A (synonym)
UNIT 3 UNIT 3
| Muhsinin 30 A. Get Ready to Read
1. Build background knowledge a. What is a madrassa?
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b. Is it the same or different from a school?
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c. What do the students learn at madrassa?
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d. Who teaches at madrassa?
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2. Set purposes for reading a. Author’s objective
Based on the title, the writer intends to inform readers about:
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3. Your reading purposes
Based on the title of the text, write down your purpose (s) of reading.
When I finish reading the text I will get information about:
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2. _________________________________________________________
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Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 31 4. Vocabulary Preview
Use the words from box A and box B to fill in the synonyms and the meaning of the words taken from the text in the following table.
No Words Synonyms Meaning
1 Embedded
2 Preserve
3 Sacred
4 complement
5 Convene
6 Polishing
7 Sought
8 Govern
9 Cater
10 Uniform
B (meaning)
mengakar, memelihara,
suci, melengkapi, menyempurnakan, mengajak, mencari, seragam, mengatur,
menyediakan
A (synonym)enroot, maintain, holy, similar, invite, refinement,
look for, control, feed,
make complete
| Muhsinin 32
5. Write your Sentences
To make sure that you know and understand the list of words above, please write a sentence using each of the words. You may change the tenses. Don’t worry to make mistakes.
1. embedded
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2. preserve
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3. sacred
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4. compliment
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5. convene
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6. polishing
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7. sought
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8. govern
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9. cater
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10. uniform
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Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 33 B. While Reading
1. 1st Reading
Read the text for the first time as quickly as possible (scanning) and underline the word or groups of words discussed in the vocabulary preview and some Islamic terms used in the text.
2. 2nd Reading
Read the text for the second time (skimming) to find out the main idea of each paragraph.
A History of Madrassas
Seeking knowledge has been an integral part of the Islamic tradition. The early years of Koranic revelations to the Prophet were embedded in the oral tradition. Similar to the verses of good poetry, revelations of the Koran inspired the people of Arabia and they memorized the verses.
However, as Islam expanded and it became necessary to preserve this vast knowledge, these verses were written down and compiled into various chapters. This compilation turned out to be the book of Islam, the Koran.
From early on, Islam emphasized two types of knowledge, revealed and earthly – i.e., revealed knowledge that comes straight from God and earthly knowledge that is to be discovered by human beings themselves. Islam considers both to be of vital importance and directs its followers, both men and women, to go and seek knowledge.
For Muslims, the Koran is the perfect word of God, sacred and therefore cannot be changed. It should be memorized from start to finish. Once a person has memorized it, he/she must reflect on these verses and have a detailed understanding of its meaning and interpretation over the lifetime. A person who has mastered it would carry the knowledge of Islam in his/her heart and spread the word to
| Muhsinin 34
the ones who encounter him/her. According to Islam, seeking earthly knowledge is also important because earthly knowledge complements the knowledge revealed by God in the Koran and helps Muslims to live productive and good lives in this world.
Having understood the above logic one can understand why mosques came to be central to the learning processes of Muslims in the early days of Islam and continue to do so to this day. It was at the Mosque where Prophet Mohammad would convene people to listen to his revelations and their interpretation. Mosques were the places where Koran was compiled. It was here where early Muslims seeking to solve their problems in the light of the newly revealed knowledge would come to obtain answers.
The mosque was the first school in Islam. In the early days of Islam, there was no hierarchy and every one who could master the content of the Koran could lead the prayers and guide the people. The learned people would usually spent most of their time in the mosques debating and polishing their knowledge of the Koran and others who could not accord much time to this activity would simply seek their assistance in matters of daily lives.
After the death of the Prophet, when Muslims faced situations for which no answer could be found in the revealed knowledge of the Koran and the Prophet was not there to guide them, the Muslim scholars sought answers in the sayings and practical life of the Prophet. This led to the development of traditions of following the Sunna, the knowledge of deeds of the Prophet and Hadith, the sayings of the Prophet. The mosque continued to be the center of learning even after Prophet’s death. This mosque based understanding and acquisition of knowledge worked very well for the Muslims of the Arabian Peninsula because the tribal traditions combined with the teachings of the Koran
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 35 were sufficient to govern the lives of people who spoke the same language and had the same cultural background.
