A (synonym)
UNIT 7 UNIT 7
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 73 Main Aims:
to develop students’ reading comprehension skills and strategies using an authentic reading material related to seeking
knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
Objectives:
By the end of this session students will have:
practiced scanning practiced skimming
identified words related to Islamic education practiced setting reading purposes
identified and practiced present perfect ( have + Verb3)
| Muhsinin 74 A. Get Ready to Read
1. Build background knowledge a. What do you do at school?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
b. What do you study?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Why do you study that field of knowledge?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
c. How will you apply the knowledge you are learning in your future life?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. Set purposes for reading a. Author’s objective
Based on the title, the writer intends to inform readers about:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
b. 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:
1. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 75 3. 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 pitfalls
2 inclination
3 strives
4 exhilarating
5 deeds
6 dwell
7 inheritors
8 predecessors
9 amassed
10 humble
B (meaning)
berjuang, jebakan, kecenderungan, perbuatan,
menyenangkan, pewaris, menghuni, pendahulu,
rendah hati, mengumpulkan
A (synonym)
tendency, struggles, actions, traps, inhabit, exciting, heir, collected,
modest, precursor
| Muhsinin 76
4. 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. pitfalls
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. inclination
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. strives
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. exhilarating
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. deeds
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
6. dwell
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
7. inheritors
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
8. predecessors
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
9. amassed
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
10. humble
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 77 B. While Reading
1. 1st Reading
Read the text for the first time as quickly as possible (skimming) 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 (scanning) to find out the main idea of each paragraph.
Seeking Knowledge for the Sake of Knowledge Sometimes a student will say: “I am seeking knowledge for the sake of knowledge”, implying that he is not after a diploma or a degree or something else of that sort. However, what he is doing is also wrong. One of the pitfalls that a student can fall into is to seek knowledge for its own sake. Knowledge is a desire like any other human desire. It can be sought for the pure pleasure of acquiring it and not for the sake of Allah. People love to discover new things. It is a natural human inclination.
When a person strives long and hard to find something out, then comes upon the answer, it can be quite exhilarating. This encourages him to study further. Islam, however, does not call upon us to seek Islamic knowledge for its own sake, but to put it to use. The scholars of old used to say: “Knowledge calls out to us with actions. It is either answered by actions or it goes away.” Allah describes the people of knowledge in the following way: “Those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall on their faces in prostration. And they say: ‘Glory be to our Lord. Truly the promise of our Lord is fulfilled. They fall on their faces crying and it increases them in humility.” [Sûrah al-Isrâ’: 107-109] Here we see how knowledge gives them
| Muhsinin 78
humility and makes them fall in prostration to Allah. Allah says: “Only those who have knowledge truly fear Allah.”
[Sûrah Fâtir: 28] Using this verse as their evidence, some people of knowledge have opined that the scholars are the
“best of Creation” referred to in Allah’s words: “Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they are the best of Creation. There reward is with Allah; gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will dwell therein forever. Allah will be well pleased with them and they with Him. This is for those who fear their Lord.” [Sûrah al-Bayyinah: 7-8].
They argue that since the “best of Creation” are “those who fear their Lord” and since the only people who truly fear their Lord are the scholars, it follows then that the scholars are the best of Creation. How could it be otherwise when Sunnah declares the scholars to be the inheritors of the Prophets? This means that scholars are the best people after the Prophets, if they are true scholars. People today have become confused about the meaning of the word
“scholar” in this context. Some assume it refers to any person with specialized knowledge in any field, like medicine, engineering, or chemistry. The true scholar in the context of our discussion is a person who has knowledge about Allah, His religion, and His Law. Knowledge, in an abstract, theoretical sense, is not enough. It must also affect the heart.
Our pious predecessors did not recognize anyone as a scholar merely because had amassed a lot of knowledge.
His knowledge had to show in his behavior. He had to be humble, ascetic, and reserved. Some of the pious predecessors had said: “The scholar is the one who fears Allah so much that it affects his character, his conduct – and his knowledge.”
Sheikh Salman b. Fahd al-Oadah, 2015
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 79 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. The first paragraph implies that knowledge should be sought for the sake of …
A. knowledge B. Allah C. the seeker D. love E. a degree
2. The ultimate goal of learning Islamic knowledge is …
A. to learn the knowledge for the sake of the knowledge itself.
B. to learn the knowledge for the sake of Allah.
C. to become a scholar.
D. to put the knowledge into practice.
E. to be the inheritor of the Prophet.
3. Which of the followings is not the characteristic of those who were given knowledge according to surah al-Isra’ verses 107 – 109?
A. They bow down and and prostrate themselves before the lord.
B. They praise Allah.
C. They assert Allah promises.
D. They cry in their prostration.
E. They become more humble before the Lord.
4. Who are considered to be the best of creation according to surah al-Bayyinah verses 7 – 8?
A. Those who get reward from Allah.
B. Those who dwell in paradise.
C. Those who please Allah.
D. Those whom Allah please.
E. Those who believe in Allah and do good deeds.
| Muhsinin 80
5. According to surah Fatir verse 28 those who truly fear Allah are those who …
A. are knowledgeable
B. are humble in their prostration C. are the best creation
D. constantly pray to Allah E. do righteous deeds
6. This text specifically refers to the term “scholar” as … A. the person with specialized knowledge in medicine B. the person with specialized knowledge in engineering C. the person with specialized knowledge in chemistry D. the person with specialized knowledge in humanity E. the person who has knowledge about Allah.
7. What is considered to be the natural human inclination? (Last sentence paragraph 1)
A. People seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
B. People love to find new things.
C. People seek knowledge for the sake of themselves.
D. People seek knowledge to get diploma.
E. People seek knowledge for the sake of Allah.
8. It can be sought for the pure pleasure of acquiring it and not for the sake of Allah. (paragraph 1) The word it refers to … A. desire
B. inclination C. pleasure D. human E. knowledge
9. The text explicitly mentions the following things about the scholars except…
A. The scholars are those who truly fear Allah.
B. The scholars are the best of creation.
C. The scholars are those who possess a lot of knowledge.
D. The scholars are the successors of the Prophets.
E. The scholars are the best people after the Prophets.
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 81 10. The conclusion that the scholars are the best of creation can
be found in … A. paragraph 1 B. paragraph 2 C. paragraph 3 D. paragraph 4
E. paragraph 1 and 2 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 groups to add more sentences which have the same constructions.
1. Using this verse as their evidence, some people of knowledge have opined that the scholars are the
“best of Creation Allah will be pleased with them.
2. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
| Muhsinin 82
B. Write other examples using your own words.
1 _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2 _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
C. Write your reading
Please answer the following questions to form a paragraph. Use necessary transitional words to link the sentences.
1. Does Islam encourage its followers to seek for knowledge?
2. Which knowledge does Islam encourage its followers to seek, knowledge of religion or knowledge of worldly life?
3. What are the examples of knowledge of religion?
4. What are the examples of knowledge of worldly life?
5. What is the role of knowledge of religion?
6. What is the role of knowledge of worldly life?
7. How does Islam honor people who have knowledge?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Reading for Islamic Higher Education | 83 Main Aims:
to develop students’ reading comprehension skills and strategies using an authentic reading material related to Islam
and Society.
Objectives:
By the end of this session students will have:
practiced scanning practiced skimming
identified words related to Islam and society practiced setting reading purposes
identified and practiced grammatical construction so + adjective+ that