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At a prominent Muslim school in South Africa recently a young female student was victimised by an apa (female teacher) after an incident concerning the female method of performing salaah. It has been reported by the students father that his daughter was explaining to her fellow students how a female should correctly perform ruku and sajdah. Her apa, who is a sports teacher, walked in and overheard the conversation.

The teacher reprimanded the girl saying that this is incorrect, the teacher said; this method of reading salaah is from India and it is the way of Deoband and this is incorrect. Any kind of defence by the student was harshly brushed off by the teacher saying she does not care of the students opinion. This reflects on the nature of the teachers opinion regarding the Deobandi school of thought. It is believed the teacher is also a student of Islamic sciences at a nearby Salafi-inspired institute.

The matter was taken up to the school principal who reprimanded the teacher for discussing fiqh. Thereafter the victimisation of the young student began which left her in tears, her father reported. She was humiliated in front of her entire class.

It should be borne in mind had the student not known about the correct manner of performing salaah she would have grown up believing that the great majority of women perform salaah incorrectly and that the basic fiqh books of the Hanafi madhab are in err on this subject. Her knowledge and standing up for the truth is exemplary and this can be attributed to the upbringing by her parents.

Parents are urged at all times to be on the guard concerning the education of their children especially at a time when there is a rise of various “isms” claiming to be rightly guided. Muslim schools are by no means a guarantee that students are being taught authentic Islamic teachings as is evident from this incident. The Islamiyaat teachers at these Muslims schools should only be those qualified enough in the sciences while secular and/or sports teachers should strictly stick to their field of expertise and not be allowed to discuss or teach any of the Islamiyaat subjects.

This also brings into question the role of Muslim schools as well as maktabs in teaching the youth about their history and background. It is a well known fact that the vast majority of these institutes are of a Deobandi background, including the above school in question where the principal has acknowledged it, but has he and others in his fraternity fulfilled the rights that the illustrious predecessors whom they claim to follow have over them? It is a matter of importance that these institutes implement with immediate effect a system where daily time is allocated to highlight to students and teachers alike the role and importance of Deoband.

The above school in question is also urged to rectify the situation by correct disciplining of the teacher. It is imperative that Muslim schools appoint staff that imbibe correct Islamic values to students. This is a time in the life of a student which is the most important in terms of been brought up with the correct ta’leem and tarbiyyah. A polluted mind with negative thoughts against the greatest religious institution of the past two centuries along with confusion relating to various religious rulings is not a product to be proud off for a Muslim school. http://www.friendsofdeoband.com/?p=860