December 16, 2010
I Too Have A Dream!
Section: WRITINGS | 242 reads
(18)
A Few More Dreams: A Magnificent Islamic Library
I have a dream that soon, very soon, Trinidad and Tobago will have a magnificent central Islamic library.
That such a library will be most comprehensive and eclectic in its collection of books and documents.
That it will be located in its own building in a central place in Trinidad.
That it will not only have all sorts of Islamic books in all sorts of languages but also all sorts of computers and Internet access to databases around the world.
I also dream of the day when Trinidad and Tobago will have vibrant and truly meaningful Islamic radio and television programs.
I dream that these will be programs whose ideas, words and images will spring from the heart of Islam and address the people and problems of Trinidad and Tobago in a language that suits the people, the place and the times.
And they will address, at the same time, the real issues that will also address the real issues that face the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidadian society at the broadest level – and the whole world.
For, this was the method of the prophets of God, may Allah bless them, as the Qur’an tells us.
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Even More Dreams: Islamic Education of Muslim Chidren
I have a dream that every school-age Muslim child in Trinidad and Tobago – and everywhere else – will have available to it the very best Islamic education in the schools they attend – whether those children attend Muslim or non-Muslim schools.
Trinidad has tens of thousands of Muslims.
It has over a 100 mosques.
It has a large number of schools and Muslim children are a part – often a significant part – of most of these schools.
It even has a number of schools that are run and operated by Muslims themselves.
The number of Muslim teachers in the nation is highly impressive and it is perhaps one of the best in the world for a minority community compared to the larger population.
Trinidad even has one or more highly active Muslim printing businesses.
The community has all kinds of resources at its disposal – intellectual, financial, human, material.
And Trinidad is blessed with talented people and sincere, dedicated and hardworking leaders who want to help, serve and lead the community in the right path.
Given all this, the following should be everyone’s shared hope, dream, aspiration, goal and effort:
That the best and highest quality and highest level of Islamic education would be the birthright of every Muslim child, male as well as female, throughout the length and breadth of the beautiful land of Trinidad – and Tobago.
Our beloved Prophet, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, said:
Talabul Ilmi Faridhatun Ala Kulli Muslim.
Meaning:
“Education is a fundamental requirement for every Muslim.”
So, I have this dream, and I am sure everyone of you shares this dream with me, that the day is not far off when everyone of our children will have available to them, in every single school they attend, the very best and highest level of Islamic education possible.
This way, our little island society of Trinidad and Tobago will become part of the fulfillment of the command of our beloved Prophet, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, to all of us to do everything in our power to seek knowledge.
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Another Dream: A First-rate Residential School
And then I have this dream – one that I have had longer than perhaps any other dream.
I have a dream that Trinidad and Tobago will develop a residential high school for Muslims.
I dream that such a school will be the very best in terms of education, sports and leadership training, along the lines of Eaton and Harrow, where the highest quality education will be provided to the finest flowering of Muslim youth from around the world.
That such a school will have the finest curriculum, the finest buildings, the finest facilities, the finest food, the finest resources, the finest teachers and the finest administrators and workers.
I dream that bright, brilliant and talented Muslim youth from around the world will flock to such a school.
And that soon other parts of the world will begin to have similar schools.
And that soon there will be so many of these schools that every Muslim child will be able to receive the finest all-round education that it is possible for a human child to have on this planet.
That is a dream I have.
And it is a dream that I invite you to share with me.
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A Better Society Overall
I have a dream that Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago will put Allah and his Rasul, the Qur’an and the Hadith, above everything else in their lives.
That they would subordinate their own personal interests, agendas and preferences to the teachings of Qur’an and Hadith.
That they would move forward in lockstep with their non-Muslim neighbors to make Trinidad and Tobago a model society for the rest of the world – including the Muslim world.
A place where genuine freedom reigns; where human equality is the norm; where opportunity for every one abounds; and where true human dignity is the birthright of all.
And from where the pure, gentle and peaceful light of Islam will shine for all and flood every home and fill every heart.
Thus, like Dr. King, I too have a dream – a whole set of dreams. And have had them for a long time.
I am grateful to Allah he gave me the opportunity to share some of them with you.
I hope and pray my dreams will also become your dreams.
And then I hope and pray that all of us – you and I and everyone else – will do whatever lies in our power to turn those dreams into realities.
Wal Hamdu Lillah!
And I am grateful to you for reading them.
I hope and pray my dreams will also become yours, and together we will all work to make Allah’s plantation a better place – for all of Allah’s creation.
END
© 2002 Syed Husain Pasha
Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at]
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com.
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