Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

10 October 2024

4-minute read

During the Global Association of Islamic Schools (GAIS) conference held in Malaysia, Ml Sulaimaan Ravat spoke to Mr Habib Quadri, the principal of the MCC Academy, an Islamic School in Chicago, who also works with other Muslim schools in their school’s governance.

In 2019, Mr Quadri was the first Muslim principal to win the National Distinguished Principal’s Award in America, and was honoured with an invite to the White House to receive the award. Areas of focus for the award were academic and financial success, professional development, development of teachers, and the school climate and culture. Mr Quadri stated that it was an “opportunity to showcase that Muslim schools can do well” and humbly mentioned that his award was a “team effort”.

His presentation at the conference focused on the aspects of developing character and developing values in students that goes well beyond the classroom. A 40-minute class is not enough to do all of these things, and Mr Quadri said that a holistic approach should be “implicated from the leadership, to the teachers, to the staff, to the hallways, to the classrooms, to the playgrounds, to the lunchrooms…there are all these areas where you can invigorate the deen.” People send their children to Islamic schools for the entirety of the environment and the Tarbiyah and Akhlaq of the child. This is the manifestation of what these schools are trying to get out by unifying and working together.

The biggest challenges facing Muslim schools are finances and developing teachers, and of course, students. While there is more information and resources and knowledge than ever before, the greatest challenge with students comes about with the phone, which gives the child the ability to connect throughout the world, as well as access to both good and bad content.

Initially a principal at a public school, Mr Quadri noted that the fundamental difference between a Muslim school and other faith-based schools is that Muslim schools have the responsibility of giving students the necessary tools to help them navigate through the challenges of life to gain success in this world and ultimately attain Jannah. Focus should not only be on learning knowledge, but there should be Akhlaq and character development courses in place. Deen does not place emphasis solely on ibaadah, rather, “it is a way of life”. If we do not start reiterating that “this deen is a beautiful deen” and has answers for everything, and not run away from the challenges our kids are facing, we will be unable to alter the fundamental psyche of a Muslim kid. “This dunya can’t take you away or distract you from your final goal” Quadri stated, highlighting that there is nothing wrong with wanting the best in this world and striving for the best in the Hereafter, and in this manner, giving kids hope that Allah SWT’s mercy is always there. “Be the best in both worlds,” Quadri concluded.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat on Sabahul Muslim.