Mahw al-Ummiyya al-Tarbawiyya
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- Mahw al-Ummiyya al-Tarbawiyya
Mahw al-Ummiyya al-Tarbawiyya (Arabic: محو الأمية التربوية, lit. 'Eradicating Pedagogical Illiteracy') is a parenting and educational work based on an audio lecture series delivered by the Egyptian preacher and physician Muhammad Ismail al-Muqaddim (b. 1371 AH / 1952 CE) .
Composition and Title
The text originated as a series of recorded oral lectures that were subsequently transcribed and published online, notably through the Islamweb (al-Shabaka al-Islamiyya) platform . The author noted that his initial intended designation for the subject was Darurat Mahw al-Ummiyya al-Tarbawiyya ("The Necessity of Eradicating Pedagogical Illiteracy") rather than claiming the ability to eliminate it completely in a brief series, as eradication requires sustained efforts over long periods . He also contemplated alternative titles such as Birr al-Abna' or Birr al-Awlad ("Kindness Towards Children") .
Themes and Contents
The primary premise of the work is distinguishing between conventional illiteracy—the inability to read and write—and "pedagogical illiteracy" (al-ummiyya al-tarbawiyya), which refers to ignorance of sound methods for raising and nurturing children . Al-Muqaddim argues that while conventional illiteracy is overt and confined to particular segments of society, pedagogical illiteracy is hidden and pervasive across all social and intellectual strata, affecting university professors, political figures, teachers, and parents alike .
The work addresses several major pedagogical topics:
- Flawed Upbringing Practices: The author critiques detrimental parenting extremes, ranging from harshness and severe punishment to excessive pampering, whether inherited through custom or imported from foreign models .
- Psychological Consequences: He highlights the severe psychological deformities, behavioral deviations, and emotional harm that poor upbringing inflicts on children and subsequent generations .
- Islamic Heritage of Child Welfare: The text cites historical practices from Islamic civilization, such as charitable endowments (awqaf) established to compensate children and servants who lost household money, instituted to shield them from parental severity and abuse .
- Focus on Children and Youth: The author identifies children and adolescents as the two most vital segments of the Muslim community requiring dedicated, tailored educational attention .
Structure
The transcribed version is organized into fifteen distinct lessons, structured sequentially to present the theoretical foundations of Islamic upbringing alongside practical guidance for parents and educators .
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