Dear parents,
Salamun alaykum,
I pray that you and your loved ones are in good health.
You are aware that sadly al Mahdi Madrasah has been closed since 7th March due to the COVID pandemic. This has been essential as per the Government directives and guidance of our Maraji (may Allah protect them). It is vital and necessary that we strictly follow the various instructions and precautions laid out by the Public Health officials. Therefore, social distancing has now become part of our every day lives.
During these challenging moments are parents are in agreement that we would like to do something for our children with regards to their Deeni T’alim. We would not like the Madrasah to be ‘closed’ especially when children and many families will be spending large time at home due to the closures of schools, work and isolation measures. No one is able to tell how long will this situation last. Certainly, Deeni Talim needs to be integral in the learning activity of our children during this ‘event’ as is being done for the schools.
I am aware of the challenges placed in front of us in our daily lifestyle due to this ‘event’ and how this is impacting all of us, myself included. However, our children need us (parents and Madrasah teachers) to be by their side in these unusual circumstances. Therefore, this calls upon all, especially parents, to consider alternate ways of fulfilling obligations of providing Deeni T’alim to our children and providing support so as to encourage them to seek Divine pleasure through living a life of commitment to Islam. In this regard, I am humbly appealing to all parents to consider volunteering in the Madrasah and offer suggestions on how you are able to support the Madrasah functioning during this ‘event.’ Please consider this a deed of Sadaqah that will repel calamities as advised by our noble Prophet Muhammad SAWW.
At al Mahdi Madrasah, together with my team of dedicated muallimin, we are deliberating on the various strategies to adopt in having alternate Madrasah programme (home/ online madrasah).
Whilst the subject of Qur’an recitation is easily delivered remotely, the impartation of the Tarbiyah lessons may not be that efficient. The delivery of Tarbiyah is going to be a different terrain considering that the Tarbiyah curriculum is interactive and student oriented. Nonetheless the teachers of Tarbiyah Curriculum are deliberating on this.
Herebelow is the approach that has crystalized with regards to piloting Online / Home Madrasah learning:
- Qur’an Recitation:
All children from Year 1 (Class Awwal 1) will have Qur’an lesson on Saturday 4th April, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. InshAllah. This will be conducted through Zoom, an online learning platform. Parents will receive email invitations to meetings scheduled by the respective group teachers. Could you ensure that you are ready to log in on time with your desktop/ tablet/ phone or device and that your child is prepared for the lesson. Note that there will be no Qur’an recitation lessons for children in Reception group (Class Awwal YR).
This is a pilot programme which will be held only on 4th April. On completion of this session the team will then consider the way forward. I will communicate to you with further details on this.
- Tarbiyah Curriculum:
- Awwal R /1 and Baseer (Bands A and B) : Children in these classes will not have remote learning sessions. Instead you are asked to support them to do work on the Tarbiyah Band A and B workbooks. The heads of Awwal and Baseer are communicating with you on this assignment.
- Qawiy, Daleel, Ihsaan and Faraj (Bands C-F) : Updates on the learning strategy for these classes will be provided later.
What do you say?
Normally the schools would be on Easter holidays from next week. Thus there would be no Madrasah on Saturday 11th and 18th April, 2020. Thereafter as per our Madrasah calendar there would be a further break in Madrasah from Saturday 5th April – 23rd May due the Shahru Ramdhan. I am consulting with our Muallimin on their availability to continue Madrasah in these two periods of break.
Considering the current circumstances I would like to hear from you your views with regards to continuing home /Online Madrasah during the Easter school holidays and Shahru Ramadhan. Could you kindly let me know ( Yes /No) what is your response to the following three situations:
- The children get a break on Sat 11th April and 18th April
- After break on only Sat 11th April to resume Madrasah, if possible on Sat 18th April.
- Madrasah to continue in Shahru Ramadhan, if possible.
Could you kindly discuss these options with your children? Please respond with your preferences to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. latest by Tuesday 7th April, 2020.
Your response to the above 3 scenarios will enable me to design a plan for the continuation of home/ online Madrasah. Please note that any plan is subject to availability of the teachers.
I am sure you all realise that this is a completely new way of working for both teachers and students and no doubt there will be teething issues. We will review how things are going and adapt and improve as we go on, InshAllah.
Please pray for the success of our endeavours.
Let’s continue to offer special prayers to Allah SWT, by wasila of Ahlul Bayt a.s. for protection of all from the epidemic due to the COVID-19 virus and for the cure of all who are unwell. May you and your loved ones be granted safety from all calamities.
Iltimasi Dua.
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat