Madrasas provide free religious education, boarding and lodging and are essentially schools for the poor: About a third of all children in Pakistan in education attend madrasas. These seminaries run on public philanthropy and produce indoctrinated clergymen of various Muslim sects. Some sections of the more orthodox Muslim sects have been radicalised by state sponsored exposure to jihad, first in Afghanistan, then in Kashmir. However, the madrasa problem goes beyond militancy. Over a million and a half students at more than 10,000 seminaries are being trained, in theory, for service in the religious sector. But their constrained worldview, lack of modern civic education and poverty make them a destabilising factor in Pakistani society. For all these reasons, they are also susceptible to romantic notions of sectarian and international jihads, which promise instant salvation.

http://www.crisisweb.org/home/index.cfm?id=1627&l=1

Terrorist Activities: It is true that some “Kawmi" Madrasas (those that don’t teach anything not relating to Islam) have direct link with terrorist activities. Even they take training with arms. But that is not so common and a few of the Kawmi students go through these kind of activities. (abridged)

Bad System:  …madrasa students are definitely a bit self-centred. They know only what they taught and they are expert to memorize. I can tell my experience here ?When I was at school in class six we had an Arabic subject (along with Islamic studies). A Moulana used to teach me the holly Quran and the subject regularly at home. He was so rude to get the lesson done. (abridged)

The Deadly Cycle: 'Almost all the Madrasa students are poor and most (perhaps many) of them are orphans. They don’t have any good privilege for good education. On the other hand the institution cannot provide good facilities too as I stated earlier (the author referred to 'bad' and inept teachers). So the students don’t get any better knowledge and come out of the Madrasas inefficient only as Mullah. They again get job in madrasas and mosques as teacher(s) and Imam(s). And again they teach the adherents on the same way. And the cycle rotates again and again in the same way'.

Cutting Ears: '...it became clear that the teacher didn’t cut the ears apart. Two of the students needed stitches and other needed only first aid. In fact the merciless Maulana had done a so cruel deed, doesn’t matter he cut off the ear or just cut'. (abridged)

Source: http://iurifat.blogspot.com/2004_10_01_iurifat_archive.html

Parental Duties: 

It is the duty of the parents to teach their children how to pray from a young age so that they grow up accustomed to it. The Prophet [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, ‘Teach your children how to pray when they reach the age of seven, and spank them for neglecting it when they reach the age of ten and separate them into different beds.?/span>

Perform Wudhu and prayer in front of them and take them with you to the mosque, show them how to enjoy the prayer, reading the Qur’aan, and reading the prayer manual so that all of the family knows the rules of prayer well. This is the responsibility of the parents and teachers for which they will be held accountable by Allah.

Encourage children to fast from a young age to get them used to it, when they grow up. Instruct children to wear the clothes that belong to their sex and avoid wearing the clothes of the infidels and copying their manners and habits. Encourage the girls to wear the Hijaab from a young age so they get used to it. Warn girls against consorting with boys, for this would make girls bold enough when they grow up to mix and talk freely to men and lose their feminine shyness.

http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/marital/wadvice.htm

For Islamic parenting to be most effective there must be a truly Islamic society, so part of your responsibility as Muslim parents is to help recreate a right Islamic world.

Every child should be taught from their earliest years about their responsibility as a vicegerent (khalifah) of Allah; that it is their duty as vicegerent to transform themselves into Muslims living in true submission to the Will of Allah, that it is their duty to transform all of human society into an Islamic society living in true submission to the Will of Allah and that it their duty to transform the physical world of space and time into a garden paradise for Allah.

Raise your child to be a courageous Muslim, willing to struggle against evil in the greater and lesser jihad, as this will be necessary to create a right Islamic world for the future.

Raise your child to fully believe they will successfully create and live in a truly Islamic world, because belief is critical to successfully achieving any goal.

If there is a conflict of interests, the requirements of Islam have priority over the desires of the child (for example, if the child would rather play than pray).

Teach your child to love Allah, The Prophet, Islam, and Islamic values. Teach your child to see all things and understand all things from the perspective of Islam.

In Islam if it becomes necessary to correct your child for some wrongdoing this must be done according to a certain hierarchy: first, explain to your child in a gentle way how they have overstepped some limit from rightness into wrong; second, if the gentle instruction does not result in the child correcting that wrong behaviour, you should indicate your disapproval of that wrong behaviour by withdrawing your favour (for example, do not give smiles, hugs or kind words to your child at such times); and third, only as a last resort, your child can be physically punished (beaten) if they do not correct the wrong behaviour.

http://groups.msn.com/IslamSistersMadrasaHomeschool/

A Nice Curriculum?

