Question: I am reading a book that has a chapter on education and human psychology. The author argues that in a classroom, children are given the same amount and type of information but upon graduation, a vast majority of these children remain intellectually dependent and uncreative, that is, despite having sufficient knowledge, they do not think for themselves and they do not reflect and thus do not become leaders.
Is that true?
I mean, from the Qur'an we learn that Allah has created every human being in the best of moulds. does that mean that every human being has the same capacity to think and understand things and apply them at the same level? in a way, i think not because we read and memorize the same Qur'an the sahaba (r.a) studied and incorporated in their lives but there is a huge difference between us and them. of course their level of commitment to the Deen was far greater than us but did Allah make their faculties more superior because of which they excelled and we are lagging behind?
I see this in my class as well. when I was a Taleem al Quran student, my class fellows and I understood the same verse very differently, and now that I am teaching a little bit of the meaning of the Qur'an, I see this difference in my students too. All of them react very differently to the message of the Qur'an. Some internalize it and strive to change themselves while others go whole nine yards - change themselves and preach others. Why is that?
This is even more evident in university, when I read the Qur'an to the girls, my goal is to just to get the listeners to connect with Allah, do good deeds for the Hereafter and leave sins. I do not expect them to give da'wah yet and revolutionize the world etc because I know that they are not at that level yet and for some I know that they will not reach that level ever so just doing the bear minimum is enough. So how does this work?
What makes some people become leaders, think at a larger scale and think for many years ahead of their time while others only think about their next meal and the next show on TV although, they have the same knowledge and understanding as the leaders. Is it just the towfeeq of Allah or am I missing something?
Is that true?
I mean, from the Qur'an we learn that Allah has created every human being in the best of moulds. does that mean that every human being has the same capacity to think and understand things and apply them at the same level? in a way, i think not because we read and memorize the same Qur'an the sahaba (r.a) studied and incorporated in their lives but there is a huge difference between us and them. of course their level of commitment to the Deen was far greater than us but did Allah make their faculties more superior because of which they excelled and we are lagging behind?
I see this in my class as well. when I was a Taleem al Quran student, my class fellows and I understood the same verse very differently, and now that I am teaching a little bit of the meaning of the Qur'an, I see this difference in my students too. All of them react very differently to the message of the Qur'an. Some internalize it and strive to change themselves while others go whole nine yards - change themselves and preach others. Why is that?
This is even more evident in university, when I read the Qur'an to the girls, my goal is to just to get the listeners to connect with Allah, do good deeds for the Hereafter and leave sins. I do not expect them to give da'wah yet and revolutionize the world etc because I know that they are not at that level yet and for some I know that they will not reach that level ever so just doing the bear minimum is enough. So how does this work?
What makes some people become leaders, think at a larger scale and think for many years ahead of their time while others only think about their next meal and the next show on TV although, they have the same knowledge and understanding as the leaders. Is it just the towfeeq of Allah or am I missing something?
Answer: Allah says in Surah al Baqarah لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا - that Allah does not bear a burden upon a soul which it cannot bear. Meaning, the responsibility bequeathed on every individual is based on his or her capacity to fulfill it.
ReplyDeleteThis insinuates that every individual has different potential at which it functions and that because of different strengths and weakness, individuals are expected to perform their tasks at their own levels.
According to a hadith in Bukhari and Muslim, some people are like fertile soil, in that they absorb knowledge for the benefit of themselves and produce therefrom fruits for all living beings. However, some people are less fertile in sense that they retain knowledge but only for their own benefit. They do not yield any fruit for others. And yet there are some who are absolutely barren - they do not benefit from knowledge let alone profit anyone with the knowledge which they ignored.
Therefore, although in a classroom all twenty students are given the same lesson on Qur'an but because of students different capacity to process that knowledge, they react to it differently. Some learn it and change themselves and go about inspiring a positive change in others as well. While some learn it only to change themselves after much difficulty so they couldn't be bothered by the need to motivate anyone to change. It is beyond their capability to do so.
The increase in capacity and opportunity to do good is entirely a blessing from Allah. Being our Creator, Allah is Most Knowing of our competence and potential. Thus He assigns us to do things which are within our power.
Hence, a person whom Allah has blessed with leadership qualities is required to perform his duties of leadership. Leaders will be judged on not only how they progressed in their personal acts of worship and Allah consciousness but also they will be accountable for what they did to help others develop Allah consciousness and perform worship.
Nevertheless, people who are endowed with less capabilities will have easier reckoning. They are only responsible to amend their ways and they will be rewarded abundantly when they achieve this task. The burden of correcting the world does not fall upon their shoulders.
But the leaders who are granted skills and ability to make a grand difference will be severely questioned.
Like the Prophets (a.s). Allah choose them specially out of His immense mercy. Allah purified them and raised them to a rank so that they could worship Allah and call others to do the same at a Prophetic level. They bore numerous sacrifice because they had the potential to relinquish their selves for this cause. Their soul could bear the burden and indeed it did. They all lived up to the standard Allah set for them.
Similarly, Allah has expectations from all of us. We must all drink from the fountain of Qur'an and do that which is in our power to come closer to Allah with respect and servitude and command others to do the same. So to every Muslim is a leader, his work according to his capacity.
Allah Knows Best.
Answer: My teacher says that leadership is tawfeeq given by Allah. Allah says "walladhina jahadu fina lanahdiyannahum subulanaa..." meaning, those who struggle in Allah, surely, definitely We will guide them to Our ways."
ReplyDeleteWhat can you do personally to become better leaders in the world? Apply your expertise in your area of influence, that is, let every doctor think about his hospital, let every mechanic think about his gas station and let every farmer think about his land realize how all of us can do something good right now and right here. When all Muslims start thinking and begin implementing great plans inshaAllah collectively we can manufacture a dramatic and wide-reaching benefit. Let no person sleep tonight without seeking Allah's help and consciously decide what he and she can do. One good deed, continuously.
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