Blending religion with ?modern education

By: Muaz Shabandri , Khaleejtimes
DUBAI,8 March 2011: Bridging the cultural divide between religion and day-to-day affairs, the centres of Islamic education in the country are creating a new wave of religious experts.
Fighting stereotypes with modern-day education to become moderate thinkers and scholars, the blend of Quranic teachings with scientific knowledge provides students with a new way of life.

Reem Mohammed Al Hash and Eiman Ali Saif are among the more than 2,500 students who study at the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies in Dubai.

The college which provides undergraduate and post-graduate programmes for students is a modern-day learning centre, complete with learning resources and libraries to illuminate young minds with a unique combination of spirituality and secularism.

Bringing together leading international scholars, religious experts and authors to provide students with a refined understanding of the Islamic religion, the college believes in creating a moderate bridge way to help students tread a path ahead in their life.

Aligning Islamic principles with scientific knowledge has its own advantages, says Dr Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Vice Chancellor, College of Islamic and Arabic Studies.

"Our students have taken up jobs outside of teaching and have contributed in both private and public sector organisations, taking up jobs in banking, finance, human resources and other key areas," says Dr Abdul Rahman.

Providing students with specialised degrees in Islamic Studies, Islamic Law (Shariah) and Arabic literature, the college founded by Juma Al Majed celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Eiman Ali Saif, a final year student at the college says she opted for the course to achieve 'spiritual' fulfillment while keeping her career options open.

"I took an undergraduate course in Islamic studies because I wanted to learn more about my religion and its history. It's all about personal fulfillment and the whole experience enriches the soul," says Eiman.

The courses, which are revised regularly, are increasingly popular among women as the exposure provides a unique understanding of concepts ranging from human psychology to justice.

"Male students have many opportunities and options for education, including the opportunity to go abroad. It is for this reason that the female students outnumber the male students in most universities in the UAE," explains Dr Abdul Rahman.

Other universities in the UAE which provide dedicated courses for Islamic and Arabic education include the Imam Malik College for Sharia'a and Law and Preston University, Ajman. Zayed University is also expected to announce the opening of a dedicated Islamic institute to cater to the growing demand for Islamic education.

"It is important to teach applied Islam, which students can relate to their life in a prospective manner. Rather than passing theoretical information, religious centres need to empower students with knowledge that can help them find answers to their inner questions," says Dr Wasim Ahmed, Head of the Islamic Studies Department at Preston University.

The university has created short courses in Tafseer, Quranic Arabic, Islamic Finance and Daawah for students and working professionals as more? students enroll in religious studies every year. "Turning students into leaders with the collective spirit of Quran is an important aspect of learning in today's world. People are interested in knowing their roots and reaching ahead in their spiritual quest," adds Dr Wasim.

Sadiqa Alam completed her four-year engineering programme and decided to take a course in Islamic studies at the university."I believe Islamic studies can be beneficial both for a career and for personal development.

I had a personal interest in the subject and that's the reason I took the course after completing an under-graduate degree," says Sadiqa.

With the cultural divides of modern day, the new-generation of scholars and religious experts will play an increasingly important role in creating pathways for development.