Rethinking Islamic Education (Jumu’ah Summary 24/10/25)
Education.
A word that makes the ears of every parent stand up. Every parent wants their child to be educated, to be successful — to “make something of themselves.” But what does it really mean to be educated?
Today, we tend to divide education into two neat boxes: the secular and the Islamic. We send our children to school for academic subjects, and to the mosque, or to IlmHub, or a weekend class for Islamic Studies — often until they reach the age of twelve or thirteen. Then, as long as they go on to obtain a degree, we proudly say that they are “educated.”
But from an Islamic perspective, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The False Divide Between “Secular” and “Islamic”
The very distinction between secular and Islamic knowledge is problematic. It assumes that knowledge exists in separate realms with distinct goals — one for worldly success, and one for faith. Yet in reality, all knowledge — whether it be mathematics, medicine, or metaphysics — leads to one ultimate purpose: the recognition of Allah.
Historically, the great seminaries of the Muslim world reflected this integrated vision. A scholar was not someone who memorised a few religious texts. They studied fiqh, hadith, and tafsir, alongside mathematics, astronomy, medicine, politics, and history. These disciplines were seen as part of one whole — the pursuit of truth and understanding of Allah’s creation.
Unfortunately, over time — especially following colonial disruptions — this harmony was lost. The Islamic seminaries gradually withdrew from the natural and social sciences, while modern institutions separated knowledge from spirituality. The result is a tragic split:
On one side, scholars deeply rooted in classical learning but often unequipped to navigate or lead effectively in the modern world.
On the other, professionals who excel in worldly fields but lack the spiritual grounding that gives knowledge its purpose and direction.
We must rethink education — not as two parallel tracks, but as one cohesive journey toward becoming a well-rounded, God-conscious human being.
The True Goal of Education: Growth
Education, in its truest sense, is not about accumulation — it is about cultivation. The Qur’an beautifully expresses this concept through the language of growth and nurture.
When describing the upbringing of Maryam (peace be upon her), Allah says:
وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا
“And He caused her to grow in a most beautiful way.” (Al ʿImran 3:37)
The verb anbataha (to cause to grow) is the same verb used for a plant. A human being, like a plant, requires care, nourishment, and the right conditions to flourish. Every child is unique, just as every plant is unique — with its own temperament, potential, and path to bloom.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that the most beautiful prayer a child can make for their parents is:
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
“My Lord, have mercy on them as they nurtured me when I was small.” (Al-Isra’ 17:24)
The word rabbayani (they nurtured me) comes from tarbiyah — the same root as Rabb, one of Allah’s Names. Rabbmeans the One who nurtures, sustains, and facilitates growth.
Imam al-Raghib al-Asfahani defined tarbiyah as “facilitating the growth of something until it reaches its full potential.” This is the essence of education — not forcing a child into a mould, but cultivating their inner and outer faculties so that they reach the best version of themselves.
Becoming Rabbani: The Fruit of True Learning
In the Qur’an, Allah commands:
وَلَكِن كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ
“But be people of the Lord — Rabbaniyyin.” (Al ʿImran 3:79)
A Rabbani is someone who has been nurtured and shaped by divine values — someone whose knowledge produces humility, service, and balance. To be Rabbani is to live a life where faith and learning are not separate compartments, but intertwined roots drawing nourishment from the same soil.
Education, then, is not merely about what we teach, but how and why. It is not a race to certifications, but a lifelong process of nurturing faith, intellect, and character — of watering the soil of the heart until it yields the fruits of wisdom and sincerity.
A Call to Parents and Teachers
Let us stop measuring success by degrees and titles alone. Let us instead ask:
Does our child’s learning bring them closer to their Creator?
Does it help them serve others with excellence and humility?
Are we nurturing their soul as much as their intellect?
A true education cultivates balance — between the heart and the mind, between revelation and reason, between this world and the next.
So water their roots with faith, expose them to light through knowledge, and protect them from weeds of arrogance and heedlessness. In time, they will bear the fruits of purpose, integrity, and beauty — the signs of a soul truly educated in the way of the Rabb.
Watch on YouTube:
Click HERE to watch the khutbah on YouTube
