According to Imam Ghazali’s views on children’s education in Islamic Religious Education, he emphasizes the importance of nurturing and educating children from a young age. He believed that knowledge exists potentially in human beings, like a seed in the soil, and it is through learning that this potential becomes actualized.
Imam Ghazali emphasized that children are a trust from God, placed in the hands of parents. He believed that parents and later teachers have the responsibility to raise children in righteousness, teaching them the words of creed from their earliest days. This should follow a three-stage process of memorization, understanding, and conviction. By doing so, children will be prepared to live happily in this world and the next, and their good deeds will be rewarded by God. On the other hand, if parents neglect their child’s upbringing and education, the child may lead a life of unhappiness and the parents will bear the burden of negligence.
Imam Ghazali also stressed the importance of teaching children to be polite and obedient to their parents, teachers, and elders. He advocated for instilling in children values such as avoiding the love of money, practicing good hygiene, and observing Islamic rules as they grow older. He believed that education should be tailored to each child’s capacity and ability to absorb knowledge. Teachers should be tender to their pupils, treating them as their own children, and showing respect to even the less gifted students.
In addition to Islamic education, Imam Ghazali recommended seeking secular education in subjects like Logic, Philosophy, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, History, Literature, and Art. He believed that education should be a continuous process, and that students should be engaged in interactive sessions like debates and arguments.
Overall, Imam Ghazali’s views on children’s education in Islamic Religious Education emphasize the importance of nurturing children’s potential, teaching them Islamic values, and providing them with both religious and secular knowledge in a way that is appropriate to their age and abilities.
