A Holistic and Institutional Analysis of Islamic Education
Year: 1994
Type: article
Abstract: IntroductionKnowledge is the source of economic, social, and political energyas well as divine enlightenment. An individual or a nation succeedsonly by gaining and using beneficial knowledge. Gaining usefulknowledge and using it for a proper cause for the pleasure of Allah isemphasized in Islam. The Qur’an mentions repeatedly the importanceof knowledge (Qur’an 30:22, 36:36, 39:9, 58:11). The Prophet alsoemphasized the importance of acquiring knowledge in many contexts:“A person who follows the path of acquiring knowledge, Allahwill make easy for himher the passage to paradise” (Muslim) and “Aperson who goes out of hisher house in search of knowledge, he/sheis on Allah’s way till the person returns” (Tirmidhi).The Prophet encouraged Muslims to be unrelenting in their searchfor useful knowledge and considered an ‘dim (learned person)superior to an ‘abid (worshiper) (ibid.). In the Qur’an, Allah reservedhigher ranks for people of knowledge (Qur’an 58:11). The Prophetsaid: “Wisdom is the lost property of the faithful, who deserve it mostwherever it may be found.” Muslim scholars accepted all usefulknowledge that is consistent with Shari‘ah (al Faruqi 1992).We acquire knowledge through formal and informal educationsystems. Schools, colleges, and universities are institutions thatprovide formal education. In addition to schools and universities, wegain knowledge from such informal sources as the family unit, social ‘groups, and personal undertakings. Islam made the acquisition of ...
Author: Mawdudur Rahman
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3112876342