Spiritual Goals
Some Islamic educationistshave affirmedthat the basicpurposes of
educationandlearningareself-purity,self-chastity,andtheconstructing
ofrelationswithGod.Thisisthemostelevatedpurposeandthenoblest
intendment. Al-Ghezali says, “O youngster! Many are the nights that
youhavepassedwithseekingknowledgeandscanningbooks,andyou
abstainedfromsleep.Idonotknowyourintendment.Ifithasbeenob-
tainingthe concernsofthis world,collecting itswreckages,holding its
positions,andostentationbeforetheothers,thenwoeisyou!Ifyourin-
tendmentisenliveningtheProphet’spractices,refiningyourethics,and
violating the bad-tending soul, then many happy returns will be yours!”.
AnumberofIslamiceducationistsspecifyself-purityastheprovisoryof
receivingknowledge.Onthataccount,teachersusedtocheckone’smor-
alitiesbeforebeingacceptedasastudent.Themorallywrongoneswere
dismissed from classessothat they would not use theirknowledge in
evildoings..
Froblesaysthateducationissupposedtomaketheindividualsfeeltheir
internalsouls,realizenature,andconfideinGod’soneness.Likewise,it
mustleadtheindividualstothesacredpurelifethatisoriginatedbythe
cognitionofGod,nature,andthehumanspirit..Healsoaffirmsthatthe
purposeofeducationshouldbethepresentationofasacredpurelifeof
sincerity and goodness..
Mastereducationistshaveagreeduponthe ideaofdismissinganyedi-
fication,whichdoesnotleadtoperfectionandself-discipline,outofthe
circleofeducation.Willulasays,“Thepurposeofeducationisimproving
whatourfatherscorrupted.Wecanachievesobyadoptingtheaccurate
cognitionoftheLord,cherishingHim,andcommittingourselvestoHis
path through virtues.”
Asheassertsthemoralaspectofeducation,JohnLukesays,“Virtuesare
theleadingpurposesofeducation.”Thepreviousopinionshavefocused
lights on the moral and spiritual aspects of education, ignoring
theotheraspects.