I am not a Hafez nor an Aalim. But when I look at the present-day Huffaaz, I discern something is amiss.

Answer

and Comment

The above Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is more than adequate advice, and the criteria are intrinsically stated therein. However, we shall expand a bit. Most people are intellectually clogged and their brains are Islamically retarded due to kufr mental colonization effected by western education, hence the need to elucidate even divine advice and directives which really do not require commentary. A sign for an intelligent person suffices. But intelligence is the effect of Taqwa. Since this is lacking, the brains remain fossilized and moronized.

The putrid and degenerate state of today's so-called 'huffaaz' who are in reality not genuine Huffaaz, is the consequence of the khiyaanat (abuse of Amaanat –Trust) by both hifz teachers and parents. Abuse of Amaanat on the universal scale prevalent today is among the Signs of Qiyaamah. A man came to Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and said: "When will it be the Hour (of Qiyaamah)?" Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "When Amaanat is destroyed." The man said: "How will Amaanat be destroyed?" Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "When a matter (of Trust) is assigned to an unfit person. Then (at such a time) await the Hour."

Amaanat in the context has a very wide meaning. There is no greater Amaanat than the Trust of the Qur'aan Majeed. Therefore, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) warned against imparting the Qur'aan - its Hifz and its Higher Knowledge – to those who are classified as "pigs".

The type of pupils described by you and to whom Hifz of the Qur'aan Majeed is imparted, are the "swines" mentioned by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The teachers who teach these miserable wretches Hifz, and the parents who enrol them for Hifz are the "garlanders of swines". They garland the pigs with precious stones and gold. Just as a pig does not understand anything about the valuable garland, so too, do these morally debased pupils have absolutely no understanding of the Knowledge they have been constrained to pursue.

In addition to the rot you have observed about these pupils, there is much more filth of which you are not aware. Hifz students, and even those who are pursuing the Ilm of Fiqh, Hadith, Tafseer, etc., in this age, are generally rotten to the inner core. They are not only rotten to the core. Right inside the core is nothing but Rijs (filth). They lack the haziest meaning of the Qur'aan – of its glory, greatness and significance. They happen to be in the Madrasah by default or by some awful accident.

The teachers are pure mercenaries. They lack understanding of the Qur'aan. Since their objective is only the money which they earn in conflict of Rasulullah's command: "Recite the

Qur'aan. Do not eat with the Qur'aan.", they are not concerned regarding those to whom they teach 'hifz'. The immoral conduct and spiritual and moral rottenness of the pupils are of no concern to them.

As for most parents, the objective is never the Deen, never the immense thawaab in the Aakhirat for the parents of genuine Huffaaz. Their motive is insincere and corrupt. They hanker after name – riya and takabbur. They want to proudly advertise to relatives and friends that their children are huffaaz. It is for this reason that they insanely insist on jalsahs – stupid 'graduating' functions of riya and takabbur.

The majority of these so-called 'huffaaz' have no true relationship with the Qur'aan Majeed. They dress like kuffaar. Their character is like kuffaar character. They indulge in all the immoralities of our immoral society. Kuffaar sport have deranged them mentally. Their brains and hearts are totally corrupted and contaminated by their satanic indulgence in television, cell phone immorality, kuffaar sport, consumption of carrion, adoption of kuffaar dress and kuffaar habits and behaviour. How is it now possible for these louts to have any affinity with the Qur'aan Majeed?

It is not permissible to impart Hifz and the higher Knowledge of the Deen to morally debased persons. The principals of the Madaaris display no care and understanding when they enrol students. It appears that their motive is simply the numbers. The corrupt desire is to operate a large institution for name, fame and boodle. The Deen is being manipulated as a tool for acquisition of worldly goals. Among the Signs of Qiyaamah, it is mentioned in the Hadith: "Knowledge will be acquired for purposes other than the Deen…..The world will be pursued with the amal of the Aakhirat." These statements of Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) have full applicability to the Madaaris – teachers and students – of this age. The exceedingly inferior academic and moral standards of the students should therefore not be at all surprising.

The rot is at the very inception, in fact in the managements of the Madaaris themselves. What can now be expected of the products emerging from our institutions? The imperative demand of the moment is for the Madaaris to be extremely selective in admitting students. A student who displays moral debasement should not be tolerated in a Madrasah. He should be assigned to the custody of his parents with the advice to first gain moral purification, reformation, and to inculcate Islamic culture. Only then should he be admitted.

The Madaaris of this age are mere shadows. These institutions have absolutely no relationship and no affinity with Ghaar-e-Hira (The Cave of Hira) where the

Qur'aan Majeed was first revealed. On the contrary, they are incrementally emulating the filthy and depraved secular institutions, hence "garlanding swines" has become a norm.

You have asked for the criteria. The above answer should suffice. The summary is:

The essential conditions for admitting a pupil for Hifz are: He should be Islamically attired. The hair on his head should be shaven off. Long hair should not be permitted. Cell phones, radios, newspapers, magazines and the like must be totally banned. Raucous behaviour such as the displays of secular school children should not be allowed. Strict adherence to all acts of Masnoon ibaadat –Tahajjud, Ishraaq, Dhua, Tahyatul Wudhu, Awwaabeen, etc. – are essential requisites for students of the Qur'aan Majeed.

It must be impressed on students as well as on their parents, that the end all of Hifz is not to flaunt recitation during Taraaweeh. In fact, nowadays, the chaps struggle and slog all day long to manage recitation for two or four raka'ts. That is because they are not Huffaaz in the proper meaning of the term. Parents are deluded into believing that their children are qualified Huffaaz when in reality they have not even perceived the fragrance of Hifz. Jalsahs play an important role in perpetuating the deception.

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "The Bearer of the Qur'aan, is the Standard-Bearer of Islam." Can any one honestly say that these louts who masquerade as 'huffaaz' are the Standard-Bearers of Islam? About louts of this type, it is further mentioned in the Hadith:

* "Do not place diamonds in the mouths of dogs"

* "Do not hang (a garland of) diamonds on the necks of pigs."

* "Search for knowledge, and be humble. Do not impart it to one who is not deserving of it, for verily, some Ambiya have said: 'Do not place your diamonds into the mouths of pigs."