As a new teacher - some thirteen years ago - I was quite overwhelmed with the idea of how to root my Montessori training within an Islamic Philosophy of Education. I just didn't know where to begin. AlHamdulilah, by the grace of Allah ﷻ and with the recommendation of my Principal and Vice-Principal, I took a year-long training certification known as the "Islamic Teacher Education Program". It was transformative, an education of the mind, body, and soul – this is what an Islamic education ought to be! By the rahma of Allah ﷻ, I am still being nourished by those seeds planted so many years ago.

I really want to make things less overwhelming for you too! It is my hope to share what I have gained over the years from my time in the classroom, homeschooling, and continued learning in our guided lessons and Khidmah Teaching Tips. My goal is to not show you the one right way to teach, but instead to encourage and give you ideas for using a process that is rooted within an Islamic framework. Insha'Allah, guiding you towards an Islamic Pedagogy, i.e., using teaching methods and practices that are rooted within an Islamic Philosophy of Education.

A pedagogy is the very method and practice of teaching. It is the art of teaching, and teaching methods and practices are influenced by a worldview – a lens with which to approach a subject. Sometimes conventional teaching practices are rooted in educational philosophies that are antithetical to an Islamic worldview and are unknowingly adopted by Muslim teachers.

Oftentimes, we do not always consider that the answers to questions such as, “What shall we teach?” and, “How shall we teach?” actually begins with a much more fundamental question, “What is the nature of the human being?” – who are we, and what is our purpose? One of the most important questions the Qur'an asks is, "Where then are you going?" [Qur'an 81:26]. Knowing where we are, where we need to go, and how we plan to get there entails that we must begin with the end in mind – it is Tawhid-centric.

Our guided lessons hope to help you begin with the end in mind by providing frameworks and teacher tips on how to root your lesson within an Islamic Philosophy of Education. Elements of Islamic pedagogical principles and other wholesome teaching methods like Montessori, Classical, and Charlotte Mason have also been integrated to help create engaging and nurturing lessons that you can easily follow. InshaAllah, inspiring love and awe of Allah ﷻ and His creation, allowing us to relate our knowledge back to Him, and helping us and our children to worship Allah ﷻ as though we see Him [Hadith Jibril}. Ameen Ya Rabb al Alameen.