However, as Islam expanded to other regions and came into contact with other indigenous traditions and languages, it became necessary to create a cadre of Muslim experts who would develop sophisticated writings and textbooks on Fiqa – Islamic jurisprudence, Sunna – Prophet’s traditions, Hadith – Prophet’s sayings, and Tafseer – the interpretation of the Koran, to cater to the needs of non-Arab Muslim populations. Thus began the tradition of Madrassa, the center for higher learning the initial purpose of which was to preserve religious conformity through uniform teachings of Islam for all.
Uzma Anzar, 2003
3. 3rd Reading
Read the text for the third time. This time you have to read more carefully to find out the answers to the following comprehension questions:
1. What is considered to be an integral part of the Islamic tradition according to paragraph 1?
A. Memorizing good poetry
B. Memorizing the verses of the Qur’an C. Looking for knowledge
D. Writing down the verses of the Qur’an E. Compiling the verses of the Qur’an
2. The following statements are true according to paragraph 2, except …
A. There are two types of knowledge ─ revealed and earthly.
B. Earthly knowledge help Muslims to live a better life in this world.
| Muhsinin 36
C. The Qur’an is unchangeable because it is sacred word of God.
D. In Islam, revealed knowledge is more important than earthly knowledge.
E. It is important to memorize the Qur’an.
3. Islam considers both to be of vital importance and directs its followers, both men and women, to go and seek knowledge. (paragraph 2) The word both here refers to …
A. revealed and earthly knowledge.
B. followers of Islam.
C. men and women.
D. Human beings.
E. Muslims
4. The following statements are true about the role of mosque according to paragraph 3, except …
A. Mosque is continued to be the central of learning place
B. The prophet Muhammad taught about Qur’an in the mosque.
C. Mosque is a holy place only for worshiping Allah.
D. Al-Qur’an was compiled in the mosque.
E. Mosque was the first school for Muslims.
5. The use of the sayings and the practical life of the Prophet to find answers of the problems happened when …
A. the number of Muslims increased.
B. some companions of the Prophet had become Muslims scholars.
C. the prophet had passed away.
D. the tradition of following the sunnah developed.
E. the role of mosque continued to be central of learning.
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 37 6. Hadits is the sayings of the prophet and sunnah is
A. the traditions of the prophet.
B. the revealed knowledge.
C. the teachings of the prophet.
D. the stories of the prophet.
E. the history of the prophet.
7. The function of madrassa is discussed in … A. paragraph 1
B. paragraph 2 C. paragraph 3 D. paragraph 4 E. paragraph 5
8. Madrassa as the center for learning began to be developed when …
A. Islam extended to other regions outside Arab.
B. Muslims felt it became necessary to create a cadre of Muslims expert.
C. the mosque was no longer the center of learning.
D. Islamic jurisprudence needed to be developed.
E. the interpretation of the Qur’an developed into a specific knowledge.
9. Thus began the tradition of Madrassa, the center for higher learning the initial purpose of which was to preserve religious conformity through uniform teachings of Islam for all. (paragraph 5) The word initial is best replaced by …
A. important B. inclination C. letter D. intended E. first
10. It was here where early Muslims seeking to solve their problems in the light of the newly revealed knowledge
| Muhsinin 38
would come to obtain answers. (paragraph 3) The word here refers to …
A. the place where the companions met.
B. the place where they met the prophet C. the prophet’s house
D. the first school E. the mosques C. After You Read
1. Checking Your Purposes a. Author’s objective
Look back at the author’s objective you have stated.
Can you prove it? Which part of the text support your proof.
b. Your reading purposes
Check your reading purposes. Do you think you get your purposes?
2. Grammar Practice
A. The following sentence is taken from the text. Please work with your partner or group to add more sentences which have the same constructions.
1. Similar to the verses of good poetry, revelations of the Koran inspired the people of Arabia and they memorized the verses.
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3. ____________________________________________________
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4. ____________________________________________________
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5. ____________________________________________________
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Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 39 B. Write other examples using your own words.
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3. Write your reading
Please develop the following paragraph by giving examples of revealed knowledge and earthly knowledge.
From early on, Islam emphasized two types of knowledge, revealed and earthly – i.e., revealed knowledge that comes straight from God and earthly knowledge that is to be discovered by human beings themselves.
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| Muhsinin 40
Main Aims:
to develop students’ reading comprehension skills and strategies using an authentic reading materials related to birth
of a prophet..
Objectives:
By the end of this session students will have:
practiced scanning practiced skimming
identified words related to Islamic history practiced setting reading purposes
identified and practiced present continuous tense