Holistic Leisure Learning (HLL) in a nutshell

Holistic Leisure Learning (HLL) finds its origin in a saying (hadeeth) of the Prophet Mughammad Pbuh - to supply one another with their needs and Allah (SWT) will supply you with your needs -. Thus HLL is Resource-based, after my research discovered that conventional school's period-structures and planning, fractionalise knowledge and in so doing retards the holistic progress of children. HLL Facilitators develop resources that serve the needs of children and in so doing allow them to develop self-discipline, self-esteem and self-worth, the core needed values for personal and social progress.

The Holy Qur'an gave HLL the reason for learning the unity of knowledge - i.e. "to find out how everything inherently and integratively serve mankind, as a Gift from Allah (SWT)"- Knowing that everything in the heavens and on Earth have been ordered to serve mankind as a Gift from God (Q45:13), makes learning purposeful and an ever-growing endeavour.  The student becomes empowered in order to serve others. The learning act then results in Gratefulness to God and appreciation of the self, nature and humanity - the core reason for living.

ICRA Comprehensive School (ICS)is the first school in the world to apply HLL. -ICS has been working hard at this since 1989 (when it started out as a home school) and in 2009 registered as an independent school with WCED, in a community premises). Now - Alghamdu lillah, ICS sees the fruits of HLL in the type of students that attend -  Those with holistic-open minds, who reflect and challenge themselves to achieve and serve others, even though they are surrounded by predominantly individualistic, competitive western societies. Our First Matric 100 % pass, with University Bachelors in 2014 was a milestone for ICRA and a statement for a world education solution In shaa Allah - Aameen

We wish every student, parent and facilitator of ICS well for the future and pray that Allah SWT will Bless all their efforts - in shaa Allah.

The endeavour of ICS is to establish Ma'ruuf (universally accepted good) in the learning environment for the development of communities, the country and the world - in shaa Allah - Aameen.

The Human Challenge

Section B (Summary)(10 marks)

Question 2

Summarise the article below in 90 words in paragraph form (write down the number of words at the bottom)

The Human Challenge

Materialists lose their full potentials. They focus on the now. Satisfaction, competition and ego drive all their thoughts and actions. Everything around them is seen as threats to their goals. Fears rule their lives and physically “arming” the self becomes paramount. Insurance companies and business advertising appeal to the fears and greed  of materialists, because they know that trust in the Unseen is absent among materialists and they will pay for anything that will give them “security” – life insurance, car insurance, medical insurance, house insurance, loans, etc. They often find that when they need the “insurance” it evades them, often charging them more to get their own “investment” back. Materialists who trust in the “seen” are haunted by the inability to secure peace of mind – an unseen joy – they are often trapped in debt to secure their materialistic lifestyle and fears.

Fanatical “spiritualists” put their trust in the Unseen, but also fail to make proper provision for daily and future planning. They live for the day, but their physical, mental, social, familial and professional selves suffer. Their “trust” in the unseen, without due preparation and planning for the worldly existence, is just an escape from responsibilities. Their lives are often also riddled with financial, familial, social and professional problems. They spend most of their time putting out fires, having less time to live.

Sincere humans strike a middle road between material and spiritual needs. They do not focus on wants. They allow their spiritual insights to guide their material needs and use part of their material gains to support others.  They are realistic. They tie their camel and then put their trust in the Unseen. They do not shirk responsibilities, in fact they thrive on it, because of their faith in the Unseen. They know they are not angels nor animals, so they do not expect the impossible and neither do they allow themselves to be trapped by earthly greed. They are the intelligent ones. They leave legacies in their past, live in the moment (through appreciation), and plan for the worldly and other worldly realities. They are the truly free ones, because they have no fears and nor do they grieve about losses. They are secure in the thought that from God everything comes and everything must return to Him. They do not worry, because they have a Strong Handhold – Trust in God while following His Guidance. Through this they aim for eternal success.

Source: Article by M.F.Arnold September 2014

(part of Grade 12 English Paper Sept Prelim Exam: ICRA Comprehensive School)

Development of Self

786 ICRA Comprehensive School:  Life Orientation (6-12) :Development of The Self

1. Mankind has been Divinely programmed to seek happiness and peace through asking the questions:” Who am I, What must I do and Where am I going?”.

2. This challenges man to use his/her intellect to make informed decisions.

3. Informed decisions are made after reflecting on what influences are around us (signs/symbols/aa-yaat)

4. The Holy Qur’an reminds us of all good signs and answers these questions (in no.1 above) clearly.

5. We are creations of Allah (SWT), who must adore(deeply love and serve) Him (‘i-baa-da) to reach back to Him in Heaven, where we originally were created  and stayed for a long time, before our Earthly existence.

