Islamic schools or mixed faith?

[Ummah]

Asalaamualaikum

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine once. We were simply debating whether islamic schools were better or mixed faith. Living in a kuffar country, when i have children inshAllah i want to send them to islamic schools because i believe that going to mixed faith schools can corrupt a child's mind, and i just dont like the atmosphere in them, there's alot of ideas floating around that introduce fitnah and other unislamic habits even if you send them to single sex schools, e.g. smoking, drinking, dating etc - this is all the norm in mixed faith schools.

I went to a mixed faith girls high school, and apart from their being no boys, i didnt see any difference between my school and any other mixed faith school, we had male teachers mostly.

I dont know about everyone else, but when as i was growing up, after school we would go to the mosque, madrassah or a teachers house to learn how to read the Quran - i didnt recieve any islamic education other than learning to read arabic. I know there are alot of madrassahs that teach you tajweed, translations and hadiths as you learn how to read the Quran but this isnt the case everywhere and certainly wasnt in my case. Alhamdulillah at home my parents were always teaching me hadiths and other islamic teachings and stories so i have always been pretty in tune with it all.
^
Now if it wasnt for this, where is a child to learn about islam or to read arabic? Not everyones parents are like mine.

Taking in mind contemporary society - who has time these days? I havw traditional parents, my dad went to work my mum was ahousewife. These days its the norm for both the parents to work, everyone is so much busier these days, who has time to teach their kids about islam? Not every area has a madrassah or organisation to teach islam.

Then why not send your children to islamic schools? It's like killing two birds with one stone, you recieve your islamic teaching and other academic studies all together.

My friends argument was that, living in a kuffar country, once we leave school, we will enter the working world in which we will be forced to interact with various communities of faiths and beliefs, and if we are secluded from such communties due to education in islamic schooling, then we will not understand how to interact with different people," it's like being thrown into the middle of the ocean not knowing how to swim" - was basically his idea. Also that islamic schools are not easy on the pocket - this is somethig i agree with.

What do you think?

*by the way i dont agree with MUSLIM schools at all (schools built for muslim children that do no consist of specific islamic teaching) these schools are very different to islamic schools.

Ma'salaama

 

[minaz]

Two very good sides of an arguement demonstarated there SparklLZz. I fully understand what your mate is saying, I my self have been in 80% white schools all my life including 7 years at a Catholic one. However if you'd ask me would I have swapped it for an Islamic one, i'd have to say no. Of course the atmosphere is one of an aethiest nature and of mixed classes, but it has made me a better muslim I feel. Just analysing the day to day activities that occur made me think, especially in my 2 years at 6th form on how better off I am with Islam. I know some may say "they'll never accept you" and "they'll make you into a kuffar" and words to that extent, but for me personnaly it's compeltely the opposite. (visit my website for an insight to my school www.geocities.com/mi5min). Anywho I can't really comment on the outcome of enduring an education in an Islamic school, and how it affects one in our country post education. All i know is that their is segregated classes and it costs $money$ But I am very intrigued to hear from anyone who has experienced it, I really am. Good thread

 

[Lina]

I would send my child to an Islamic school for all the reasons SparklLZz also gave and even though a child spends it's school time in an Islamic environment outside of school they also interact with non-Muslim children, as children don't chose their friends by their religion. living in a non-Islamic country will give your child two worlds, so they won't be ''thrown into the middle of the ocean not knowing how to swim" because children also learn outside of school, they will know how to interact with different people.
let's face it, being born in a non-Islamic country and being Muslim always teaches you to have two worlds in which you both adjust to.

 

[root]

All religous schools should be banned......

Everyone should be included under one roof. Anything less is seperatist...

Root

 

[S_87]

i went to mixed faith school
it werent so bad .. i knew people in the muslim school and they werent exactly perfect

i think it depends on the person..and the school........ i couldnt just say like that?

 

[Hajar]

All religous schools should be banned......

Everyone should be included under one roof. Anything less is seperatist...

