Hurma Myth: Children are always safe in the masjid or with their Qur’an teacher.
The facts are:
- Muslim teachers, including those who are hafidh, have memorised the Qur’an, are human and susceptible to wrongdoing.
- Someone can have good knowledge of Islam, but still have psychological or spiritual dysfunction which makes them unfit and unsafe to be around children.
What does this mean?
- Dismantling feelings of shame, blame, and misappropriated cultural modesty enables children to communicate instances of mistreatment at an early stage.
- It’s crucial to maintain vigilance and scrutiny over all individuals entrusted with responsibility and authority
over children. - Swift actions by adults halts current and potential harm to other children.
What should I do?
- Ask your masjid what safeguarding procedures are in place to protect children.
- Talk to your children about what behavior is unacceptable from an adult or another child.
- Encourage children to tell you if they feel uncomfortable with what a teacher asks or does.
- Avoid telling a child that they must always obey those in authority (“The teacher is always right.”)
