The purpose of learning in Islamic tradition is aiming at a holistic human being, and this generally revolves around following noble goals:
- Cultivation of the intellect
- Cultivation of the heart (قلب) also known as the essence of being human (لب الإنسان )
- Rectification of the soul (تهذيب النفس)
- Being a healthy human being
These time-tested goals are universal, and valid across all eras. However, there are always challenges unique to a particular location, and to a particular point in time, and hence there is need to add a fifth goal, which is:
Currently, the challenges faced by educators in Muslim-majority countries are different from those living in other countries. And each country, province, city, town or village, and even each school have their own unique set of circumstances that are challenging by themselves. But this should not be a reason to compromise the goals above.
There is a global trend of reductionism in the field of education that has done severe damage, and this damage is felt more in Islamic schools. The goal of education, among others, is to ask and answer questions pertinent to the Human Being. Hence, the main branches of Philosophy are divided according to the nature of the questions asked in each area. Despite the overlapping that occurs, the areas are, broadly, the following three:
What we mean by reduction is that the goals of education have been reduced, and in some cases paralysed due to overly empirical and materialistic views that are prevalent in contemporary times.
These, and other contemporary issues, such as the role of technology and the impact it is having on attention, health (physical and mental) as well as social relations, are some examples of time and areas specific concerns that a holistic education must address.
- Address the problems of contemporary times
Currently, the challenges faced by educators in Muslim-majority countries are different from those living in other countries. And each country, province, city, town or village, and even each school have their own unique set of circumstances that are challenging by themselves. But this should not be a reason to compromise the goals above.
There is a global trend of reductionism in the field of education that has done severe damage, and this damage is felt more in Islamic schools. The goal of education, among others, is to ask and answer questions pertinent to the Human Being. Hence, the main branches of Philosophy are divided according to the nature of the questions asked in each area. Despite the overlapping that occurs, the areas are, broadly, the following three:
- Axiology
- Epistemology
- Ontology or Metaphysics
What we mean by reduction is that the goals of education have been reduced, and in some cases paralysed due to overly empirical and materialistic views that are prevalent in contemporary times.
- Axiologically, education is reduced to merely a means to seek livelihood/employment.
- Epistemologically, education only focuses on perception, memory, and reason as sources of knowledge. Consciousness, spiritual knowledge and inspiration is reduced in the way the modern curricula are constructed.
- Ontologically, the idea what is real is restricted only to the empirical realm, to what is tangible, and hence our view of the world has become lopsided.
These, and other contemporary issues, such as the role of technology and the impact it is having on attention, health (physical and mental) as well as social relations, are some examples of time and areas specific concerns that a holistic education must address.
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