Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
Our last edition dwelt more on appraising the origin and development of Arabic Education in the South-Western part of Nigeria particularly Yoru a land with particular reference to principal stages of evolution up till the current stage. This edition is taking on dimensions of thoughts in view of ameliorating the current misdemeanor in the sector. Meanwhile, unending praise be to Almighty Allah for witnessing yet another Jum'at i.e the third of its kind in the Ramadan 1446 AH. May Allah bless in manifold the noble Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and all deserving followers till eternity.
Drawing on the lessons portend in the Glorious Qur'an is the parable of tripartite Adherents attracting varieties of benefits from their utmost endeavours. In Qur'an 35:32-33, Allah (SWT) says: "Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such Our servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their souls; some who follow a middle course, and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace. Garden's of Eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk." The provision is self-explanatory in the concise divides of the believers.
It is in the same vein that the account of Prophet Musa's inquisitive in posing questions to Almighty Allah is brought to bear. He once asked: 'How do you normally reward on deeds?' In a proverbial response, a Cattle Rearer from nowhere came on board and he took nap-rest close to a river bank. Woken up he forgot his bag containing fabulous wealth. All of a sudden, a Chimpanzee descended from a tree top only to fling and scatter around the wealth. Before long, the Cattle Rearer remembered and came back to the spot where he met an anonymous man who had picked the wealth. He was killed instantly for the accusation. On the way going, the killer was arrested and killed by Law Enforcement Agent. This depicts the central theme of an Arab saying: 'الجزاء من جنس العمل' meaning: 'Reward is commensurate with deeds'.
To this end, the noble Messenger Muhammad (SAW) warned: 'اياكم والحضرات الدمان. قيل:' وما هي? وقال: المرءة الحصناء في موضع نجس.' meaning: 'Beware of the splendid but defective vegetable. When asked, he said: 'A beautiful woman in a place full of filth.' This literally translates as: 'Tete to hu lakitan, to n da gbogo 2(ce); Oju lo dara si, Isale e re o dara.'
meaning: 'A beautiful vegetable on the dust bin is bound to be defective.' This implies that: 'All that glitters is not gold' and that better reward is a proceed of hardworking, being laborious and perseverance. It is against this backdrop that Yoruba Arabic Scholars' unbecoming calls for attention.
As the center of this discourse is the stand of Mudarau and Wukalau i.e Proprietors and Principals of Organized Arabic Centers in their annual sporadic graduation of Arabic Products who keep on multiplying in the same manner of pursuing a unilateral market! Looking inward at whatever point of confusion prides man for admiration. It is however absurd to perpetually dwell in the ordinary way but expect extra-ordinary outcome! The questions that 'Are we doing enough and, Are we offering the form of education capable of supplying the increasing demands of 'Products' of our market?'
No doubt that Muslim education at this period of challenges of lautomation must be tripple-edged. Granted that there exists perceptible onslaughts and cold wars against Arabic education, that alone is enough to ginger us towards the need to do extra-ordinarily more in our callings. To be precise, if the future of Arabic education will be better, it is high time Organized Arabic Center Proprietors open receptive minds towards incorporation of Skills Impacting facets of knowledge into the curriculum.
Besides, 'Who says We Cannot Create, Innovate and Invent like the Salafis other than the political fraction?' Two main ethnics you cannot underrate in the world estimation are both Arabs and Israelites who are by descent from Prophet Ibrahim through Ismail and Ishaq.
Above all, Muhammad Iqbal, a Renown Educational Thinker and Poet of early twentieth century who revived Egyptian Education from total collapse became instrumental when he said, 'Give Me Better Curriculum; I will give you Desirable Human Beings.' It follows to address the situation of Arabic Scholars' current menace decisively. Proactive measure must be taken in this respect.
Prophet Yusuf's model suffices here in terms of arresting the situation of Yoruba land Alfas' unbecoming ritualism. As an inmate who was confided into the Royal dream for possible solution, he placed strategic strides towards arresting situation of drought through fabulous entreaties and productivity. Reading through the lines, the need for re-appraisal of the current situation was prognostic in setting aside some retinues and bulks of leftovers in rainy seven years in preparation for subsequent seven years of lesser harvest and eventual years of drought. This shows that a complete re-strategy is required in the current Arabic Education system being run to safe its face from being only moral-center to academic, economic and moral base system. With this there is no doubt that even though only Arabic Studies without patches of Western Education may not attract meal-ticket like salary, products of Arabic Centers can be better off in rewarding skills capable of ensuring economic self-reliance.
With this and other developmental measures, some degrees of control and regulation could be placed with regard to activities of Arabic Scholars in the part of the nation. The above categorization of scholars would be brought under bearable conditions of harmony and leverage that facilitate unalloyed development. Wishing the Muslims in Yoruba land a resounding prospect in Arabic and other forms of education in earnest, Ramadan Mubarak. May Allah enrich us with the fabulous reward of Laylatul Qadri.
DR RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN IMAM & MISSIONER ANSAR-UD-DEEN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA, IPAJA BRANCH LAGOS STATE NIGERIA.
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