12/08/2025
Topic: *School Signing Out: An Islamic Perspective* *توديع المدرسة: رؤية إسلامية*
Lecturer: *Imām Kamaldeen AbdurRasaq*
*Introduction:*
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.
The end of a school journey is a moment of joy, gratitude, and reflection. However, in recent years, signing out has taken a dangerous turn, involving vandalism, indecent dressing, paint-spraying on clothes, reckless gatherings, and free mixing between male and female students. Islam, while not against celebration, sets boundaries that preserve honour, modesty, and gratitude to Allah.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
"If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]." (Qur’an 14:7)
The completion of schooling should therefore be an act of gratitude, not disobedience.
*1. Gratitude and Obedience Go Together*
Gratitude (shukr) is not just by words, but by obeying Allah’s commands.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ اللَّهَ
"He who does not thank people has not thanked Allah." (Abu Dawud)
We must thank parents, teachers, and Allah, not repay them with acts of immorality on our signing-out day.
*2. Avoiding Haram in Celebrations*
Allah says:
وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
"Do not follow your desires, for they will mislead you from the path of Allah." (Qur’an 38:26)
Common un-Islamic signing-out practices include:
- Indecent clothing and exposure of the body.
- Mixing freely with the opposite gender.
- Vandalising property and destroying uniforms.
- Spraying paints that waste resources and sometimes harm health.
*3. The Islamic Way to Sign Out*
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
"Indeed Allah has prescribed excellence in everything." (Muslim 1955)
A signing-out celebration can be halal if done with:
1. Modest dressing in line with Qur’an 24:30-31.
2. Words of gratitude to Allah, teachers, and parents.
3. Halal entertainment, poetry, Qur’an recitation, or educational talks.
4. Charity, donating unused items to the less privileged.
5. Supplication for future success and beneficial knowledge.
*4. Preparing for the Next Stage*
The end of school is not the end of learning. The Prophet ﷺ said:
طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
"Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim." (Ibn Majah 224)
We must move from academic achievement to life achievement, living in obedience to Allah in every career path.
*Conclusion:*
The real success is not merely completing school, but completing life with faith intact.
Allah says:
وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
"And the [good] end is for the righteous." (Qur’an 7:128)
So let us make our signing-out days a means of earning Allah’s pleasure, not His anger.
اللهم اجعل علمنا حجة لنا لا علينا
*Allāhumma aj‘al ‘ilmanā ḥujjata lanā lā ‘alaynā*
“O Allah, make our knowledge a proof for us and not against us.”
جزاكم الله خيراً
May Allah reward you with goodness.
Courtesy: *The Muslim Congress, Osun State.*
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