The Role of Religious and Practical Education in Man’s Perfection

Abstract

Modern man, especially modern youth, suffers from numerous moral and psychological problems due to cultural invasionsand secular propaganda. These problems are due to the fact that, man, in the modern era, has not understood his human truth or has ignored it and has forgotten his source of peace which is God and His teachings. The only way out of these problems is to return to the true religion, to understand it and to put its teachings into practice. Islam, as the last and the most comprehensive religion, can play a pivotal role in educating man and saving him from further crises. The teenage years and youth are decisive and critical in shaping man’s personality. To make the best use of his youth, man should turn to a knowledgeable guide who knows the way; someone who is devoid of error and mistakes and the best such guide is the holy Qur’an and the correct traditions of the immaculate Imams (PBUT). What lays the foundation and paves the way forany progress and refinement is correct knowledge and understanding. It is education that guarantees such knowledge and understanding and can reinforce self discipline. The most effective and in fact the sole factor in healing moral and psychological problems is thus following religious teachings and practicing them sincerely. Therefore, the aim of Islamic education is educating Islamic individuals. This paper, with reference to the holy Qur'an, the traditions and documented proofs, examines the above-mentioned issues.

Keywords

• man
• moral problems
• education
• role of religious teachings
• seeking perfection