Muallimah Fahdia’s desire to teach Deen started at the young age of twelve. Her muallims from Kimberly (her home town) were the inspiration behind her yearning to study and teach Deen. Finally Muallimah Fahdia decided to “drop the bombshell” as she put it, on her parents. She was worried that her parents would not be too pleased with her career choice, but before she knew it, by the grace of Allah her family relocated to Newcastle, Kwa Zulu Natal (South Africa) where she and her brother began to fulfill their dreams of studying Deen.
Muallimah Fahdia says: “Studying Deen is no breeze I tell you, but the help and support of my parents and teachers was absolutely amazing”. Toward the end of her second last year of the Aalimah Faadhilah course, in 2008, Madrasah Ummul Hasanaat was looking to train graduates with no teaching experience.
“I did not know many people in Newcastle and was a little nervous about the training, but I decided that this would bring me one step close to teaching Deen ul Islam. The moment I stepped into Madrasah Ummul Hasanaat, I entered a whole new world… The classes were simple yet so full of noor, the determined recitation of Qur’aan by the children and most of all, the profound love that Muallimah Sa’uda showed and still shows for the students really touched me . Yes this is what I was looking for, for so long”.
The weeks that followed included intense training, meetings and workshops from Madrasah Ummul Hasanaat until eventually Muallimah Fahdia was ready. She was afraid at first due to this great amaanah that stood before her but her parents and Muallimah Sa’uda kept motivating her. “I feel somewhat indebted to Muallimah Sa’uda for giving me a chance. She believed in me at a time when no one would, she taught me to be the best in whatever I do. She is my inspiration”, says Muallimah Fahdia.
She further goes on, “Madrasah Ummul Hasanaat is not just a place of learning Deen ul Islam. It is a home where the child is loved, disciplined according to the laws of Islam whereby the child feels safe. The hours I spend here are the best hours of my life. We learn and grow together. Everyday brings a new opportunity for us as teachers to mould these young minds into being upright Muslims of this Ummah. My du’a is that Allah grant me the ability to touch the hearts of my students in the same manner that my teachers have touched mine”.
