ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Are you Free or Slave? Chapter 7: The Teaching Ideology By the virtue of the fact that the purpose of a course of instruction in ideological principles is to teach ideology before embarking on such a course we should address a number of questions.

These are as following: If we bear in mind the fact that a person’s opinions and beliefs are not within his power to control; but like love are involuntary phenomena[^1] is the teaching of opinion fundamentally possible? Can one teach love? If research is necessary in ideology[^2], and everyone has a duty both from the rational and religious point of view to seek out correct opinions. Is it net better to encourage people to investigate and research their opinions instead of being taught them?

And is it not the teaching of ideology, in the scene of transferring an opinion from teacher to pupil, a form of Taqlid ? And finally, why is the teaching necessary? How many methods are there for the teaching of ideology? And in the lessons that follow which of these methods will be used to teach the principles if Islamic ideology? These question will be answer under the following headings: Can Ideology Be Taught?

It has already been explained that although ideology is neither within a person’s power to adopt as he wishes, nor within another’s power to impose forcibly on him,[^3] by changing the source of beliefs it is possible to change incorrect and unscientific opinions.

In other words, if the ideological basis is Taqlid , by breaking the chain of Taqlid , opinions can be changed, and if the basis is inadequate research then by means of more an adequate research scientific opinions can be substituted for follower ones. It is the same with love.

Although love is not within a person’s control, and cannot be imposed on him, by changing the object of love it is possible to destroy it and even to transform it into hatred and it is also possible to transform an absence of love or even hatred into love and interest. As the mystic poet says: ‘When I was bound apprentice My father bless his soul. Spoke these words to my master, “Let love be his one goal”.

The teaching of love consists of the provision of instruction which caution the pupil against becoming attached to being the love of which is harmful and stress him towards things the love of which is beneficial.