The Meaning of Tarbyia:

The word "Tarbiya" is an Arabic word that linguistically means increase, growth, and loftiness. Conventionally, Tarbiya means the development and the training of people in various aspects. The word is commonly used to describe children upbringing as the parents provide them with physical, educational, moral and spiritual needs to help them grow up and become useful parties in the society.

MAS aspires to raise a generation of committed and disciplined Muslims who will spread the message of Islam and implement the comprehensive Islamic vision in all fields of Islamic work.

In MAS terminology, the word Tarbiya means the systematic development and training of MAS members and community. It is a continuous and comprehensive process of developing all aspects of the Muslim character and personality, i.e., spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical. The word Islamic Tarbiya implies that the development process conforms to Islamic guidelines and standards. The Tarbiya process exceeds the level of individuals to the level of the group trying to establish team sprit that Islam teaches such as love, brotherhood, and mutual trust.

Tarbiya is the cornerstone of MAS comprehensive reform methodology, and the Tarbiya department is one of the permanent departments in the organization. This approach traces its origin to the Qur'an and to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as he invested a lot of effort in Tarbiya for his companions. As a result of his effort, he not only left a great message, the message of Islam, but also left a great generation that carried the message and spread it all over the land and moved humanity from darkness to light. It is the quality of people that the Prophet nurtured that constitute the secret behind the miracle of Islam. Also, Islamic history proves the effectiveness and relevance of this methodology.

MAS delivers a rigorous educational curriculum to its current and potential members that focuses on the systematic development of the Muslim individual, the Muslim family and the Muslim community. The focus of Tarbiyah is to instill in individuals traits to be distinguished, strive for excellence, have a sense of mission, self-motivated, conduct a balanced life, live in peace with themselves and their environment, be equipped with the necessary knowledge, understanding, and skills to make a difference in the society by taking an active role, both individually and collectively in the reform process that seeks to better our community, our country, and the whole world.

The Tarbiyah process also aims to place individuals on the path of constant self-purification and self-development, and instill in them the passion for truth, righteousness, justice and fairness.

Core Tarbiya Programs:

Study Circles and Halaqa: a weekly meeting, or study circle, of a few brothers or sisters. It follows a strict and thoroughly reviewed educational program and timetable, and serves as a nurturing ground for educational, spiritual, and intellectual development. The Halaqa mechanism helps joining hearts by developing true brotherhood and sisterhood (acquaintance and solidarity), trust and mutual understanding, loyalty and a sense of belonging, and commitment to the service of Islam and the community.

Night prayer: usually a monthly program where community members spend the entire night or part of it in prayers, recitation of the Qur'an, supplication and remembrance of Allah, thus recharging the members spiritually, softening their hearts, purifying and nourishing their souls, rekindling and reinforcing the spirit.

Trips and Camps: They allow for interaction in an open and free atmosphere, thus strengthening the ties of relationships and love for the sake of Allah. They also train participants on patience, courage, tolerance, endurance, discipline and forbearance over a period of time, thus rejuvenating the spirit, renewing the commitment, and revitalizing the body.

Workshops/Seminars: MAS offers a broad range of seminars and workshops to empower the community with full understanding of relevant themes/concepts and mastership of important skills (leadership, political activism, media skills,...).

Conferences/Conventions: These are large national and regional gatherings where prominent leaders and speakers translate the conclusions of their diligent research and studies into practical solutions and guidelines for action plans. They usually focus on a particular theme, and provide a unique opportunity for the development and acquirement of new ideas.