This article was first published on Neimiya – Wake up byTua Fouzia Alhassan
Over the last six months, I have been reflecting on my life as a Muslim. I reflect not because I question the religion and definitely not because I do not believe in God. I believe in the Almighty and I know somehow, prayers are answered through somebody bigger than every single one of us on earth.
As a young girl growing up in an Islamic community, studying the Holy Quran was a must and I’m very glad my parents took the decision to educate me on this path. To be in the Arabic school meant, one had to study Islam, the life of the Prophet and emulate his exemplary life which is the dream of most Muslim parents. At least the ones I know have always stated their position on how you should behave like a child.
The reality of learning to practice a religion comes with the ability to understand the context and content of what you are learning. For one to live and practice like a Muslim, it is imperative to understand the “why”, “how” and “what”. It is quite unfortunate that the same cannot be said about the current educational system in Arabic schools, particularly in the Northern Region.
My 10 years in Arabic school have thought me the Holy Quran and to understand the concept and practices but failed to teach me how I can leverage on this to develop myself and fit into the international world as a Muslima. It’s an undeniable fact that western education presents more opportunities for Ghanaian youth than what we are thought in Arabic schools. This may be due to the fact that religious schools have a different focus compared to formal education. But must we conform to the status quo?
After several years in Arabic school, it’s a challenge to communicate in the Arabic language. A regrettable challenge for myself and many others as a result of the orientation given during early childhood in the Arabic school. The reading of the Quran and the writing of Arabic alphabets and words have not capacitated me to understand and appreciate the language enough.
Fouzia Tua Alhassan
One may say I probably didn’t further my education in the Arabic language which is a fair argument but from the structure and policies of some of the Arabic institutions in the country, do we consider this perspective? For majority of parents in Tamale, where I grew up, a child’s ability to recite the Quran is enough to label them religious and a practicing Muslim. Is that what it really means? How can we best practice a religion with words we do not understand? I will take myself as an example, I write and read Arabic fairly but I do not understand a word of what I’m able to write and read. Strange? Exactly what I’ve been telling myself in the last months. How can one present themselves as someone who writes and read English language but do not speak? The reverse is accepted in most cases.
Tua Fouzia Alhassan
I will like readers to reflect on this. As a Muslim, I have committed myself to learn Arabic language because I have seen the relevance of being bi-lingual. Is this the same rationale behind teaching children Arabic or it is because we want them to worship the Almighty? If the latter is the focus, then it explains the reason a lot of Muslim youth are unable to explore their full potential.
Can you imagine how relevant and productive the Muslim child would be if they could speak English and Arabic fluently? The Ghanaian community would have had an entirely different perception about Muslims and not to classify them as “Zongo” in a derogatory manner. The Muslim community of Ghana must begin to prioritize the growth of the Muslim child and that includes grooming and mentoring them to fit in the global community.
It is very important for the Arabic institutions in Ghana to realize that there is a loophole with the approach to teaching Arabic in Ghana. Understanding the word of God even in the local dialect is the surest way of relating to the word of God than studying it in a language one does not understand. Arabic tutors must attach equal dedication to teaching a child how to speak, read and understand the Arabic language.
Consequently, children who read the Quran without understanding what it means are really depicting a picture and preaching a word that even they, don’t understand. That brings me to the most important question I have always asked myself. Must Muslims perform salat in the Arabic language?
Must we recite the verses in Arabic? I mean, reciting something you don’t understand? If indeed, the acquisition of knowledge is relevant, it’s only fair for it to be done in the language the people will understand. It is not enough to recite the whole Quran and not understand a single word of it and it’s surely not enough to lack the requisite skill and knowledge to communicate with the Almighty.
One of the key principles of communication is for the two parties to understand each other. When we recite in Arabic without understanding its meaning, are we communicating with God or we’re just talking?
It is time to restructure the Arabic educational system to include relevant policies that assess the performance of Muslims who speak and understand Arabic against Muslims who just read and write Arabic. How much difference are they making and how well do they understand the language and how does it reflect in their general wellbeing.
Once we channel some amount of energy in reforming the institutions, we will empower the youth to fit globally and it will, in the long run, build a robust and vibrant community that will project the religion better than the older generation.
If you’re a young person and reading this, don’t just read and memorize the Holy Quran, study it and understand it. Beyond praying in the Arabic language, being bilingual pays.
#Happy New Year
#ProgressNotPerfection