CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

        Islamic Education is a system which transmits the revealed and acquired knowledge to the younger generation of Muslims in order to prepare them for life and enable them to discharge their duties as the vicegerent of Allah on this earth

        Education is the first duty of a Muslim, male or female. Knowledge of God is equated with the process of learning and teaching. The well-documented process of preserving Islamic scripture demonstrate the early emergence of a literate tradition of its transmission among Muslim community from the beginning to commit the words of God and the teachings of Muhammed (SAW) to memory and to writing. (Douglas and Munir 2004). According to them, Islamic education can literally refer to efforts by the Muslim community to educate its own, to pass along the heritage of Islamic knowledge, first and foremost through its primary sources, the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This education of Muslims might take place in Mosques, Schools or Universities and other Organisations established by Muslims over the centuries.(Douglas and Muniru, 2004).

        Islamic Education is defined as the process by which values spelt out in the Holy Qur’an and the Traditions of prophet Muhammad (SAW) are handed over from generation to generation (Abiri and Jekayinfa 2010).

        Islam as a universal religion appreciated and recommends knowledge acquisition for human development and recognition of Almighty Allah as the creator of the cosmos. This is why the very first revelation to prophet Muhammad (SAW) was specifically on seeking knowledge thus:

“ Read in the name of your Lord who creates.

He creates man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood.

Read! Your Lord is the most Bountiful He who teaches (The use of Pen).

He teaches man that which he knows not” (Q96:1-5)

        The above verses commended man to seek for knowledge not by reading alone but also by making use of pen for record purposes. Azeez and Adeshina (2013).

        Interestingly, the philosophy of Islamic education is to inculcate moral values that constitute a wide range of virtues of such as honesty integrity, tolerance, truthfulness, self discipline, humility, patience, industrious and others. Hence, morality should be the basis for every education given by a country to her citizen in order to record success. This is exactly what Islamic studies set out to achieve. Furthermore, the acquisition of the knowledge of Islamic moral value transform life of a  child to a meaningful one as he would be able to relate politely with his follow human beings which also make him to achieve Allah’s pleasure in the hereafter (Azeez and Adeshina (2013) Islamic studies is an academic study of Islam and Islamic culture. Nanji A.(1997).

        Islamic Studies is the totality of learning experiences which centre on the relationship between man and his creator and between man and his fellow man. Islamic studies is aimed at the recognition of Allah as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe and the sole source of values. In the individual, it cultivates the sense of gratitude’s of Allah and submission to his guidance and moral law, both in our worship of Him and in our behaviour towards our fellow man. Islamic studies awakens the faculties of the intellect and reasoning of the child in accordance with Qur’anic Injunction which says:-

        “Will you not use yours reason?”

        “ Will you not ponder and reflect?”

It encourages the pursuit of useful knowledge in accordance with the saying of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) thus:

“The search for knowledge is an incumbent duty on every Muslim, Male or Female”.

Islamic studies promotes the realization of human equality and brotherhood with emphasis on practical means of achieving social solidarity and ethic harmony in place of greed and selfishness. It is the concern of Islamic studies to ensure a balance development of the individual and community by giving him physical, social, intellectual, moral and spiritual training. Islamic studies instills in the heart the consciousness of the presence of Allah as a witness of all our actions, thought and behaviours. This acts as a control on wrong doing, whether in public or private and as a motivation to a good behaviour.( National Teacher Institute, 2000).

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