The effectiveness of the philosophy of an islamic University: A special reference from the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin in Malaysia and Al-Qalam University Katsina in Nigeria

• Main Authors: Tahir Abdulrahman, Abubakar, Abdul Hakim, Abdullah, Adamu, Zakiyu Ubale, Amina, Muhammad Sani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: B Philosophy (General); BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/5025/1/FH02-FKI-15-04551.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/5025/
• Institution: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin

The University is the most crucial environment designed for the imparting of various experiences, preserving the religion and the culture of the community. But since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the Islamic history and the Muslim dilemma of colonial rule, the universities in the Muslim societies are being faced with the ill of unclear educational policies that are collapsing the system of Muslim education and Islamic values in the Muslim‟s society. Malaysia and Nigeria are among Muslims majority countries that have ruled by the British during the colonial era. Therefore, the present study is aimed to determine the present state of Islamic educational philosophy, its implementation and the Islamic relevance of curriculum of Islamic universities from the case of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin and Al-Qalam University Katsina. This qualitative research used documentary analysis and interview for the data collection and analysis. Four different documents and ten respondents have accessed for the investigation of the present study. The findings of this study recognized Islamic university philosophy from the vision, mission, and aspirations of the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin and Al-Qalam University Katsina as they have planned and are working for the provision of professional Muslims with balanced education who are excellent in their respective fields and as the same time prepared with the Islamic values. The finding has also described similarities between the two universities in regard to educational objectives, management system and university curricular programmes. This study suggests that all relevant policy makers, curriculum planners, the stakeholders, parents and the potentials students may benefit from the Islamic university philosophy from the both universities in order to strengthen their understanding and practice of Islamic education principles as this is the only possible way of producing men that are able to represent Islam in this modern challenging world as well as rebuilt the lost educational glory in the Muslim societies.