There was no timetable nor a room designated for PRAYERS in the
School. The School was 'secular', hence prayers were not supposed to be
allowed.
After being interviewed and accepted by the school administration,
the eager teaching prospect said in protest: "Let me see if I have got
this right?"
You want me to go into that room with all those kids and fill
their every waking moment with a love for learning. And I'm supposed to instill
a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe
them for signs of abuse and even censor their T-shirt messages and dress
habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted
diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise
their self-esteem.
You want me to teach them firm belief in God, patriotism, good
citizenship, sportsmanship, and fair play, how and where to register to vote,
how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.
I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment,
recognize signs of antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of
recommendation for student employment and scholarships, and encourage respect
for their elders and future employers.
And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter,
telephone, newsletter, and report card.
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a
few books, a bulletin board, and a big smile AND on a starting salary that
qualifies my family for food stamps!
You want me to do all of this, and you expect me NOT TO PRAY.
You expect me not to pray when Noble Qur'an says: "Nay, seek
(Allah's) help with patient perseverance and PRAYER: It is indeed hard, except
to those who bring a lowly spirit". (Surah Baqarah 2:45).
"O my Lord! Make me and my children among those who establish
prayers". (Surah Ibrahim 14:40)
"Indeed it is the Prayers, which helps to refrain from
indecent acts and evils". (Surah Ankabut 29:45)
You want me to do all of this and you expect me not to pray when
SUCCESS of every one depends on Prayers. Noble Qur'an says that successful
believers are: "...... those who are punctual in their prayers".
(Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:9)
Dear sir, since I am sure that I will not be able to fulfill your
expectations, nor I will be successful in my career WITHOUT prayers, "I
resign willingly from the post".
The Administrator looked down for a while then suddenly declared:
"Young man, go ahead with your job. You have taught me a very important
lesson today: Without prayers and help from God, no work is a success. We shall
make special arrangements for prayers from today".
Inspiring
Stories for Teachers: Sharpening Skills (Learning in Islam)
Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a
timber merchant, and he got it. His salary was really good and so were the
working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his
best.
His boss gave him an Axe and showed him the area where he was
supposed to fell the trees.
The first day, the woodcutter brought fifteen (15) trees.
"Congratulations," the boss said, "Carry on with
your work!"
Highly motivated by the words of his boss, the woodcutter tried
harder the next day, but he only could bring ten (10) trees. The third day he
tried even harder, but he was only able to bring seven (7) trees. Day after day
he was bringing less and less trees.
"I must be losing my strength." The woodcutter thought.
He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what
was going on.
"When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the
boss asked.
"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very
busy trying to cut trees..."
Moral of the Story: Most of us never update our skills. We think
that whatever we have learned is very much enough. But good is not good when
better is expected. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to
success.
Inspiring
Stories for Teachers: The Snake Catcher (By: Jalaluddin Rumi)
There was once snake catcher who once went to the mountains. Due
to the winter cold and heavy snow, many very big snakes lay motionless, as if
they were dead.
The Snake Catcher picked up one of these seemingly lifeless snakes
and took it to Baghdad, with the purpose of using it for a show. Showing it
off, he made big claims as to how he had brilliantly captured the snake.
However, when the sun began to shine and its warmth cloaked the
snake, the coldness in its body disappeared. The signs of life were soon
apparent and when the snake began to move, the Snake Catcher and all those
around, fled.
Moral of the Story: Our Nafs (self) is like that Snake. With
Tazkyia (purification), Mushaqqat (effort), our Nafs becomes frozen. It appears
to be dead. But give it a little heat from the fire of sin and it will bite
again. A little exposure to some past sins and the Nafs swings back to life.
We should not think that we have killed our Nafs and thus become
unmindful. Yes, with some Mujahadah (striving), Suhbat (company) of the Sheikh,
Tilawat (recitation) of the Noble Qur'an, Dikrullah, following Deen and Shariah
and in building up that contact and love for Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah
(sallAllahu alayhi wasallam), and the Nafs can be frozen. However, a little
taste of sin revives the evil Nafs.
Inspiring
Stories for Teachers: The Clever Boy
A man with his donkey carrying two sacks of wheat was on his way
to the market. After a little while he was tired and they rested under a tree.
When he woke up from his nap he could not see the donkey and started searching
for the donkey everywhere. On the way he met a boy, he asked the boy,
"Have you seen my donkey?" The boy asked, "Is the donkey's left
eye blind, his right foot lame and is he carrying a load of wheat?" The
man was happy and said, "Yes, exactly! Where have you seen it?" the
boy answered "I haven't seen it." This made the man very angry and he
took the boy to the village chief for punishment.
The judge asked, "Dear boy, if you had not seen at the
donkey, how could you describe it?" The boy answered, "I saw the
tracks of a donkey and the right and left tracks were different from this I
understood that the donkey that passed there was limping. And the grass on the
right side of the road was eaten but the grass on the left was not. From that I
understood that his left eye was blind. There were wheat seeds scattered on the
ground and I understood that he must have been carrying a load of wheat. The
judge understood the boy's cleverness and told the man to forgive the boy.
This story teaches us that we should not be quick to judge the
people.
Inspiring
Stories for Teachers: The Travelers and the Plane Tree
Two men were walking along one summer day. Soon it became too hot
to go any further and, seeing a large plane tree nearby, they threw themselves
on the ground to rest in its shade.
Gazing up into the branches one man said to the other: "What
a useless tree this is. It does not have fruit or nuts that we can eat and we
cannot even use its wood for anything."
"Don't be so ungrateful," rustled the tree in reply.
"I am being extremely useful to you at this very moment, shielding you
from the hot sun. And you call me a good-for-nothing!"
All of God's creations have a good purpose. Islam teaches us that
we should never belittle Allah's blessings.
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