Running head: SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 1

Shaping Our Future Leaders: How Islamic High Schools

Can Help Better Prepare Their Students

Mustafa Cheema

Michigan Islamic Academy

SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 2

Abstract

This paper explores the different ways that Islamic highschools can prepare their students

spiritually for their transition to college and the outside world. The data collected from the

research will help Islamic highschools and parents better prepare their children to know what to

look out for so that their faith is not negatively affected.

SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 3

Shaping Our Future Leaders: How Islamic High SchoolsCan Help Better Prepare Their Students

Private Islamic Schools

There is a common practice in Muslim communities where parents send their children to

private Islamic schools. This practice provides students with an environment that allows and

encourages them to practice their religion freely. According to Icna, students in Islamic schools

“generally have less exposure to sex, drugs, alcohol and violence” (Icna, 2009) These students

grow up having classmates from similar cultures and backgrounds. However, when these

students graduate, they are exposed to the outside world, which consists of diverse beliefs, which

may lead to conflicting opinions, hate, or racism. Many students who graduate from Islamic

schools are affected spiritually during the transition to the outside world. This can be caused by

sudden exposure to the outside world, lack of independent living preparation, or peer pressure.

With proper education and preparation, the number of students affected by this issue can be

reduced.

Why Are Students Affected Spiritually After Graduating From Islamic Schools

One of the biggest reasons that students are affected spiritually after leaving an Islamic

high school is because they become scared to openly practice their religion due to racism. In a

research study conducted by “Pew Research Center” it was found that 42% of Muslim women in

America would never wear the hijab (head garment) in public (Pew Research Center, 2017)

Many students in public schools are affected by racism from a young age and learn to cope with

it. In contrast, students in Islamic schools are not exposed to racism as often, so they do not learn

to cope with it as well. A survey by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU,

2019) reveals that 42 percent of Muslims with children in K–12 schools report bullying of their
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 4

children because of their faith. Students in Islamic schools, fortunately, don’t have this issue.

However, when they move on to college and the workplace, they may become exposed to this

prejudice. Muslim students also become exposed to concepts being taught, such as atheism, in

the name of science and evolution, that are clearly against their beliefs. Studying said topics can

cause the student to doubt his or her religion if the student's faith is not strong.

Although Muslim males and females are affected by racism, females are victimised more

pften. In an article written by Mehri Mohebbi, a senior urban planner at Planning Communities,

titled “The Discrimination Muslim Women Face: Lessons for City Planning Outreach” (2018)

she states, “in a five-year study on Muslim women’s walking behavior in the Detroit Metro area

[...] Michigander Muslim women said that their decreased sense of safety adversely affected

basic daily experiences, including walking in their neighborhoods” Reasons for the reduced

sense of safety ranged from simply weird looks that these women get for wearing hijabs (head

scarfs) to racist comments and even physical abuse. This is happening in other places as well.

Just recently, on May 15th, 2019, Fatima Ahmad (a Muslim woman) was entering the Montreal

Metro at Charlevoix Station on the green line when a man tried to rip off her niqab (face cover)

(CTV News, 2019). Incidents like this happen on a daily basis. “A total of 914 victims of hate

crimes were reported to the UCR unit in 2007” (MICR, 2007). Their have been many individuals

in Muslim communities that take off their hijabs out of fear for what people may think or do.

The same goes for Musim men, shaving their beards for instance, for the same reason. Growing a

beard is a symbol of religious conviction for a Muslim man similar to the hijab worn by Muslim

women.
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 5

When Muslim students enter the public school system, they will often find that most

students, who have been in public schools throughout their lives, are lifelong friends. Students

coming from Islamic schools will try to establish new friendships, often causing them to fall

victim to peer pressure and trying to fit in with others.

How Can Islamic Schools Help

Islamic schools can help with this issue in many ways. One of the ways schools can help

is by creating sports teams for students to compete with other schools so that Muslim students

can familiarize themselves with other students in public schools. This way, when students

graduate and go to college, they will know how to interact with other students from different

backgrounds and religions. In a research done by Paige Maslen called “The Social and Academic

Benefits of Team Sports”(2015) she talks about how “Team sports are about so much more than

their physical benefits.” She says that some skills fostered through team sports include

communication skills, decisive action, teamwork, and building self-esteem and a sense of

community. As Jill Prudden, a girls basketball coach said in her book "Coaching Girl’s

Basketball Successfully” (2006), “players are expected to express their concerns, hopes, and

disappointments to their coaches and their teammates.”

SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 6

If students build the skills to make decisive actions, they will be able to work better under

pressure, which is a huge factor when starting college. Janssen Sports Leadership Center (2019)

says working with teammates teaches athletes important life skills such as respect, not to act

selfishly, not to give up, and good decision making skills. A report from True Sport (2016) says

that youth who play sports learn skills like leadership, hard work, communication, conflict

resolution, self-discipline, and accountability.In an article by Healthline titled “The Top 7 Mental

Benefits of Sports” it states that “The regular exercise that comes with playing sports can boost

your confidence and improve your self-esteem.” (Watson, 2017) These are all skills formed by

team sports that can help Muslim students when starting college.

