Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Rose al-Yūsuf managed to get the document concerning development of religious curricula by Dr. ‘Alī Jum‘ah, Egyptian Muftī, who depended on previous experiences in educational development of these courses. Dr. Jum‘ah presented his document to the Ministry of Education to be used as a guide in the development process. This document was a main reason for tension between Dr. Jum‘ah and Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyib, the Grand Imām, where the Azhar asserted that they will not depend on this document in the development process.

 

Dr. Jum‘ah introduced his document, explaining the importance of development and the basics, motives and goals behind this development. He also pointed out that one of the important issues behind developing Islamic curriculum is developing intellect and way of thinking. He added that the proposed vision for educational development of Islamic curriculum aims at focusing more on ideas rather than information which, in return, is considered a necessary introduction that builds towards a fully functional person in society.

 

Dr. Jum‘ah divides the curriculum of Islamic teaching into four main branches: Qur’ān, Sunnah, Sharī‘ah, and morals. He explained that the desired skills from teaching Qur’ān are correct recitation of the Qur’ān, as well as memorizing the Qur’ān throughout years of education. On the other hand, the section concerning Sunnah aims at teaching students the twelve readings of hadīths as well as memorizing six of these hadīths from grade 1 – 8. The Sharī‘ah section aims at teaching ablution, praying, the ability to call for prayer and fasting. The fourth section of the development plan is concerned with morals and includes teaching students the importance of cleanliness, eating, sleeping and traveling manners, shopping etiquettes as well as talking manners.

 

The document also showed that the development is concerned with seven main axes: values of Islam, revelation, rules and manners of Islam, faithful mentality, life of the Prophet Muhammad, identity and belonging, and man and the universe. The first axis, values of Islam, is concerned with knowing Allāh and his generosity, as well as the concept of worship. The axis concerned with faith would include learning and understanding fundamentals of Islam. On the other hand, the identity axis includes the application of the values of Islam when dealing with neighbors and stresses the concept of taking care of the poor and supporting them.