Do you want to go to Darr?

“Why reject?”

These past few years, the number of youth joining in these stay-in types of Islamic learning or also known as Darr is increasing. Without us noticing, Darr buildings are continuously being built in almost every villages and every barangays in Lanao. Darr Ibad Ar-Rahman, Darr Al-Amal, Darr-Al Majma, Darr Sumayya…the list goes on.

The difference of the system between whichever Darr one chose to compare for this matter aren’t really that far-off from each other. Majority focus on memorizing the Quran, pondering over its meanings, following the teachings of Islam or performing Ibadah in general throughout one’s stay. The advantage of this type of learning is the maximized focus of students— away from the distraction of unnecessary worldly things that usually tempt people to go astray from the Islamic way of living.

However, there still exists people in Lanao who are doubtful of this constrained lifestyle. One of the main reason as to why it is--is probably because of the famous misconception that Darr are mistaken as Islamic prisons or Islamic rehabilitation centers for extremely naughty Muslim kids. Not to mention it is more commonly addressed here as Torel, a native word that means a rancho where they fence and tame cows. Rectification against this stereotypical viewpoint shall follow later in this discussion. 

A person, especially someone who used to be a university or a high school student, cannot simply enroll in a Darr and not compare the two environment; School and Darr.

If you’re in the middle of procrastinating in deciding which is which, then take time to answer this question.

What brings you to school?

The friends? The enjoyment? The subjects you are learning? The idea of studying to prepare for an exam? The security of a good future? Or perhaps the pressure that your entire neighborhood goes to school/university and you or probably your family wants you to pursue the same path as they?

If any of the aforementioned answers the question, then let here's the truth, Darr can do the same.

The friends? Developing friendships, particularly one that lasts for a very long time is possibly the easiest accomplishment a person can achieve when he/she is inside a Darr. They pray, eat, study, sleep and get sick of each other’s faces on a daily basis. If that doesn’t strengthen a friendship like stick glues then I have yet to be informed of what will.

The enjoyment? Contrary to rumors, learners from Darr aren’t actually a bunch of boring jailbirds. Inside jokes actually exist. The subjects you are learning? Majority of Darr have specific times dedicated only for learning subjects aside from memorizing Qur-an. We have Tawheed, Fiqh, Seera, Tahsin, Tajweed, Nahho, Khat, and so on. Scheduled times for studying are being executed religiously. We take quizzes every day, and take exams after a week and even at the end of the month. Meaning, we oral-recite pages from the Quran, review another pages during the night, and re-review everything after a week and at the end of the month. If you think about it simply, it’s nothing but an religious boarding school.

The security of a good future? Notice the large number of Filipino Citizens who, regardless, of their degrees and finished courses sit like wombats on their couches at home, impatient and nothing to offer? or have you seen the kind with professional jobs, greedy, hard to please, feels immortal, yet still unhappy?

Enrolling in Darr can be a stepping stone to a college diploma at the very least, a teaching job, or even a PhD to local or offshore Islamic Universities. You can be inside a Darr and still get to become a Lawyer or an entrepreneur after. While Princess Noura is not greater than Harvard, it is definitely better than most universities in the country. That is according to the rank of top universities around the globe. The amazing fact is, almost all of the female students who were sent to this prestigious university are products of a Darr. The difference between how school and Darr teach us simple values (like patience) is the approach. A score in GMRC or ESP based on multiple choices, and identification type of tests determine your familiarity with the value. In Darr however, patience is put to an extreme application. On a daily basis, patience and other values are determined by an on-hand execution through reality; a requirement to survive the Darr environment.

Comparing a person who knows what patience means in dictionary and another person who doesn’t know patience but expertly acts it, the latter is more likely to survive in the cannibalistic entrepreneurship of this world than the former. School educates the brain while Darr educates not only our brain, but also our heart, our soul and our actions all at the same time.

Still want to secure your future? Sure. Then secure your future on your grave, and they’re not written on diplomas by the way.

Or perhaps the pressure that your entire neighborhood goes to school/university and you or probably your family wants you to pursue the same path as they?  More and more people are going to Darr. Why won’t you want to pursue the same path as they? Antagonizing the so-called western education is certainly not the purpose of my discussion. A message: Flare up that small flame of faith you have there. My mom always tell me "Grab that flicker of Tawfiq before Shaitan steals it from you".  It is not as bad and as demeaning as others tell you it is. The truth is, it’s the other way around. With sincerity and Ikhlas, anybody will be in love with the experience, the teachings it will give you, and the person it transforms you into.