In   conjunction  with   other  madaris,   institutions,   academics   and   child learning/teaching experts, we have endeavoured to develop a comprehensive vision for our  children and youth. The program incorporates all relevant dimensions of their personal development and role in society.  At the heart of the vision statement is the need to nurture “Conscientious, Practicing Muslims.” We acknowledge that the Institute, jointly with the parents and the community at large, has a crucial part to play in this process and venture, which is to invest in the foundational, religious education of our children. Can there be a greater asset?

The mission of the Institute of Islamic Studies

We have similarly defined the characteristics, in conjunction with other institutions, madaris, and educators the values and needs that a student who graduates from a Madrasah should have by equipping the graduate not only with core knowledge, but also the analytical tools. The intended outcomes of our mission and vision are as follows:

1. To develop a sense of identity with the beliefs of the student and values to meet social challenges more confidently.
2. To provide the intellectual framework and controlled judgment to enable the student to make considered and informed choices consistent with Islamic values, spiritual and moral norms.
3. To provide the learner with an opportunity to be exposed to different views and to be able to engage those with different opinions in an intelligent and confident manner.

The role of the Institute of Islamic Studies

Madrasah is an Arabic word meaning school, or place of learning. It is a tradition that started very early on in Islam, in fact with the Prophet (saw) himself, who stated “I have been sent as a teacher”. Because of the special  emphasis  that  the  Quran  and  Islam  generally  place  on  acquiring knowledge  it  has  been  considered  an  ibaadah. Our  current  madrasah  has evolved from the fine tradition that our forefathers started in our country and continued later on, in most cases unchanged in terms of its methodology and content. The challenge of educating our children is a more daunting one now in that the space, environment and values are not only at variance with our own, but also often promote enticing counter-culture values.

While Islamic education should and, in most cases does begin at home, it is formally and systematically conducted through the Madrasah system. Thus the Madrasah plays a major role in developing and entrenching the Islamic  identity of our children and shaping their ideas.  The current debate about Islamic education, including the popular debate in the media, describes Muslim educational institutions to varying degrees as medieval, anti-modern, and unable to accommodate social challenges.

A Madrasah needs to be responsive and alert to these challenges which are inevitable.