madrasah identity?

I can safely say that majority of those who read my blog is in a madrasah or is a former madrasah student. Hence, I feel the importance to bring up this matter.

Recently, I engaged in a very challenging conversation with a friend from a secular school. He happens to be an avid volunteer of many muslim youth organisations. The conversation started when i told him about a seminar i attended, titled: " The Madrasah Identity...What is it?". I mentioned what one of the female lecturer said. She said that madrasah students are the 'Khulafaaul Ardh'. They are the representatives of Allah. In fact, all muslims are representatives of Allah, however, madrasah students have a bigger responsibilty because they are among the chosen people to study Islam in great detail since young. It is inevitable when people think 'madrasah', they think 'future ulama'.

It was here that my friend interrupted me. He posed questions that, to me, came off as statements with hints of insinuations.

"Why aren't there many madrasah students volunteering for muslim youth organisations? Why is it that most of the programmes or activities for the muslim youths are organised by the secular students? Do the madrasah students or the ex madrasah students not care about the muslim youths in singapore?"

I was pissed. How could he insinuate such.

Firstly, i told him that there are quite a number of madrasah students who are volunteers of muslim youth organisations. Much respect to these people.Then, i explained that it's not that madrasah students don't care about the muslim youths and the problems facing this community, it's just that most madrasah students are either oblivious about these organisations or they don't know how and when to start. Or, they dream to help the community but not by joining organisations.

"Those are just excuses," argued my friend.

What my friend needs to understand is that some of us cannot carry the baggage that comes with being a "madrasah student". Most of us were enrolled into the school since young. It was the choice of our parents. Some dislike being in an Islamic school, but i can tell you that these are the same bunch of people who, later in life, are grateful to their parents for sending them to a madrasah. What most people fail to understand is each madrasah student has his/her own ambitions and desires that do not necessarily lead to being an islamic teacher/preacher. Not everyone of us will receive “the calling”. Not everyone of us is able to be a volunteer.

But the thing is, he’s right. Those are just excuses. We are the chosen ones but why can’t we go all the way out to help our own community that needs saving? I’m not saying that you should start joining those youth organisations cos I know that there are some of you whose parents are traditionalist and prefer you to mix only among the madrasah students, and also there are some of you who are shy. What I’m saying is, reach out to people inside and outside your circle in whichever way you can whether the issue is big or small. Come out of your bubble and see the depth of the cut that is slowly rotting. There are muslim youths out there who are ignorant about the fundamentals of Islam. You can educate without preaching.

I know that we all want to be the “cool friend”, but if a friend is doing wrong shouldn’t you say something? If you don’t, are you even fit to be labelled “a friend”?


p.s: this thing is soooo unfinished. there will be part two. brace yourselves.







You cant reverse-psycho me. Im the queen of reverse psychology.