Q: salaam,

question is what are your thoughts regarding learning deen through means such as online? rather than traditional way such as attending a school due to not having that ability to leave home? would one still be able to gain the noor of ilm through that way? does the traditional way vs the online have more noor in it?

Time: Tuesday September 20, 2011 at 12:33 pm

A: ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

•  For some to leave home would be violation of family and/or parental rights. For example,  aging parents, no other better suited person exists for taking care of the parents, wife, children, etc. In such a situation, online religious education may prove beneficial.
• However, a better way for attaining good religious education would be the traditional way. In the traditional Islamic schooling system, it is not data that is merely collected or shared. The traditional system demands that a student sits in the company of good people that are fully practicing the faith and share knowledge beyond the framework of mere words. This can only be experienced as part of an in-house-experience. Online learning prevents this positive outcome.
• When a person gives a portion of self to Allah (SWT), Allah (SWT) would present a person that can best help you. This is a dua you must always make for your doors of True Knowledge to be opened for you. It sometimes comes in small steps, but if you are sincere, it would happen for you. Likewise, you would only attain to the extent that you are seeking.
• It is not all about data/knowledge collection, it is about practicing whatever little you have learned in a manner that is linked to mannerisms of the deen.This would bring noor.

Online classes, due to their limited in-person interaction does not give the supreme flavor and subtleties that take place as one is seated in the presence of a teacher. (Many students call me on a regular basis and query what the online teacher really meant when the online teacher translated an ayah, etc.) I would recommend that first you meet a teacher, spend time with them (no less then three years if possible), then resort to learning from them online. This would prove wonders InshaAllah for you.
May Allah (SWT) make your matters easy for you. I sincerely pray that you get true authentic knowledge that would make you the best person, ameen.
Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. I do not know your definition of ‘traditional.’ To some traditional means: living under conditions of hardship, to others, paying least amount of fees, yet to others, poor sanitary conditions with limited food. Yet to others, teacher must always be soft and nice to students, while to others, teacher must be harsh. To me: mastering your texts and acting upon it and being able to share it with others while taking into consideration the context and/or environment without sacrificing core principles and values.