Islamic Versus Western

Conception of Education:
Reflection on Egypt
BRADLEY J. COOK
CULTURAL DUALISM OF EDUCATION

• Revelatory/classical knowledge
• Has not shown any keen interest in new
branches of knowledge nor new methods of
Traditional acquiring knowledge that have emerged in
the West

• Secularism and liberalism (human reasons,

Western/ separation of mosque and state)
• Non-religious approach
• Rational scientific logic, sensual experience

Modern • Unaware of own tradition and classical

heritage

(p. 340-42,47)
 EYGPT (AND OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES …)
The glorious phase of Islamic civilisations (9-
16TH centuries
European colonialism of Islamic lands
Illiteracy rate are high
Religious education was to remain a
separate and personal responsibility, having
no place in public education
Reconstruct education : to meet challenges
and satisfy Muslim social and cultural needs
in the present and future times
(pp. 340-42,43-44)
 EYGPT
• 90% Muslims, 1964 the official religion of State
• Economic – unemployment, slow economic
growth
• Political and social problems – urbanization,
population growth
• Education – lack of fund for material and
equipments, lack of physical infrastructure, high
enrollment rate
THE CHALLENGE…..
•Modernization without Westernization
•Islamization without Extremism
A
L
TRADITIONAL UNIVERSAL
ISLAMIC
-
EDUCATION
SYSTEM
Q
U
R
MODERN
Egypt : The National Project
A
N
 THE CHALLENGE…..
“THE NATIONAL PROJECT”
A
Reinforcing L
the values UNIVERSAL/
of religion HOLISTIC -
ISLAMIC
EDUCATION
Q
SYSTEM
U
Producing a better R
workforce : values and
labour skills needed for A
a technological society
N
 Education in Islam
Ta’lim Taadib
Tarbiya

• to know, to • to increase , to • to be cultured,

learn grow refined, well-
• knowledge • a state of mannered
being sought or spiritual and • the social
imparted ethical dimension of a
through nurturing in person’s
instruction and accordance development of
teaching with the will of sound social
ALLAH behavior.

(p. 344-45)
Islamic Educational
Theory: Aims and
Vicegerent
Objectives
of God

Bodily
senses

social
rational

COMPLETE
PERSONS
SPIRITUAL
(p. 344-46)
The First World Conference on Muslim Education
in Mecca in 1977

• First attempt of its kind to remove the

dichotomy of religious and secular education
• Collection of theory and practical
recommendations :
• International Islamic Universities : Islamabad,
KL, Kampala and Niger.
• Translations
• Textbooks
• Central research library

(p.342)
 Revealed/Traditional
• Recitation (qirah), memorisation (tahfiz),
interpretation (tafsir)
• Tradition of Prophet (Hadith/Sunnah)
• Tawhid
• Islamic Jurisprudence (Usul-al-fiqh and fiqh)
• Quranic Arabic
• Comparative religion
 Acquired/Modern Knowledge
A) Humanities: Studies on Religion, Philosophy, Literature,
Linguistics, Languages, Arts, Music.
B) Social and Human Sciences: Anthropology, Sociology,
Psychology, Political Science, History, Journalism,
Communication, Law, Economics and Business, Education,
Management, Gender Studies, Hospitality, Tourism.
C) Natural and Physical Sciences: General Sciences,
Astronomy, Cosmology, and Geography.
D) Applied Sciences and Technology:
Engineering,Information Communication Technology,
Computer Science, Architecture, Quantity Surveying,
Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Design and
Space Sciences.
E) Medical Sciences: Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy,
Dentistry, Traditional and Complementary Medicine.
 1983
International
Conference on
Islamization of
Human Sciences
4-6 August 2000

Islamization of Knowledge since the 1977 Makkah Conference:

Achievements and Failures
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ghulam Nabi Saqeb (Prof)
Assistant Secretaries of the First World Conference on Muslim Education
(and all the 6 Follow-up Conferences)

His Ph.D. thesis was on “Modernization of Muslim education in

Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey since their Independence from the colonial rule.”
The First World Conference on Muslim Education
in Mecca in 1977

IIUM’s VISION
I – Integration of Revealed and Acquired Knowledge or
Religious and Secular subjects
I – Islamization of all branches of sciences and life and
culture of the University and of its staff and students
I _ Internalization of knowledge, expertise, research,
qualifications and standard of the University
Comprehensive- nature of the university work
E- Excellence in every aspect of the University
performance (p.342)
• 1ST WORLD CONGRESS ON INTEGRATION AND
ISLAMICISATION OF ACQUIRED HUMAN
KNOWLEDGE (FWCII-2013)
• Theme: “CONSTRUCTING THE ALTERNATIVE
PARADIGM OF TAWHID”
• Dates: 23 (Friday) – 25 (Sunday) August 2013
Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• “.. not a single country Muslim country shows
the seriousness to enforce even the most
crucial recommendations. This is not because
of a lack of financial resources but lack of
political will. The only exception to this
indifference, stands out the case of Malaysia
where the government “
 • “The establishment of the International
Islamic University Malaysia, the International
Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) and
International Institute of Islamic Thought and
Civilisation (ISTAC) all of which are seriously
engaged in the mission of Islamization of
Knowledge must remain a source of honour
and pride for the government and people of
Malaysia”.
Department of Sociology & Anthropology

• Islamic Perspective of Sociology and Anthropology

• Islamic Ideology and Muslim Societies
• Contemporary Muslim Societies
• Shariah and Ijtihad in Contemporary Muslim Societies
• Islam and Industry
 Department of Political Science
• The Abbasid Caliphate
• Islamic Theory of International Relations
• Islah and Tajdid Movements in the Muslim World
• Islam in Contemporary Southeast Asia
• Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism in the Muslim World
• Contemporary Islamic Thought
 Department of Psychology
• Islam and Psychology
• Undergraduate Seminar on Islamic Perspective
of Psychology
The KHALIFAH WAY
Keep classroom clean
Social interaction
Be punctual between sisters and
brothers
Behave well when the
Show respect teacher is not n class

Do not talk when Love what you’re learning

the teacher is Pay attention
teaching

Complete assignment Recite doa before every class

and hand in on time
Wear proper attire and observe aurah
AN IDEAL STUDENT
Upholding Islamic principles
Positive attitude: Hard-working
High IQ
Human relations
Leadership skills

Upholding Islamic principles

Positive attitude: Hard-working

Human relations