6. This journey/path (Ta-ree-qah) is the effort (A-mal) of developing the Self from the Naf-sul-am-maa-ra (lower/base/material Self), through the Naf-sul-low-waa-ma (the Questioning/ intellectual self) to the Nuf-sul-moet-ma-in-na ( the Self at Peace and Onenness with Allah (SWT) – The Successful Self)

7. To make our task of self-discovery and success easy, Allah (SWT) cleansed prophets (‘AS) to receive His Sent Guidance guided them to deliver it to each individual, in every nation and tribe.

8. Everyone thus has an equal chance to succeed, according to his or her circumstances, opportunities and awareness of nearness to Allah (SWT)

9. To attain nearness to Allah (SWT) we Remember and Praise Him (Thikr), due to our Gratefulness to Him.

10.In Thikr, we  use our thought, breath and sound (unseen elements), elements of Spirit (Ruugh) that Allah (SWT) Blew into us (through the first human being, the clay Nabie Adam  ‘AS), to stimulate our Naf-sul-mut-ma-in-na to become active.

11. The clay-self (the nuf-sul-am-maa-ra) naturally draws us to the love for itself , the earthly/ material things (gold, food, jewelry , cars, sex/ procreation, self-glory) which all have short-lived(limited)  happiness and which tires the body and mind, if we become obsessed with it.

12. The Prophet Mughammad (SAW) was Guided by Allah (SWT), through the Sent Book, The Holy Qur’an, to show people that it is humanly possible to attain divine strengths, power and wisdom and achieve nearness to Allah SWT and receive absolute happiness and success, if one has constant Taq-wa (Awareness of Allah SWT).

13. The Qur’an contains the Sha-ree-‘a ( The Code for Success – personally and for nations and tribes) which gives mankind the shortest method of attaining fearlessness, strength, happiness and success.

14. The Sha-ree-‘a is a water-hole/ code that constantly refreshes our bodies, intentions, thoughts and actions

15. When the Naf-sul-am-maa-ra (lower/ desirous/ earthly/material Self) is placed under the advice (hi-daa-yah) of the Sha-ree-‘ah, then the person reaches a balance between heavenly and earthly matters – this is ‘ILM –Distinguished Awareness)

16. Intellect (‘Aqal) is the active use of the Naf-sul-low-waa-ma to reach lasting happiness in the Presence of Allah (SWT) – restraining/controlling  the lower-self (‘Aqal) with regular ‘i-baa-dah (devotions:Solaah,Fasting,)

17. When the person has focused his/her full attention and love towards Allah SWT, while he/she does good deeds, then he/she is a Muslim (one who feels Safe and Sound in the Hands of Allah SWT)

18. The Muslim, who continuously shows Thankfulness and Love for Allah SWT, through good work, becomes a Friend of Allah (SWT) - Aw-li-yaa  ( those whose wishes come true because Allah SWT Loves them).

19. When the person allows his/her Naf-sul-am-maa-rah to over-power him/her, then he/she loses the inner Light (Nuur), Happiness and Peace of connection with the Divine Spirit (Rugh), and the body (Jism) and Soul (Nafs) become dark, tired and depressed, due to ungratefulness (Kufr) towards Allah SWT.

20. When the person’s efforts are towards the Naf-sul-mut-ma-in-na, his/her body, mind and soul are under the command of the Ruugh (Divine Spirit) and the body and soul then have Light (Nuur), Ghikma (Wisdom) and motivational energy that drive him/her towards lasting happiness, contentment and peace (Islam), which the Self really yearns for.

21. The development of the Self is the journey towards love and service to Allah SWT through the control of the lower self, to attain the Higher-Self in order to receive unending Baraka (Blessings) from Allah SWT.

22. The greatest Blessing from Allah SWT is the feeling of total entrustment (Ta-wak-kul) of all matters in the Hands and Allah (SWT), thus feeling confident and satisfied that all is well and there is  nothing to worry or stress about, after we have done the good work.

23. The Naf-sul-mut-ma-in-na’s effect on the self is a feeling of divine inner strength and to have no fears nor to grieve about any loses – this state is true Freedom – total submission to the Guidance of Allah SWT  - because with this state is the Knowledge that everything comes from Allah SWT and everything must go back to Allah SWT –in-naa lil-laa-hi wa in-na i-lay-hi raa-ji-‘uun. We hear His Guidance and we obey Him, because we know He Speaks the Truth – Sa-da-qal-laa-hul-‘a-theem.................and Allah, The Exalted, Knows Best.

Al-gham-du lil-laa-hi Rob-bil-‘Aa-la-meen (Praise be to Allah, The Sustainer/Lord of the all universes)