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Unfinished Notes on the Islamic Ethics of Childrearing
Over the years, through classes, personal research, seminar preparation, and textbook development projects, various incomplete documents began to collect metaphorical dust on my hard-drive. In light of the fact that many of such writings were unfortunately left unfinished and I have no immediate intention to give them attention in the near future, I thought it would… Continue reading
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Thoughts on Rigid Adherence to Texts in Text-Based Curricula
In reading through the history of Islamic education, it has become quite clear that there is no hard and fast rule about the reliance on specific texts for the study of all the Islamic sciences. It can be safely said that some subjects require more dependency on texts than others. Continue reading
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Mawlānā ʿUbayd Allāh Sindhī, the Islamic Revival, and the House of Wisdom
Below is a brief summary of the objectives and action plan behind Mawlānā ʿUbayd Allāh Sindhī’s political/intellectual revivalist movement, the Jamīʿat Khuddām al-Ḥikmah and its centers (Bayt al-Ḥikmahs) taken from my notes on a collection of his various discourses (khuṭabāt) and essays (maktūbāt). Mawlānā ʿUbayd Allāh Sindhī strongly believed that any effective and holistic revival of the… Continue reading
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Excerpt: Fundamentals of Islamic Law: Introduction to Purification
The following sample chapter gives an idea of the format and style of a proposed work on Islamic law written for a modern student. The chapters begin with a “You Will Learn” outline of the chapter’s content, followed by the body of the chapter (with bolded concepts/important vocabulary). Each chapter ends with a Summary (which… Continue reading
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The One Thing Muslims Can Profitably Learn from the West: Quoting Muhammad Asad
A striking quote of the German thinker Muhammad Asad I compiled from my notes: “What the world of Islam urgently needs today is not a new philosophical outlook, but only an up-to-date scientific and technical education and mental equipment. If I were to make proposals to an ideal Educational Board governed by Islamic considerations alone, I would… Continue reading
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Essential Reading Material on the Dars Nizami in Urdu
1. Deeni Madaris: This is a collection of articles from conferences held in the past eighty years in India and delivered by both our ulama and educationalists. Very beneficial in learning the opinions of our elders on education. I mentioned this previously in a post but in passing. 2. Aap Beeti: Especially the second volume.… Continue reading
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Notes and Thoughts from George Makdisi’s “The Rise of Colleges”
1. Regular sessions of legal disputation can greatly enhance a student’s understanding of disputed legal issues as well as train him in the art of sound legal disputation. Furthermore, it exposes the student to the evidences and principles of rival schools of law. Lastly, it inculcates a higher level of respect and tolerance for opposing… Continue reading
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Presentation Notes: Full-Time Islamic Schooling in the West: Problems and Solutions
I was looking through my old files and stumbled upon the rough notes from my presentation on full-time Islamic schools in the West at the first Foundation of Islamic Knowledge and Research (FIKR) symposium in 2009. The presentation concentrated on a survey of Islamic schools in the West. It did not seek to formulate any solid… Continue reading
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Notes: Evolution of the Masjid-College to the Madrasah
In George Makdisi’s The Rise of Colleges, Makdisi details in the beginning of the book how the original style of teaching from the time of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) evolved due to numerous factors into first a masjid/khan combination (khans being dormitories/guesthouses that housed both students who studied in the… Continue reading
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Brief Comments on “The Qur’an: The New Translation” by MAS Abdel Haleem
This translation of the meanings of the Qur’an – which I wish the cover articulated clearer instead of just “The Qur’an” in large print – is one of three translations of the Qur’an’s meanings that I use the most. The other two are Ahmad Zaki Hammad and Ali Unal’s translations. I am aware of other… Continue reading