Root

No thats not good.... people must have the ability to choos.
For many years there are already religious schools but know when the muslims want their own schools it isnt good any more!!! hmmm thats weird

 

[minaz]

Hajar I know amani's stance may be too liberal for your liking, but in all fairness 9/10 the parents choose the school not the child

 

[Hajar]

I know that but I just mean in general.. everybody must have the ability to choos what kinda school they want there child to go to... so there must be some diversity between schools..

 

[minaz]

(apologies for mentioning amani's name instead of root's) Following Hajar's post, you are very right in comparison to root's extreme view

 

[root]

No thats not good.... people must have the ability to choos.
For many years there are already religious schools but know when the muslims want their own schools it isnt good any more!!! hmmm thats weird

OK, Muslim boy gets his school gear on and meets christian boy next door.... They walk to school together. Then at some point they part ways and go a different route to school because 1 boy goes to catholic school the other a muslim.... all the rest go to yet another school.....

Catholic boy & Muslim Boy say to "Mum & dad"

Why is it I am "different" from all the other boys............

And Your answer is...................................................................................................

PS....

when the muslims want their own schools it isnt good any more!!! hmmm thats weird

A coincidence my friend...........

If u terach seperately you create a "Seperate" identity...

No thats not good.... people must have the ability to choos.

I disagree. You come to the UK and are subject to 1 rule of law, you cannot choose what law you wish to follow. I beleive the same for Education though have no issues with seperate RE classes

 

[root]

root's extreme view

Why is it that children ALL being taught at one school is "Extreme"

Don't quite follow.....

 

[Hajar]

Why doesnt this happen now.... why is this becomming an issue...For many years there are catholic schools etc... but now when there are muslims schools comming it isnt good any more... that is what i mean...

 

[root]

Why doesnt this happen now.... why is this becomming an issue...For many years there are catholic schools etc... but now when there are muslims schools comming it isnt good any more... that is what i mean...

OMG, you make it sound even like Islamaphobia on this point when in reality we only need to look at N. Ireland and I have advocated for years and it grows in support for all kids 1 school. The fact that we now include Muslim schools is neither here nor their.....

Root

 

[Arwa]

-edit-

 

[Arwa]

-edit-

 

[Ibn Syed]

I don't reallylike Islamic schools that much cause one I went to was too easy(their work) and it wasn't very organized. And I don't think public schools are that bad.

 

[Ummah]

Catholic boy & Muslim Boy say to "Mum & dad"

Why is it I am "different" from all the other boys............

And Your answer is...................................................................................................

*****************************

I disagree. You come to the UK and are subject to 1 rule of law, you cannot choose what law you wish to follow. I beleive the same for Education though have no issues with seperate RE classes

Asalaamualaikum

The purpose of an islamic school is that your child recieves sound education on Islam. Why is there a harm in that? The purpose of the islamic schooling is not to cause seperatism, but to help the child learn about their religion as it is the priority in a muslim's life, otherwise whats the point in this life? The reason Islamic schools need to exist is because i doubt a christian parent will want their child going to an islamic school and learning about islam!!!!!!

I did mention that only in contemporary society and with prediction of how much priority islamic education will be given in future, raises the importance of a childs islamic education, its no longer the days for the majority, where the parents have time to teach their children islam. and its alot easier to be sent to islamic school then it is to reform society and make the mothers stay at home and paramount their child's religious education. And who better to learn about islam from than from a muslim? The RE in general schooling is just not thorough or complex enough!!!!!

My final point on this matter is that Its much safer for your child to be attending an institution where they recieve islamic and other acadmic education simultaneously, than to be returning home from school at 4pm and then going to the Mosque/Madrassah at 5pm until 8pm, to learn how to read the Quran and MAYBE JUST MAYBE learn about islam too. It will also help them conquer their revision and studying in one go, rather than not have the time to complete their homeworks or revision timetables because they only have an hour until they have to go to the Madrassah and then its bedtime by the time they get home.



Secondly..
Aslong as you are not breaking any UK laws then what's the problem? I take it in your ideal world a human being would not be free to practice their religion? I think the best thing that ever happened in schools regarding practice of faith was allowing children to observe the islamic dress.
Do you feel the same about private//comprehensive schooling? Do you feel the same about filtering into sets based on academic ability?

