ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Need For an Islamic Pedagogy CONCLUSION I will end this discussion on Islamic pedagogy with an ideal case study that represents the concept of Ihsaan in Islam.

If teachers and the students they teach can begin to live life according to the acknowledgement that whatever social contributions they are putting forth are an act of worship, and they live with the sincere intention that their efforts are solely for Allah’s pleasure, they can begin to develop Ihsaan-worshipping Allah as if they see Him, and even though they don’t see Him, they live according to the acknowledgement that He sees them.

The following is known as “hadeeth Jibreel” (the hadeeth of angel Gabriel); Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the companion, narrates: “While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah one day, a man [Jibreel in human form] came to our gathering whose clothes were extremely white, whose hair was extremely black, upon whom traces of travelling could not be seen, and whom none of us knew, until he sat down close to the Prophet, may Allah bless with him and grant him peace, so that he rested his knees upon his knees and placed his two hands upon his thighs and said, 'Muhammad, tell me about Islam?' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Islam is that you witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and you establish the prayer, and you give the Zakat [obligatory charity on assets], and you fast Ramadan [a month of the Islamic lunar calendar], and you perform the hajj [pilgrimage] of the House if you are physically and financially able to.' He said, 'You have told the truth,' and we were amazed at him asking the prophet and [then] telling him that he told the truth.

The man said, 'Tell me about iman.' He said, 'That you affirm Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you affirm the Decree, the good of it and the bad of it.' He said, 'You have told the truth.' He said, 'Tell me about ihsaan.' He said, 'That you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you don't see Him then truly He sees you.' … the prophet asked, 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?' I said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'He was Jibreel who came to you to teach you your deen37 '." (Al-Bukhari, vol.

1, 1997, pgs.80-81)).