WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.769 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:08.769 --> 00:00:13.630 Education through guidance and instruction. 00:00:13.630 --> 00:00:17.629 First: The necessity of guidance and instruction. 00:00:17.629 --> 00:00:21.660 Setting a good example alone is insufficient in the process of education. 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:24.660 Nor does it fulfill all that is required therein. 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:27.660 For the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:30.660 who is the greatest example for humanity, 00:00:30.660 --> 00:00:33.659 did not rely solely on his own conduct to educate his Companions. 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:37.659 Rather, he was constantly providing them with guidance and instruction, 00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:41.659 until a vast wealth of hadiths was formed, 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:45.659 which became one of the two primary sources of legislation. 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:50.659 Furthermore, the Noble Qur'an is entirely guidance and instruction. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:55.979 Therefore, education must combine both setting an example and providing instruction. 00:00:55.979 --> 00:00:59.979 Second: The source of guidance and instruction. 00:01:00.109 --> 00:01:05.109 It is clear from the previous point that the source of guidance and instruction 00:01:05.109 --> 00:01:08.109 must be the Book and the Sunnah. 00:01:08.109 --> 00:01:12.109 Consequently, we must not derive the guidance we provide to our children 00:01:12.109 --> 00:01:17.109 regarding values, perceptions, ethics, or behavioral patterns 00:01:17.109 --> 00:01:21.109 from the jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic or secular ignorance) surrounding us across the earth. 00:01:21.109 --> 00:01:24.299 This does not mean we should close our minds 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:27.299 to the beneficial experiences of humanity. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:30.299 For wisdom is the lost property of the believer; 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:33.299 wherever he finds it, he is most entitled to it. 00:01:33.299 --> 00:01:38.299 However, the intent is to warn against being seduced by the jahiliyyah 00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:41.299 away from what has been revealed to us, or any part of it. 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:43.299 Allah the Exalted says: 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:47.299 "And judge between them by what Allah has revealed," 00:01:47.299 --> 00:01:50.299 "and do not follow their inclinations." 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:55.299 “So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! many of mankind are evil-livers.” (5:49) 00:01:55.299 --> 00:01:57.340 The implication of this is 00:01:57.340 --> 00:02:00.340 that we should not derive our foundational principles except from the Book of Allah 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:04.340 and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:06.340 As for the applications, 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:09.340 meaning the methods of implementation and performance, 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:13.340 there is no harm in adopting any useful method or technique, 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:17.340 provided it does not conflict with the principles derived 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:19.340 from the Book and the Sunnah. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:21.340 We maintain the firm conviction 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:26.340 that the jahiliyyah possesses only two things regarding foundational principles: 00:02:26.340 --> 00:02:30.340 Either values and principles similar to those in Islam, 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:35.340 in which case we should take them from their original, divine source; 00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:38.340 or values that contradict Islam, 00:02:38.340 --> 00:02:42.340 in which case no good can ever come from them, 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:47.340 even if they appear shiny and brilliant at first glance. 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:52.069 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.