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Virtues & Educational Habits

"I have been sent to perfect your character."

~Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessings upon him

Virtues & Educational Habits

Both the Western and Islamic classical education models provide students with the foundation to live a principled life.  Imam Ghazali states in the Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship, “Worship in Islam is not only observance of the prescribed worship rites – Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting, Pilgrimage – but living one’s entire life in obedience to God, doing His will and seeking His pleasure, exactly in the way He has laid down.”

Virtues are dispositional qualities along with the capacities for judgment and action that constitute them.  They are embedded parts of our character.  A virtuous life can only be attained through constant and consistent practice.  We strive to instill each of the four classical virtues by instilling specific practices in our students.

Four Cardinal Virtues

We strive to instill each of the four classical virtues by practicing specific habits.

Wisdom

Wisdom  is about having sound judgment and making sound choices. It is about being thoughtful. Wisdom is developed through the following practices:

Excess:  Deceitfulness

Deficiency:  Idiocy

  • Practice of Attention: turning the whole force of the mind to the subject in hand.
  • Practice of Wisdom: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
  • Practice of Remembering: recalling at will knowledge stored in the memory.

Justice

Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessings upon him stated, “religion is goodwill.”  Justice is about treating others with respect and taking responsibility for their wellbeing. Justice is developed through the following practices:

Excess:  Control without Autonomy

Deficiency:  Injustice

  • Practice of Courtesy: behavior marked by respect for and consideration of others, especially elders.
  • Practice of Fairness: impartial and just treatment or behavior without personal bias.
  • Practice of  Mindfulness:  knowing and applying the rights and responsibilities toward parents, teacher, and humanity in general.

Courage

Courage is about having the fortitude to face challenges and obstacles; persevering when things get tough. Courage is developed through the following practices:

Excess:  Recklessness

Deficiency:  Cowardice

  • Practice of Grit: to work strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.
  • Practice of Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.
  • Practice of Joyfulness: choosing to display a positive outlook despite one’s circumstances.

Temperance

Temperance is about mastering ourselves for the sake and happiness of those around us. It is about acting the right way at the right time. Temperance is developed through the following practices:

Excess:  Dissipation

Deficiency:  Apathy

  • Practice of Self-control: keeping back the expression of our passions and emotions.

  • Practice of Patience: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; remaining steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.

  • Practice of Gratitude: expressing thankfulness for the many blessings that Allah, subhanahu wa’tala has give us and shifting our focus from the self to others.