Health Education

Most of the societies’ governance lies in the management of wealth, economy, policies, boundaries, and education. Governance through educating the masses is one of the main tools to keep people disciplined and civilized. There are times when educational institutions are used as a brainwashing propaganda machine, but it is usually used to teach people a way to live happily, healthily, and respectfully with each other. Muslims, men and women are obligated to gain knowledge through any or many means possible. Nevertheless, the debate is not about if we should study, but about what education is necessary for a human to survive in this world effectively. Through many centuries, education was outsourced to religious institutions, schools and extended families. Nevertheless the main source of education was always the parents and the family. We as a parent have many responsibilities and obligations with regards to our children — beyond putting decent food on table and putting clothes on their backs. Our main responsibility is to make our child a decent citizen and an astounding Muslim. For this, we need to educate ourselves with authentic sources and then teach them unequivocally. Muslims for a long time were the pioneers of education. Books, libraries and universities were their passion. Scholarly debates and research were their bread and butter. It is a known fact that nations who have risen to power and remain in the histories as giants are those who made continuous efforts to educate their folks as a main part of their lives. We are blessed to live in a place where we can educate our children without breaking our banks. Our masjids, imams, and learned folks help us to build our foundation of Islamic education. Even though most of our education base is covered by schools, still there are a lot of areas which as a society, we must cover ourselves. One of the areas of education that is lacking is sex education. When Muslim parents neglect this crucial education, the gap is filled by an incomplete and defective knowledge base (such as friends). This neglect is coming to haunt us badly — where grown up individuals don’t know the basics of purifications of their body. This education is left to be taught by some individuals who themselves do not know right from wrong. For this reason, any individual can fall through cracks and thus, get harmed both physically and spiritually. Also, these tips are transferred from one generation to other without being critically analyzed, and aren’t necessarily authentic Islamic education. There are many aspects of education missing or broken from our society. Some of them are ignored and neglected while others filled by educating themselves from means which are unlawful and harmful. Cleanliness, purification, and relationships are not a simple matter either, especially when there are other persons or families involved. Islam regulates teaching these matters since the early days of a child. A child must know how to clean himself after using the washroom. Later he must know how to take a bath by himself and know what and how cleaning is done. As life goes on, he needs all the information necessary to take care of his body physically, mentally and spiritually. Like learning to wadhu, ghusl, knowledge of satr (minimum covering requirements) and later, how to be intimate. What are the rulings of halal and haram relationships and why? What are the things and processes they must go through as they age and or get married or have children of their own? The burning question here is, who is going to open this pandora box? School does play its part but, it might not be in accordance to Quran and Sunnah. Islamic Schools also do there job to an extent but still they’re is a lot which is lacking from our societies. Again, who is going to teach these matters? We as a parent have lot more responsibility than we think. Our child belongs to Allah first and they are given to us as a test. When we hold the hand of the baby, whom we just gave birth to, or carry in our arms and safely bring them home, this test begins. The test is, what are we going to do with this sweet little bundle of joy? Are we going to educate him to be our future beneficiary, or to be Allah’s servant? Do we choose to make him or her successful with worldly possession and education, or make him into a righteous, pious citizen? Do we make him or her into someone who can only benefit himself, or the one those who is in beneficial to others at large? Do we raise them into a critical thinkers, or an arrogant or selfish people? These questions are critical, and we must think about it. I have compiled a rough guideline below of what a child should know at an approximate age. Though each child is different, and each child grows at their own pace. I strongly recommend parents, to pay attention to the pace of your child’s physical, mental and spiritual development. Each might need different knowledge at separate times of their lives, and two cannot be compared with each other. Also, keep in mind the curiosity level of the child, as each child is different. Some may take the knowledge and run with it, while, some take it and process it further while others pick our brains until their curiosity is fully satisfied. For this we need to have a positive mind. We need to learn from authentic material to give best advice to our children. We need to be our child’s best friend. Our children should be comfortable with us that they can come and discuss with us, the most difficult and unusual things possible. Besides, we as their parents should be able to discuss issues with a fully intellectual perspective. Remember! These are necessary matters to teach. We should not be shy about it; instead be that parent who can confidently educate our child the tools necessary to live their lives with. A Rough Guideline · By age 5: How to clean after using bathroom, wash hands before and after food, brush daily. · By age 7: Take a bath or shower, know how to clean, with help and start to learn to do wudu, and know what satr is. · By age 9: Know what is the fundamentals of ghusl, cutting of nails. · By age 12: What is ghusl and taharah and why it’s needed, managing of hair by keeping them groomed, clean and the removal unnecessary hairs. · By age 15: Know the difference between halal and haram relationship and difference of male and female friendships and their etiquettes with an understanding of the reasons for the difference. · By age 16: They should know the guidelines of intimate relationships, why it is a needed and important part of life, and what is haram and halal. · By 18: The child should know importance of responsibility, his or her role in this world, and have some tools and skills to lead his or her future life effectively. There are many books available by Muslim authors. You can read them and educate your children. One is named is below: The Miracle of Life by Fatima M. D'Oyen The Islamic Foundation United Kingdom

Understanding the depth of what it means to be human.

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