A reproduction of one of the issues of Tehzeebul Akhlaq.
“People persistently enquire as to how the boarders would be brought up at the proposed Madrasatul Ulum? Our earnest ambition is to make this Madrasatul Ulum a ‘Mohammedan University’, modelled on the lines of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge which we have recently visited. (Sir Syed along with Syed Mahmud visited the U.K. in 1869-70, Ed.)
Just as the students at Oxford and Cambridge have to visit the church and attend the prayers regularly, so also the residents of this institution would be duty bound to visit the mosques and offer their prayers. That is to say, the students will have to offer the congregational prayers five times every day. But the Shia students will have to attend the mosque only three times a day, as they can combine their Zuhr (afternoon prayers) with Asr (evening prayer), and Maghrib (prayer after sun-set) with the Isha (night prayer). All the boys studying at Oxford and Cambridge are provided with a uniform comprising a special coat and hat so as to make them look alike. This uniform has great advantages which is needless to mention here. The students of Madrasatul Ulum would be provided with black half sleeve gowns, instead of the back coat, and red Turkish caps. They would not be allowed to enter the institution, the library, the News Paper Room, or the museum without these gown and caps. Each of routine actions be it studying the books, playing the games, dining or sleeping, bathing or dressing, would be required to be done within the appointed hours. Every student shall have to complete that work at the time fix for it. If a student wished to prolong his studies till late after bedtime and go to sleep after the appointed time, he will not be allowed to do so. But he must go to sleep by bedtime. Suppose, if he does not get to sleep by the fixed time, he must be on the bed with his eyes shut.
Arrangement will be made for games and sports in college. Every student will be at liberty to take whatever games he likes. Riding on horseback, shooting and swimming would be taught to capacity, properly and suitably.
Students would be strictly forbidden against uttering bad or abusive words which often persist in their conversations. If by chance a student called the other a ‘liar’, it would be deemed as serious as using abusive words.
All the students would dine together in one hall. All types of dishes would be cooked and served from time to time and fruits of the seasons would also be given. Every week a special variety chosen by the majority of students would be garnished along with the daily food, provided it did not affect their health and is in keeping with the requirements of the season.
The students would be told to keep spick and span. No one would be permitted to put on laced, dyed or half colored clothes. Use of too thin or too tight a dress, which is likely to make bare the chest or abdomen, would be strictly forbidden.
No student would be allowed to wear long hair flowing down the ears. Plaiting the tresses, dressing of the hair, wearing of the rings and application of dentifrice and indigenous myrtle or sweet herb on teeth and fingers would not be permitted.
The offenders among students would not be inflicted corporal punishment nor would they be given punishment, which might result in gradual loss of their sense, and self respect. Telling a lie, on howsoever-trivial thing it may be, would be considered an execrable offence against society. Similarly nicknaming ‘liar’ would be regarded a heinous social crime, whether or not he might have told a lie.
God willing, the students would cooperate in starting a club called ‘Union Club’ just like that of Cambridge. In this club learned discussions on topics of general and academic interest will be held from time to time. The rules and regulations of speech would be exactly the same as those of the Cambridge Union Club.
The foundation day would always be celebrated as the anniversary of the institution. Festive gatherings, cultural activities and mirthful ceremonies would mark the commemoration of that day.
Up till now all this is wishful thinking or mere day-dreaming either, God forbid, it might end in proverbial awakening in the middle, which usually breaks the spell of a sweet dream, or, if God willed, our dream would materialize.”
Just as the students at Oxford and Cambridge have to visit the church and attend the prayers regularly, so also the residents of this institution would be duty bound to visit the mosques and offer their prayers. That is to say, the students will have to offer the congregational prayers five times every day. But the Shia students will have to attend the mosque only three times a day, as they can combine their Zuhr (afternoon prayers) with Asr (evening prayer), and Maghrib (prayer after sun-set) with the Isha (night prayer). All the boys studying at Oxford and Cambridge are provided with a uniform comprising a special coat and hat so as to make them look alike. This uniform has great advantages which is needless to mention here. The students of Madrasatul Ulum would be provided with black half sleeve gowns, instead of the back coat, and red Turkish caps. They would not be allowed to enter the institution, the library, the News Paper Room, or the museum without these gown and caps. Each of routine actions be it studying the books, playing the games, dining or sleeping, bathing or dressing, would be required to be done within the appointed hours. Every student shall have to complete that work at the time fix for it. If a student wished to prolong his studies till late after bedtime and go to sleep after the appointed time, he will not be allowed to do so. But he must go to sleep by bedtime. Suppose, if he does not get to sleep by the fixed time, he must be on the bed with his eyes shut.
Arrangement will be made for games and sports in college. Every student will be at liberty to take whatever games he likes. Riding on horseback, shooting and swimming would be taught to capacity, properly and suitably.
Students would be strictly forbidden against uttering bad or abusive words which often persist in their conversations. If by chance a student called the other a ‘liar’, it would be deemed as serious as using abusive words.
All the students would dine together in one hall. All types of dishes would be cooked and served from time to time and fruits of the seasons would also be given. Every week a special variety chosen by the majority of students would be garnished along with the daily food, provided it did not affect their health and is in keeping with the requirements of the season.
The students would be told to keep spick and span. No one would be permitted to put on laced, dyed or half colored clothes. Use of too thin or too tight a dress, which is likely to make bare the chest or abdomen, would be strictly forbidden.
No student would be allowed to wear long hair flowing down the ears. Plaiting the tresses, dressing of the hair, wearing of the rings and application of dentifrice and indigenous myrtle or sweet herb on teeth and fingers would not be permitted.
The offenders among students would not be inflicted corporal punishment nor would they be given punishment, which might result in gradual loss of their sense, and self respect. Telling a lie, on howsoever-trivial thing it may be, would be considered an execrable offence against society. Similarly nicknaming ‘liar’ would be regarded a heinous social crime, whether or not he might have told a lie.
God willing, the students would cooperate in starting a club called ‘Union Club’ just like that of Cambridge. In this club learned discussions on topics of general and academic interest will be held from time to time. The rules and regulations of speech would be exactly the same as those of the Cambridge Union Club.
The foundation day would always be celebrated as the anniversary of the institution. Festive gatherings, cultural activities and mirthful ceremonies would mark the commemoration of that day.
Up till now all this is wishful thinking or mere day-dreaming either, God forbid, it might end in proverbial awakening in the middle, which usually breaks the spell of a sweet dream, or, if God willed, our dream would materialize.”
1 comment:
Best article........last 3 lines my fav......
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