Kindergarten

Quranic Studies - Finish 2 textbooks: "Sail through with Arabic Letters" and "Arabic Letters Activity Book". (Children must know all letters and their various forms by end of year) Memorization: Tasmia, Tuadh, Shahada, Fatihah (1), Ikhlas (112)

Islamic Studies -(1) Lecture for 20-30 minutes from "Iqra KG Curriculum for Fiqh & Ibadaat" (2) Coloring & discussion (~ 20 minutes) Books: Color & Learn Islamic Terms (Fall), Let's Learn from the Holy Quran (Winter), Life and Sayings of Rasullulah (Spring) (3) Lives of Prophets Vol I and II and Other Stories (~30 minutes)

Grade 1

Quranic Studies - Revise Letters, Start Joining teaching Fathah, Kasrah and Dammah) Books:  Shape & Form of Arabic Letters, Quran Made Easy (Lessons 1-60) Memorization: Fatihah (1), An-Nas (114), Al-Falaq (113), Al-Asr (103)

Islamic Studies - (1) Lecture for ~30 minutes from "Iqra Elementary Curriculum for Aqidah & Fiqh" (2) Coloring & discussion (~ 20 minutes) Books: Our Religion is Islam (Fall), My Little book of Halaal & Haraam (Winter), Islamic Manners (Spring) (3) Stories from the Lives of Prophets Vols III-V (~30 minutes)

Grade-2

Quranic Studies - Revise Fathah, Kasrah and Dammah; Continue with Tanween and Sukun. Finish the textbook "Let's Read and Write Arabic Book-1" and cover "Quran Made Easy" (Lessons 44-93). Memorization: Fatihah(1), Lahab (111), Kawthar (108), Al-Feel (105), Duas from "Our Book of Dua" for: Waking Up, Restroom Etiquette, Sneezing

Islamic Studies - Seera: Finish "Our Prophet - Life in Makkah" and "Life in Madinah". Faith & Worship: Follow " Islam for Younger People".

Grade-3

Quranic Studies - Revise Tanween and Sukuun; Continue with Madd, Shaddah and Stops. Finish the textbook "Let's Read and Write Arabic Book-2" and cover "Quran Made Easy" (Lessons 81-134). Memorization: Fatihah(1),  Tashahud (Salaat), Nasar (110), Al-Takathur (102), Al-Qariah (101). Duas from "Our Book of Dua" for Going Outdoors, Travelling Quranic Teachings: Finish Teachings of Quran Vol-1

Islamic Studies - Seera: Finish "Mercy to Mankind, Vol I & II  Makkah and Madinah Period" Faith & Worship: "Our Faith & Worship - Vol 1" Lesson 1 to Lesson 14

Grade-4

Quranic Studies - Follow text: "Juz Amma: 30 - Vol I" Memorization: Tashahud & Darood (Salaat), Quraish(106), Al-Adiyat (100), Humaza (104), Al-Zuhah (93) Duas from "Our Book of Dua" for Anger, Eating, Sadness, Going to Bed Quranic Teachings: Finish "Teachings of Quran Vol-2"

Islamic Studies - Seera: Finish "Messenger of Allah, Makkah Period" Faith & Worship: "Our Faith & Worship - Vol 1" Lesson 11 to Lesson 26

Grade-5

Quranic Studies- Follow book " Juz Amma: 30 - Vol-1" Memorization: Ma-oon (107), Kaferoon (109), Alam-Nashra (94), Al-Qadr (97), Al-Zalzala (99) Duas: Qanoot & other prayers related to Salaat Quranic Teachings: Finish "Teachings of Quran Vol 3"  

Islamic Studies - Seera: Finish "Messenger of Allah, Madinah Period" Faith & Worship: Complete Learning of Salaat Faith & Worship: Finish "Our Faith & Worship - Vol 2"

Grade-6

Quranic Studies - Finish "Seven Surahs" Finish "Islamic Tahdib & Akhlaq Islamic Studies Finish "The History of Al-Khilafah Ar-Rashidah" Finish "Islamic Aqidah and Fiqh"

Grade- 7 & 8 (Junior High)

First Period - Cover "The Essence of Islam" and topics from "The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam"

Second Period - Cover Ommayad Period, Abbasid Period and Crusades from "History of Islam, Vol I". Cover key Muslim areas from "Geography of the Muslim World".

Youth Group (High School)

First Period - Cover "Morals and Manners in Islam (A Guide to Islamic Adab)" Discuss the following topics: Modesty, Dress, Fashion & Fads, Dating and Marriage, Homosexuality, Music/Dancing, TV/Movies/Concerts, Smoking/Drugs/Alcohol.

Second Period - Cover Ottoman Period and Islam in Spain from "History of Islam, Vol II" Discuss the following topics: Crusades, As-Quds (Palestine), Iraq, Holocast, Stereotyping (Terrorists, Fundamentalists), Women's Rights, Muslims' contributions to humanity, critical analysis of news/current events, Activism.

http://groups.msn.com/IslamSistersMadrasaHomeschool/

It all speaks for itself!