Vacations in Madāris and Suggested Extra Reading Books for Students
Source: Qur’an and Hadith Based Rulings and Issues, Vol. 01, p. 553
Question
➊ We have established a religious seminary. During the academic program, students are given vacations, especially in government-recognized madāris. If there were no breaks, students’ minds would be overburdened. However, the early scholars of Islam remained continuously engaged in religious learning. What is your advice regarding this?
➋ Please suggest some Urdu books for the early years and some Arabic books for the final years that may be given to students for extra reading besides the prescribed syllabus.
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
(1) Guidance Regarding Vacations
In the matter of teaching and learning, I do not recall any text in the Qur’an or Sunnah concerning the modern system of vacations.
However, from the ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (RA) reported in both Ṣaḥīḥayn, it is understood that in the matter of preaching and admonition, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was mindful of the Companions so that they would not become weary.
ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (RA) used to deliver advice every Thursday. A man said: “O Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān! I wish you would admonish us every day.” Ibn Masʿūd (RA) replied: “The only thing that prevents me from doing so is that I dislike burdening you. I take care of you just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take care of us, fearing that we might become weary.”
(Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, Kitāb al-ʿIlm, First Section, agreed upon)
(2) Suggested Extra Reading Books
Urdu Books (for the early years):
- تقویة الایمان
- قرۃ العیون اردو
- کتاب التوحید اردو
- الظفر المبین
- ارشاد الی سبیل الرشاد
- حسن البیان
- ضرب حدیث
- سبیل رسول
- تحریک آزادی فکر
- رسول اکرم صلی الله علیہ وسلم کی نماز
- محمدیات
Arabic Books (for the final years):
- اعلام الموقعین
- ایقاظ همم اولی الابصار
- القول المفید مختصر المومل فی الرد الی الامر الاول
- هدية السلطان الی مسلمي اليابان
- تحفة الانام
- ارشاد النقاد
- صفة صلاۃ النبی صلی الله علیہ وسلم
- التنكيل
- الانوار الكاشفة
- احكام الاحكام
- الاتباع لابن ابي العز
- زبدة البيان
- كتاب الايمان لابن تيمية
- الصارم المسلول
- ابكار المنن
- نيل الاوطار
- فتح القدير للشوكاني
- تفسير ابن كثير
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
