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By Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri


Years ago this useless individual was a teacher at a Darul-uloom which had numerous foreign students, with a number of them being from America.

These American students had to work hard to acquire knowledge of Hifdh (of Qur'aan) and to complete Dars-e-Nizami (Alim course) because those who are used to a free society where the Parents can get arrested for hitting a child had to confront an alternative reality here (in Pakistan) where in many tradional Darul-ulooms if not beating but yelling and shouting is the order of the day. At least these students had to learn to sit in a specific posture constantly from Fajar until Isha with a few breaks thrown in and that is hard for someone who is not used to it.

I remember the case of an American boy whose parents really wanted him to do Hifdh, they flew to Pakistan got him admitted and then flew back with dreams in their eyes that their child will one day be a Hafidh of Qur'aan.

The child rebelled. We tried our best to talk to him, intice him with rewards and in the end sat him down and gave a long talk about "Reward for Parents whose children will become Hafidh and how they will be crowned on the day of judgement"

The child at least listened to me and then looked up and said, "If my Parents want to be crowned on the day of judgement then why don't they try getting it themselves. Why me?"

Although his reply was rebellious but once I had the chance to reflect upon the matter I realised that he was right.

I have many Parents around me who want their children to become Hafidh and Alim but refuse to change their own lives. They continue to deal in Interest (Usury), Mothers and Young Daughters walk around town without proper Hijab, the home environment is echoing with the latest tunes and movies.

How can a child from such an environment be blessed with the Noor of the Qur'aan?

When I see the ever growing number of "Girls Darul-ulooms" I feel elated and depressed at the sametime.

Elated at the growing number but depressed at the low standards.

Parents consider these institutions "Islands of Protection" of their daughters so administrators need to step-up to the mark (and deliver). Parents also need to do their job when picking the institutions.

We need to prepare a generation well grounded in Islam, a walking advertisement of Islamic injunctions and filled with the spirit of Dawah & Jihad and with the intention of changing the world and the tide.

The furture belongs to Qur'aan & Islam and its our job to provide the Architects and the Parents should try their utmost to provide Islam with the best Architects.