We would like to draw our readers’ attention to a post on the Islamic Foundation of Ireland’s notice board; it refers to the setting up of a Muslim Primary Education Board and invites qualified individuals in the area of education to join the board and help with their knowledge and expertise.
THE MUSLIM PRIMARY EDUCATION BOARD
The patronage of the recognized MNS in Ireland is in the process of setting up the above mentioned as an act on its behalf as a management body for the existing the MNS and to represent these schools in any discussion/correspondence with the Dept. of Education of Science.
We are looking for qualified experienced people in the area of education to join the board and help with their knowledge and expertise.
Please note that this body will only be concerned with the MNS established under the Dept of Education and Science. Please also note that work and contribution of the board members will be on a voluntary basis.
If willing and interested to help, please contact or write to Imam Yahya Al-Hussein at the offices of the IFI.Date (of notice): 20/12/2009
We welcome the move as it implicitly recognizes the abject failures that have brought the Muslim community into disrepute and which have robbed our children of an acceptable standard of education.
In the interests of transparency and accountability however, wouldn’t it be more prudent to have a public meeting where the community could choose potential board members? Given the myriad of accusations of cronyism and nepotism being leveled at the IFI wouldn’t a public meeting offset any such claims?
Additionally, is Mr Al Hussain himself qualified to choose the best people for the job, what criteria would he use and would this be made public? Given that Mr Al Hussain oversaw the systematic failure of the North Dublin Muslim School, we must ask if this individual is the right person to oversee such an important and necessary body.
The Prophet Muhammad said: “lâ yuldighu-l mu’minû min juhrin marratayn,” meaning, “The believer is not stung from (the same) hole twice”.
Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalânî, who is the leading authority on the interpretation of Bukhârî’s Sahîh, says the following: “This is presented in the form of a statement. Al-Khatâbî has said: This is a statement in its wording, but a command in its meaning. It means that the believer is resolutely aware, he/she is not taken to apathy (in learning his/her lesson), nor is he/she deceived time and time again. Thus, this is an order in religious matters as well as worldly matters..”
Then he gives this Hadîth two possible interpretations, one stronger than the other. Regarding the strong interpretation he renders the opinion of Abu `Ubayd: “This is a warning against apathy, and an indication that intelligence must be implemented. Abû `Ubayd has said: It is not possible for the (true) believer to be afflicted from something only for him/her to return to it.”
The great scholar and theologian of the 13th century, Yahya bin Sharaf an-Nawawî relates the context of the Hadîth saying: “..and the context of this narration is well known that the Prophet had captured the poet Abu Ghurrah at the Day of (the Battle of) Badr. So the Prophet gave him amnesty and freed him based on the condition that he would not continue on his hostility and derision. He then caught up with his people and returned to belligerence towards the Muslims and derision against them. Then he was captured on the Day of (the Battle of) Uhud and was asked about the amnesty that was given to him. Upon this the Prophet [2] said, ‘The believer is not stung from the same hole twice.’ From this it is understood that if one were to suffer injury from a particular element, then they should abstain from it lest they should suffer such again.” --
