Local Teacher, International Recognition

On Friday 2nd June 2006, one of Al-Iman School teachers, brother Sayyed was given an award for exceptional work, a mentor, a model teacher and someone who has an international reputation. So, simply put, some of our teachers at Al-Iman School are of international standing and complement our school by the level of experience and knowledge they bring to us. The cousin of the late Sayyed Abbas Musawi, shaheed in Lebanon, brother Sayyed is very proud of his Islamic faith and heritage often citing the Prophet Muhammad (saww) about unity of the Ummah as most important than merely individual gains or selfish promotions. One of his cousins, works at our school and hails from Lebanon, Teacher Sister Nada, who teaches Arabic. We are proud to have them both serve us as model teachers among all our other hardworking teachers. Brother Sayyed hails from the Caribbean, of Arab-Persian background, the great-grandson of a Mullah, Sayyed Sabdar Mohammad Shirazi (his father, himself was a Persian Ayatulloh), the son of Sayyed Shamair-a former Imam of two Mosques previously and a retired Principal, the great-grandson of Abdullah Abdullah of Arabia, today called Saudi Arabia. Back then, Arabia had either Shia or Sunni as, it was not until Muhammad Abd AL-Wahab created Wahibbya Islam-a fundamentalist sect in Islam that caused many Shia Muslims of Arabia to flee, many fled to the West including brother Sayyed's family (his fore-parents). Brother Sayyed has our school's interest at heart, often staying after school to complete work with no regard to set professional times or routines. In one of his comments, I heard him say, "This is Imam's (referring to Imam Mahdi(AS)) center, we are only here to do our best and serve our Imam, not to think of things as our own." 

Brother Sayyed is a former Honorary member of the United Nations of Canada, under the former Jim Potts and Peter Alford, he traveled to over 27 countries which credits any Geography or History class, taught in the Middle East (at Howza Imam Ali), Caribbean (Southern Community College) and Europe previously at the College level, Adult Education Classes (at the Syrian Arab Republic), and Elementary School (Caribbean). He was educated in Canada where he completed his High School and University: at Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School and at the University of Guelph.

Even when the Award was first put forward in terms of recommendation for the Award, brother Sayyed said, “Sister Marziya,” our Math teacher deserves this Award more than anyone because she “gives of her time to the Saturday school,” and she is a “model teacher.” It turns out that Sister Marziya was also recommended for the said Award too. Even when he received the Award, brother Sayyed did not mention it in the staff meeting or to any teacher except his fellow-teacher, brother Waziry and our director of our School, Dr. Mohsin Alidina. It was then that Dr. Mohsin insisted that he mention it because the Award was given as part of belonging to our School and our school is also mentioned in the Award itself, not just to the person of teacher Sayyed.

Our readers may be wondering now, what organization would give an Al-Iman teacher an Award? Was it an Islamic organization? The fact is, it is a Christian-Jewish dominated organization and it is certainly not part of any Mosque or any other Islamic School, which is another good thing for our Islamic School in an age in which Islam is being defamed by some radical Muslims themselves in the Middle East and by certain fundamentalist Wahibbya elements in the U.S. When brother Sayyed speaks about Islam, he speaks of a collective and often mentions Sunni and Shia as one group of Muslims who share common elements as one Holy Quran, one Holy Kabah, one Holy Prophet (saww), one set of five times salaat, and one set guide in Sahih Ahadith which is shared by both Sunni and Shia. As one of his students, I have learnt of tolerance from him, to have a positive mental attitude (PMA) as he taught us, to be ambitious and never settle for less, to be proud of being a part of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and to think of what we can do for our Islamic community than merely for ourselves. Often he is caught telling students, do not think of yourselves but all your Muslim brothers and sisters for the best Muslim, often paraphrasing the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww), is someone who is concerned about other Muslims first before himself or herself.

The Award came from The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) and Claes Nobel Prize Family, the latter is the same organization which has granted former President Bill Clinton an Award, former President Jimmy Carter an Award, both democrats; ironically, brother Sayyed is a Republican. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the NSHSS is a national Honor Society which has more than 200,000 student members representing 15,000 high schools in 19 countries. The point is, to have an Award given to someone, which is of an international standing just for the mere international composition and value of these organizations, shows the substance of brother Sayyed as a person but even more so, of AL IMAN SCHOOL, as a place whose standard is unquestionable. I am honored to be writing this about my teacher because he has been an inspiration in my life and I hope to emulate him in my studies, my religion and my life generally. He has completed his three year Bachelor Degree in two years, which is rare for his time period, 18 years ago. Brother Sayyed is currently pursuing his Masters of Arts in Education (emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction) which proves to his students that learning never stops and the Holy Prophet's (Saww) and Imam Ali's (AS) insistence of "seeking knowledge from the cradle to the grave," which is an Islamic characteristic of our religion of Islam. This is someone that Al-Iman students notice as being proud of his Islamic Center, Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center, for which Sheikh Fadhel Al Sahlani has known brother Sayyed for 16 years now, and who is proud of the school he works at and hopes to see students be proud of our school equally. Thank you brother and May Allah bless you and all those who work for our school and the center.