IN this article, I intend to present and analyze the concept of Islamic education of philosophy. Islamic perspective for human beings and life constitutes harmony and conciliation between sense, mind and religious faith as fundamental epistemological origins while thinking and considering are instruments to research these origins. So, Islamic education encourages critical thinking as a research method for the development of knowledge and science, but science in itself has a functional role in making human life better, this science constitutes an ethical dimension. Therefore, thinking is considered a duty in the Islamic view, because thinking is a tool for progress in life that is conditioned in achieving values in reality.
The philosophy of Islamic education is looking at the principles and concepts underlying education in Islam, it is analyzing and criticizing, deconstructing and disintegrating the existing educational infrastructure and strives to produce new concepts continuously or display what should be the concepts. In this sense, it is a philosophy that beyond what is existing constantly toward absolute values, is working in the space of Islamic knowledge and who is humane and moral essence. Islamic education seeks to achieve the distinct role of the human being which is reform and construction of human life. This Islamic concept of life is based on the fundamental concepts of the individual, society and the world, and education works to find a balanced and equitable relationship between the parties to this equation which is based on a relationship characterized by a mutual trust and integration, so one party cannot survive without the other parties.
This relationship is based on ethical authority, which is the religion or the Holy Qur’an that represents the source of Islamic education which derives their universal values from it, so the task of education is to link every human activity or behaviour with ideal moral value. Therefore, Islamic education is interested in all activities of the individual at the physical, mental, psychological and spiritual, and tries to find a balance between these forces that comprise the human being. For example, education on independent thinking and creativity takes a great interest in Islamic culture; we find that the Koran, as well as many Muslim scholars, Ibn al-Haytham and al Ghazali, stress the importance of critical thinking and independence. On the other hand, we find some scholars claim that Islamic education does not encourage independent thinking, for example, some modern researchers deduce from Muslim scholars’ objections, that they are against independent thought.
For example, Halstead argues that Islamic philosophy and education do not promote critical thinking such as He writes:” Independence of thought and personal autonomy do not enter into the Muslim thinking about education, which is more concerned with the progressive initiation of pupils into the received truths of the faith. In this article, I endeavour to explain and analyze the role of the philosophy of education in Islamic culture. I suppose that Islamic philosophy and education encourage critical thinking and personal independence, by relying on the Islamic history of philosophy and science which mentions the importance of criticism of the Islamic scholars to the scientific and philosophical theories, and their creative contribution in scientific methodology and sciences in general. The Qur’an is considered the main Reference at the epistemological and ontological levels in Islam. The Qur’anic Discourse consists of two types.
The first treats faith issues in detail, because the nature of these issues is constant and not changeable. But the other type deals with life issues such as social, political, economic, education and others, these issues are treated in general. Because of its changeable nature, as well as to be valid and useful to the changes in human life. Unlike the previous explanation, Halstead argues that the social and moral dimension of education in Islam is therefore eventually a matter of coming to understand and learning to follow the divine law, which contains not only universal moral principles but also detailed instruction relating to every aspect of human life. The shari’a integrates political, social, and economic life as well as individual life into a single religious worldview. In Islam, therefore, there is no question of individuals being encouraged through education to work out for themselves their own religious faith or to subject it to detached rational investigation at a fundamental level. Islam connects free choice with responsibility which means that each person is responsible for his choice. In the beginning, one’s innocence is absolute: an indwelling from life’s first breath inevitably moves one to begin searching.
Becoming aware of this state immediately makes one a responsible and in fact a free being. The Qur’anic interest in guaranteeing people’s freedom is clear and frank as can be seen from its emphasis on the principle of thought and religion. Ibn Khaldun talks about the educational dimension in the political and social society. He warns that severe punishment in the course of instruction does harm to the student, especially to little children, It makes them feel oppressed and causes them to lie and be insincere, they lose the quality that goes with social and political organization and makes people human, namely, (the desire to) protect and defend themselves and their homes, and they become dependent on others. Their soul becomes too indolent to (attempt to) acquire the virtues and good character qualities.
Islamic philosophy of education aspires to shape the human being based on matching the three dimensions of sense, mind and religious faith. In the belief that harmony between those dimensions may achieve human values in reality. This education believes that human life progress is a duty of every Muslim, progress achievement is done by activism of the three dimensions, namely epistemology production ought to rely on experimental and rational methods, while the ethical dimension constitutes as a reference and authority to every human activity. Thus, knowledge and science have a functional role which comes to achieve a better life for humankind. Therefore, Islamic education is aware of the importance of independent thinking and personal autonomy in order to achieve ideal values. It applies continuous negation to reality with the aim to change and improve it toward a better human life.
— The Writer is PhD in Islamic Studies from NUML Islamabad and Author of Five Books & Thirty Five Research Publications.
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