Class positions in Madrasah
Question:-
My children are in the Maktab and are all young. What perturbs me is that when the yearly reports are completed, a position is given, up to and including the last position. If the class role is 20, one student will get the dubious honour of getting the last position. This causes much disappointment and embarrassment for the young children. The difference in marks is often a decimal percentage. The class averages are provided so the parents can see the performance of the child compared to the class and take corrective action. I understand you can go until position 10 or lower,but to go to the last position is really demotivating. I spoke to the Ustaad and principal and they say it is for motivation. The school also doesn’t do this. My feelings are that Deen is not for competition, as the one who came out last may be the first in the sight of Allah. What we are encouraging is the pride of the top achievers and giving them ammunition to tease and taunt their peers. What does the Shariah say, if anything, what is done at Darul Ulooms, and what do our elders recommend in this regard?
Answer:-
It is obligatory upon every individual to acquire the necessary knowledge of Deen and thereafter practice upon it. The Hadith states, “Seeking knowledge is Fardh upon every Muslim.” One meaning of knowledge is ‘Halaal’, meaning that the most virtuous of knowledge is that of ‘Halaal’, and the best Amal is ‘Hifz-ul-Haal’ – which means to learn those things which one is currently in need of to discharge his obligations of Deen. For example, one is required to know how to make Wudhu so that he is able to perform Salaah; if he intends doing business, then it is obligatory upon him to attain the necessary knowledge by which he is able to refrain from Riba and corrupt transactions; if he owns wealth, then he should know the various type of wealth on which Zakaat is payable so that he is able to discharge Zakaat correctly; if Hajj is obligatory, then he should learn the relevant Masaa’il of Hajj so that he is able to fulfil the obligation of Hajj correctly. Now, if one had acquired the relevant and necessary knowledge so that he is able to live in accordance to Shariah, then he has fulfilled his duty. Attaining a particular position is in no way related to this matter.
However, the positions in Madrasah have been introduced to encourage students to dedicate themselves and excel in their studies. When we desire to be the best in matters of Dunya, then why not the same enthusiasm in matters of Deen! However, the position is not the objective. The objective of acquiring knowledge is to act upon the knowledge and thereby please Allah Ta’ala and reach Him hence, the Hadith states that a person will not be able to move forward on the day of Qiyaamah until he answers five questions, inter alia, what did he do with his knowledge?
Now, if students with higher positions are belittling and humiliating fellow students, then the teachers should guide and rectify them in these matters, as such an attitude comprises of numerous wrongs such as pride, vanity, mockery etc. which are all Haraam. If the problems persist, then the Madrasah report should simply state whether the student had attained satisfactory results, or below the pass mark, or highly achieved in every subject etc. without recording the class position. This matter should be left to the administration department to decide upon. Prizes may be allocated for best achievement, full attendance, best character etc. In this way, no student will have the opportunity of mocking or looking down upon fellow students hence, they will be protected from various wrongs but still work hard to attain the highest aggregate. This is our humble suggestion in the matter but the decision lies with the administration of the Madrasah.
طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ – وَالْمُرَادُ عِلْمُ الْحَلَالِ عَلَى مَا قِيلَ: أَفْضَلُ الْعِلْمِ عِلْمُ الْحَلَالِ وَأَفْضَلُ الْعَمَلِ حِفْظُ الْحَالِ وَبَيَانُ هَذَا أَنَّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ الْمَرْءُ فِي الْحَالِ لِأَدَاءِ مَا لَزِمَهُ يُفْتَرَضُ عَلَيْهِ عَيْنًا عِلْمُهُ كَالطَّهَارَةِ لِأَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ فَإِنْ أَرَادَ التِّجَارَةَ يُفْتَرَضُ عَلَيْهِ تَعَلُّمُ مَا يَتَحَرَّزُ بِهِ عَنْ الرِّبَا وَالْعُقُودِ الْفَاسِدَةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ يُفْتَرَضُ عَلَيْهِ تَعَلُّمُ زَكَاةِ جِنْسِ مَالِهِ لِيَتَمَكَّنَ بِهِ مِنْ الْأَدَاءِ، وَإِنْ لَزِمَهُ الْحَجُّ يُفْتَرَضُ عَلَيْهِ تَعَلُّمُ مَا يُؤَدِّي بِهِ الْحَجَّ هَذَا مَعْنَى عِلْمِ الْحَالِ (المبسوط للسرخسي ص260 ج30)
وَعَنْ شَبَابِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلَاهُ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ اكْتَسَبَهُ؟ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ مَاذَا صَنَعَ بِهِ» . وَأُجِيبُ بِأَنَّ الْمُرَادَ إلَّا طَلَبَ الزِّيَادَةِ مِنْ الْعِلْمِ وَبِهِ يَصِحُّ التَّعْلِيلُ.
وَاعْتَرَضَ بِأَنَّهُ يُسْأَلُ عَنْ طَلَبِهِ هَلْ قَصَدَ بِهِ الرِّيَاءَ أَوْ الْجَاهَ. وَيَدُلُّ عَلَيْهِ مَا فِي الْحَدِيثِ السَّابِقِ «وَلَكِنْ تَعَلَّمْت الْعِلْمَ لِيُقَالَ عَالِمٌ. وَقَدْ قِيلَ» إلَخْ.
أَقُولُ: الْأَوْجَهُ أَنْ يُقَالَ الْمُرَادُ بِهِ الْعِلْمُ النَّافِعُ الْمُوصِلُ إلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. وَهُوَ الْمَقْرُونُ بِحُسْنِ النِّيَّةِ مَعَ الْعَمَلِ بِهِ وَالتَّخَلُّصِ مِنْ آفَاتِ النَّفْسِ، فَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَنْهُ لِأَنَّهُ خَيْرٌ مَحْضٌ. بِخِلَافِ غَيْرِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْأَلُ صَاحِبُهُ عَنْهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُ بِهِ كَمَا دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ تَمَامُ الْحَدِيثِ السَّابِقِ: وَلِذَا وَرَدَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ «إنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَبْعَثُ الْعِبَادَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ الْعُلَمَاءَ. ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: يَا مَعْشَرَ الْعُلَمَاءِ إنِّي لَمْ أَضَعْ عِلْمِي فِيكُمْ إلَّا لِعِلْمِي بِكُمْ، وَلَمْ أَضَعْ عِلْمِي فِيكُمْ لِأُعَذِّبَكُمْ. اذْهَبُوا فَقَدْ غَفَرْت لَكُمْ» هَذَا مَا ظَهَرَ لِي. وَاَللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ (رد المحتار ص48 ج1)
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 20 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1444 / 15 November 2022