If a child is already socialised into islamic practices they are more likely to hold their chin up when they enter the working world in my opinion, they are more likely to understand WHY they observe the islamic dress and why they hold such beliefs, rather than believing for the sake of following their parents beliefs. Forgive me for stereotyping.

 

[Ummah]

However if you'd ask me would I have swapped it for an Islamic one, i'd have to say no. Of course the atmosphere is one of an aethiest nature and of mixed classes, but it has made me a better muslim I feel. Just analysing the day to day activities that occur made me think, especially in my 2 years at 6th form on how better off I am with Islam. I know some may say "they'll never accept you" and "they'll make you into a kuffar" and words to that extent, but for me personnaly it's compeltely the opposite. Anywho I can't really comment on the outcome of enduring an education in an Islamic school, and how it affects one in our country post education. All i know is that their is segregated classes and it costs $money$ But I am very intrigued to hear from anyone who has experienced it, I really am. Good thread

Asalaamualaikum

I totally understand what you mean and u made a really good point., I also got first ahdn experience of the Aethiest/Nonmuslim culture which propelled my interest in Islam from an early age, because i too would analyse their behaviour and lifestyles and then realise why my religion is the best.

But i have to say, that onyl worked for me because when i came home i had an islamic atmosphere, my parents were always eager for me to learn about islam.

The reason i emphasise the importance of islamic schooling is from my stereotypical view of contemporary society. This type of schooling is ideal for those who simply do not have time because of their busy schedules, to teach their children about islam. Or those who do not have madrassahs local to them, or those who do not deem it safe for their children to be going to madrassah evening classes, or for those who worry about how their chldren will cope with homework and revision from school which is due in the next day.

The only downside that i can see is the pressure on the wallet. But this is where parents really need to prioritise in their lives. This is where we have to question whether we are living for the next life, or living for the materialism of this life. What comes first, Islam or Duniya? If i was a parent (inshAllah) then i know that InshAllah i will be most concerned of my childs islamic knowledge.

 

[minaz]

In all honesty the issue of sending a child to an islamic shcool is basically down to cost. Islamic schools have the best academic results by far and every parents dream is for their child to do well - hence a good school. It's also there dream/aim in life to bring their child up to be a good muslim and an Islamic school is a great catalyst. I know my Catholic school for a fact recieves 85% of its funding from the government so have to make concessions, i.e. me lol or i wouldn't be there So i'd like to know if their is any similarities/differences between Islamic school funding?

 

[Rafay]

OK, Muslim boy gets his school gear on and meets christian boy next door.... They walk to school together. Then at some point they part ways and go a different route to school because 1 boy goes to catholic school the other a muslim.... all the rest go to yet another school.....

Catholic boy & Muslim Boy say to "Mum & dad"

Why is it I am "different" from all the other boys............

And Your answer is...................................................................................................

PS....

when the muslims want their own schools it isnt good any more!!! hmmm thats weird

A coincidence my friend...........

If u terach seperately you create a "Seperate" identity...


I disagree. You come to the UK and are subject to 1 rule of law, you cannot choose what law you wish to follow. I beleive the same for Education though have no issues with seperate RE classes

Well i live in USA i dont know the situation in Uk, but here imo, islamic school is a must. I understand that it can make u a better muslim to see the lifestyles of others, but i myself, have seen my muslim brother and sisters go astray, may Allah guide them, due to this society. Almost at every corner u will see kissing, hugging, cursing, just plain corruptness. If they went to an islamic school the situation might have been different. The teenage years to a kid are extremely important as he looks to his peers and friends, and if he doesnt have a strong islamic base at home, theres a strong chance that he will go astray. Well as a muslim, that kid needs to know hes different in the way he lives, we as muslims live our lives according to the Quran and Sunnah, not according to society, which changes day by day. And ofcourse Islam is tolerant of all religions and there is no compulsion, as Allah Subhanwatala states in the Quran:
002.256 Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

Al-Qur'an, 002.256 (Al-Baqara [The Cow])