When my son was two, and I was in the midst of a dilemma, I was not sure which school I should send him to because I always had anticipated and yearned to give a strong Islamic foundation for my son right from the time he was born. But sadly, there was not even one school around that boasted both Islamic education and regular curricular activities. Al-hamdu lillah, as soon as my son turned three, the Islamic International School was established, it was certainly a blessing. Another parent echoed the same view as follows:

The moment my daughter was born, I was worried about her upbringing. We then heard about a school in Mumbai, which enforces both Islamic education with the standard schooling and hoped that it would be wonderful if we could attend such a school. This school was launched at the right time.

Islamic International School caters to Muslim children who are taught the Qur'an as well as customary education. Swimming and karate are also a part of the curriculum of this school. This helps the children to be well-equipped with knowledge and self-defense. Not only does this school aim at producing da`iyas, but it also intends to prepare the children to face the challenges of today's world. In other words, it is grooming the children to excel in both dunya (worldly life) and the hereafter, 'in sha 'Allah.

Sister Fatima, the mother of Nargis and Fadila said, "We had a family gathering and all of us asked our children to tell us what they would like to grow up to be, in sha’ Allah. The children replied that they wanted to become doctors, engineers, pilots, architects, scientists, et cetera, but, al-hamdu lillah, my daughter, who is just seven years old, said that she wants to become an `alimah (scholar), qadi (judge), da`iya, and then become a doctor and cure people. The relatives were stunned and the children asked her what does alimah, qadhi, and da`iya mean? I really think this school is a great mercy of Allah, there is not even one single day that passes without praying for the school and the teachers."

The mother of Abdullah Yusuf, a kindergarten student, said, "This school is unique in many ways. I would say I have learned a lot as regards Islam after admitting my son into this school."

Sister Mubaraka, a mother of two children said, "The starting of Islamic International School in Chennai was like a dream come true for many Muslim parents here. I am no exception to that. The school was opened at a time when I was seriously on a school-hunting expedition for both my children.

"Not satisfied with most of the schools, even if they education was good, the children were influenced by their major non-Islamic approaches," she added. "But in this school, I feel the children have acquired Islamic knowledge as well as regular academics, which I myself am not familiar with.

"Ma sha’ Allah, the type of education the children receive here is in total contrast to what they would have learned elsewhere," sister Mubaraka concluded.

There is only one thing some parents are not so happy about.

"I think the children must have more sports and games in school. The promised swimming coaching has yet to start with already half the year completed," says one parent.

The school only began two years ago, parents should be patient and realize that there are bound to be teething snags. Once the management find a good pool, they will start the swimming lessons immediately.

In general, Muslim parents in Chennai feel blessed to have their children educated at this institution. The parents are required to follow certain rules if they desire to get their children admitted at the school. Parents are asked to dress Islamically, it is made mandatory for the mothers of the student to wear a hijab and attend classes on Islam and the English language if they don't have background in them. In this way, the parents also become students of the school. Because of this, many sisters who never wore hijab before are donning the hijab and have begun to practice Islam according to Qur'an and Sunnah, al-hamdu lillah.

There is another Islamic school, Olive, which was launched at the same time as Islamic International School. Olive coaches its students according to the Montessori system. It is certainly a good sign that more Islamic schools are sprouting in India this century.