Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought

Abstract

Over the past decade, discussions on Islamic educational thought have become popular mainly due to the political situation particularly as it concerns the interaction between Islam and the West. However, regardless of political considerations, most Western scholars seem to have paid less attention to Islamic education as a concept worthy of attention. In this context, Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought, which is a recent publication on this topic, plays an exceptional role. Making some of the major classics on Islamic education available in parallel English- Arabic texts, this volume is an indispensible compendium for students and scholars alike. The main editor, Bradley J. Cook, has a lot of practical experience in the field of Islamic education. In addition to his academic endeavors and remarkable publications on education, Cook has had the advantage of teaching in a number of Muslim countries including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, where he also held several executive positions. With the assistance of Fathi H. Malkawi, a Jordanian-born educator, Cook has managed to make a good selection of texts on a variety of educational subjects, which reflect both educational rules in classical Islamic thought and the holistic attitude of Muslim educators who consider learning as part of the moral and spiritual growth of those reading this volume ...