Pre-Graduation Workshop

Another way that Islamic schools can help graduating students is by having a workshop

before graduation where students are given advice and taught skills on how to respond to racism

and hate. If people know how to respond to someone being hateful or racist and if they remain

confident rather than feeling bad and running away from the issue, they would be less likely to

be scared to openly practice their religion. Some ways that students can respond to and fight

hate, which can be mentioned in a school workshop, are mentioned in a study by the SPLC

(Southern Poverty Law Center) called “Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response

Guide” (2017) are to “act, join forces, support the victims, speak up, educate yourself, create an

alternative, pressure leaders, stay engaged, teach acceptance, and dig deeper.”

The SPLC (2017) mentions some great points and ways to combat hate. From these

points are:
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 7

● Do something in the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance by the

perpetrators, the public and — worse — the victims.

● Community members must take action; if we don’t, hate persists.

● Reach out to allies from churches, schools, clubs, and other civic groups. Create a diverse

coalition. Include children, police, and the media. Gather ideas from everyone, and get

everyone involved.

● Hate must be exposed and denounced. Help news organizations achieve balance and

depth.

● An informed campaign improves its effectiveness. Determine if a hate group is involved,

and research its symbols and agenda. Understand the difference between a hate crime and

a bias incident.

● Do not attend a hate rally.

● Promote acceptance and address bias before another hate crime can occur.

● Bias is learned early, often at home. Schools can offer lessons of tolerance and

acceptance.

● Look inside yourself for biases and stereotypes (SPLC, 2017).

Events to Help Keep Muslim Youth Connected to Their Community

A third way Islamic schools can help graduating high school students is by having events

at the school or the mosque connected with that school to keep alumni connected with their

community. A report done by Sound Vision titled “10 ways to make your Masjid youth-friendly”

(2012) gives ideas to attract Muslim youth to mosques and keep them attached to their
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 8

community. Some of those ideas include holding monthly open houses such as “youth night” and

offering community service opportunities such as service projects designed by the youth. There

are many mosques trying to plan events like this. Tawheed Center of Detroit is a mosque that

practices this by planning community camping trips. Every year they plan a community camping

trip where everyone from toddlers to adults can have fun fishing, boating, swimming, sitting

around campfires, etc. This definitely has been effective. Lots of the youth that don't normally

attend daily prayers or lectures at the mosque show up to these camping events where they get to

hear short talks and reminders as well as keep in touch with their old friends and teachers.

Keeping In Touch With HighSchool Friends

Although there is a lot that Islamic schools can do to help students, there are also steps

that students themselves should take to help themselves when starting college. If students are

able to go to the same school as their high-school friends and attend the same classes, they will

be less likely to feel alone and in need of new friends. If this is not an option, students should

still stay in contact with their friends. They are some of the few people that will understand what

these students are going through because they themselves are going through the same thing.

Future Study

There is very little research on this topic, thus, a study will be done to collect research

regarding how students have been affected after graduating Islamic school, what they think could

be done to minimize the issues they faced, and how they coped with the problems. For this

study, a survey will be conducted among 25 Muslim students, males and females, from grades

12 and up who have attended an Islamic high school. Survey participants will be asked questions
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 9

such as “what their school could have done to prepare them spiritually and mentally before

graduating” and “what problems they faced and how they dealt with them.” This information

will be very useful to Islamic highschools, parents, and the overall Muslim community. This

information will also be relevant and helpful to other non-Islamic schools and all parents in

general.

Islamic Perspective

In Islam, Muslims believe that it is their duty as a community to teach and prepare youth

for what they may face. A companion of Prophet Muhammad by the name of Abdullah ibn Umar

reported what means: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Every

one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and

is responsible for his subjects. A man is the guardian of his family and he is responsible for them.

A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and his children and she is responsible for them.

The servant of a man is a guardian of the property of his master and he is responsible for it. No

doubt, every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.” (Elias, 2019) Another

companion of Prophet Muhammad by the name of Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (PBUH)

told him what means: “Young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and he

will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find him before you. If you ask, ask from

Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the nations gathered together to

benefit you, they will not benefit you unless Allah has decreed it for you. And if the nations

gathered together to harm you, they will not harm you unless Allah has decreed it for you. The
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 10

pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” (Elias, 2019) This is an example of how Prophet

Muhammah, peace be upon him, prepared the youth for what they are likely to face in their lives.

Islam also teaches how to have a good company and warns against bad company, which

leads back to “Keeping In Touch With High School Freinds.” In the Quran, it states what means:

“And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and

the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring

adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our

remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.” ( Qur’an 18: 28)

In the Quran, it also states what means: “And the day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands in

regret. He will say ‘Oh, I wish I had taken with the messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I

had not taken that one as a friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to

me. And ever is Satan to man a deserter.’'' ( Qur’an 25: 27-29) These verses from The Holy

Quran show the importance of keeping good company.

Conclusion

With the research conducted from this study, schools and parents will be better able to

prepare their students for college and the outside world. Hopefully this research will help answer

questions that schools and parents may have and make a change for the better.
SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 11

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SHAPING OUR FUTURE LEADERS 12

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