Islamic Philosophy in Education

Dr. Aisha Salim Al-HarthiFor

EDUC 2003: Foundations of EducationCollege of Education

Sultan Qaboos University

What is Islamic philosophy?

Three Perspectives in Islamic Philosophy

Al-Gazzali: more religious explanation of education

Ibn RushdIbn TufailAl-Baironi

Al-Kindi

Ikhwan Alsafa : اخوان الصفاFocus on the individual development and rationality

A group of teachers in the forth Hijri century in Al-Basra, who created a group “Lovers of Philosophy” , who published numerous messages about social and political reform.

Taha, H.(2007). Contemporary Educational hinking and its philosophical Roots. Jordan: Dar Al-Mssira

Ibn Khaldoun: Use of knowledge to build the Islamic nation

Metaphysics=Reality Oneness is an important metaphysical concept and answers

the riddles of the universe (Unified world, integrated universe)

Universe - uniformity, purposefulness and interdependence Universals exist before things

•All mankind are expected to believe in Allah•Fitrah/الفطرة: Recognition of Allah is imprinted on the souls of all Adam’s descendents

•Clarifies the true position of mankind as the vicegerent (خليفة) of Allah on Earth•Gives man complete trust in Allah (real submission to Allah)

Testimony of Faith

Metaphysics=Reality

Relationship between man and universe -> harmony not conflict.

Guides to happy life committed to virtue, purity, justice, and peace.

Leads to obeying Allah’s commands Other pillars of faith depends on pure monotheism

Epistemology- Knowledge The totality of life: spiritual, intellectual,

religious, cultural, individual, etc. Religious and intellectual Islamic education deals with all field of

knowledge Man: mind & spirit

Mind & senses

Axiology- Values Unchanging Religious Values:

Individual and society

Principles of Education in Isalm

These principles are based on Al-Azhar philosopher “Mohammed Abdo”. )Taha, H.(2007). Contemporary Educational Thinking and its philosophical Roots. Jordan: Dar Al-Mssira(.

Principles of Education in Isalm

These principles are based on Al-Azhar philosopher “Mohammed Abdo”. )Taha, H.(2007). Contemporary Educational Thinking and its philosophical Roots. Jordan: Dar Al-Mssira(.

Purposes of Education The ultimate goal for creating mankind:

To know and worship Allah ”ِن “ نوُدنو ُبْعنوُب ْعَي ل َّال ”ِل ْعَس ”ِإ ”ِإلَسن ْعَنولا ل َّن ”ِج ُبْل نوُت لا ُبْق ْعَخْعَل ْعَم ا ْعَنو ”

Prepare Muslim youths in a balanced way (life and after-life)

Develop goodness, piety, fear of Allah in the individual, tolerance, brotherhood, love, rightness, ability of self-expression and shouldering responsibility, opportunity to the individual to live an ideal, pure and happy life.

Curriculum Curriculum: based on Holy

Quran and Sunna Religious and intellectual Islamic education deals

with all field of knowledge

Teaching Methods Dialogue, induction, deduction, personal experience, intuition,

discussion, note-taking, and analogy Ethics: islamic ethics in curriculum, morals, teaching and

managing the classroom. Al-Gazzali: Practical application of knowledge Divine Intuition: learners use inductive methods to learn about the physical

world helped by divine revelation of the truth. (learners try and Allah help them succeed)

Ibn Khaldoun: Human mind is limited and directed by Allah. “وما أوتيتم من العلم إل قليل” Self-study: reasoning; seek knowledge; why; rationalization of things

What is reasoning??? To use all mental efforts in order to produce legislative rules

for the text, whether it is Quran or Sunnah. Many texts in Quran and Sunnah are not clear or definitive in

their meaning Rules are changeable from time to time- flexible rules Face new matters people face Analogy (only for scholars)

Related to reasoning= new matters similar to old matters take the same judgment

Drugs=alcohol

Classroom Management Al-Gazzali:

Learning environment is characterized with love and the teacher is looked as a guardian

Teachers are role models for their students.

Role of the Teacher Teachers: inheritors of prophets' knowledge ”العلماء ورثة البنبياء“ Teachers’ morals= affect students’ behaviors

Al-Gazzali: teachers should display strong commitment to Islamic ethics and values.

Teachers’ motivation and ethics More responsibilities; honest; loyalty for the job=Allah

Deal better with students; humility, brotherhood; shouldering the responsibility

Teach students to use reasoning= everything is created for a reason= reflect on the universe; evidence

Role of the Learner Students: seekers of knowledge & obligated to learn Al-Gazzali: Learner should display total commitment to

learning

اًق ا لِإ ىَل ى “ لِرقي لِه ىَط ب هل ُهَّلل له لِب اًم ا ىَسلهل ا لِعًمْل لِه لِفهي لِغ ي ًمْب ىَت اًق ا ىَقي لِرقي ًمْن ىَس ىَل ىَك ىَط ىَملِم لِعًمْل ًمْل لِب ا ًمْجلِن ىَح ىَت ىَله ا لِل ىَط الِل ب هل ُع ىَأ ًمْل ىَم ىَللِئ ىَك ىَة ىَل ىَت ىَض هَّن ا لِة ، ىَولِإ ًمْل ىَجهَّن ”ا

Evaluation Evaluation of what?

Process: formative evaluation Product: What is the product?

Behavior: observation Attitude: self report Thinking: tests

For what? Modifying behavior? Level of understanding?

Dilemmas in Education Muslim teachers ethics: do they observe Islamic ethics in practicing

their profession of teaching? (e.g. teacher demonstration?) Is education still valued today as the Islamic philosophy emphasize it

to be? Is there a duality of education in Muslim educational system between

the needs for development in Islam and in the Western view of development?

Are teacher education programs in Muslim universities more westernized, and teach teachers to teach youths in western ways, aims, and visions?

Do educational philosophies in Muslim countries reflect the principles of education in Islam? تأكيد اإليمان بمبادئ الدين اإلسالمي، وترسيخ يفالقيم الدينية وتوظيفها العالقات االجتماعية، وجعلها معيارا للسلوك .