIC INTERPRETED SINCERELY AND UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY, IT WILL NOT CAUSE MUSLIMS TO DEVIATE FROM THE TRUE PATH. 23. ISLAM HADHARI AIMS TO ACHIEVE TEN MAIN PRINCIPLES: 1) FAITH AND PIETY IN ALLAH 2) A JUST AND TRUSTWORTHY GOVERNMENT 3) A FREE AND INDEPENDENT PEOPLE 4) A MASTERY OF KNOWLEDGE 5) A BALANCED AND COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 6) A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE 7) PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF MINORITY GROUPS AND WOMEN 8) CULTURAL AND MORAL INTEGRITY Page 12 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 9) SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT; AND 10) STRONG DEFENCES 24. ISLAM HADHARI IS A COMPLETE AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR NATION-BUILDING, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND CIVILIZATION, CAPABLE OF BUILDING SOCIAL COMPETITIVENESS. THE GLORIOUS HERITAGE OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN ALL ASPECTS MUST BE USED AS REFERENCE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR US TO PROSPER. THANK YOU. WASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH Page 13 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm APPENDIX PERSONALITIES FROM THE PAST 1) AL GHAZALI (D. 1111) - THE MOST ORIGINAL THINKER AND GREATEST THEOLOGIAN ISLAM HAS PRODUCED; 2) IBN SINA (D. 1037) - PHYSICIAN, PHILOSOPHER, MATHEMATICIAN AND ASTRONOMER; WHO WROTE ALMOST 450 WORKS ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS, PARTICULARLY ON PHILOSOPHY (150 WORKS) AND MEDICINE (40 WORKS). HIS MOST FAMOUS WORK IS THE CANON OF MEDICINE, WHICH WAS A STANDARD MEDICAL TEXT AT MANY MEDIEVAL UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING IN THE UNIVERSITIES OF MONTPELLIER AND LEUVEN, AS THE BOOK PROVIDES A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF MEDICINE AT THAT TIME. HIS BOOKS ALSO INCLUDE GEOLOGY, WRITING PSYCHOLOGY, ON ASTRONOMY, ISLAMIC THEOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS, AS WELL AS POETRY. Page 14 of 16 ALCHEMY, LOGIC, Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm 3) AL KHAWARIZMI (D. 850)- MATHEMATICIAN, ASTRONOMER, AND GEOGRAPHER “ALGORITHM” FROM COMES. HE WHOSE NAME INTRODUCED THE THE WORD DECIMAL POSITIONAL NUMBER SYSTEM TO THE WORLD; HE SOLVED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS. THE ORIGINAL INVENTOR OF ALGEBRA. 4) OMAR KHAYYAM MATHEMATICIAN. MECHANICS, (D. HE 1122), ALSO GEOGRAPHY, ASTRONOMER WROTE TREATISES MINERALOGY, MUSIC, AND ON AND ISLAMIC THEOLOGY. 5) AL BIRUNI (D. 1050), MATHEMATICIAN, PHARMACY, MEDICINE, PHYSICS, GEOGRAPHER, AND EARTH SCIENCE SCHOLAR; 6) AL FARABI (D. 950), PHILOSOPHER AND MUSIC THEORIST, WHO DISCUSSED THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON THE SOUL. 7) AL KINDI (D. 873), MATHEMATICIAN, ASTRONOMER, PHYSICIAN, GEOGRAPHER, AND TALENTED MUSICIAN. HE Page 15 of 16 Edited version as at 22 Feb 2014 @9.55 pm WROTE HUNDREDS OF BOOKS ON METAPHYSICS, ETHICS, LOGIC, PSYCHOLOGY, MEDICINE, PHARMACOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY, OPTICS, AND ON PRACTICAL TOPICS LIKE PERFUMES, SWORDS, JEWELS, GLASS, DYES, ZOOLOGY, TIDES, MIRRORS, EARTHQUAKES. Page 16 of 16 METEOROLOGY AND