Recommendations for the Course Outline of Islamic
Studies
HUM-101 (3+0)
Course
Description
This course has been designed to introduce learners to the
fundamentals of Islamic teachings by focusing a pragmatic approach. The
main outline of the course hence integrates the essentials of a practical approach
to study, revolving around the core paradigms of self development, life
skills, and community services, interpreted on the basis of Islamic theology
and thereby practiced in real life contexts. It centers on various activities, pertaining
to the aforementioned paradigms so that learners may imbibe the true essence of
ethical and moral values, comprehended on the basis of divine decrees of
shariah.
Course
Objectives
Learners, after successful completion of the aforementioned course,
are expected to:
i.
Demonstrate the basic cognizance
pertaining to their religious heritage.
ii.
Employ diverse contemporary
approaches to critical thinking so as to identify and thereby interpret the
divine teachings of Islam.
iii.
Comprehend the diversity of other
religious and irreligious standpoints.
iv.
Imbibe the essential dictates of
conscience in accordance with the guidelines of Islamic Shariah.
v.
Learn how to participate in self
development programs and community services so as to seek eternal blessings of
the true Divinity.
Section A (Theoretical)
Theoretical section of the course in context includes:
1)
An introduction to religion, significance
of religion in human life
2)
An introduction to diverse faiths
other than Islam, as practiced during contemporary times, so as to inculcate in
learners the true spirit of appreciating harmony, tolerance, acceptance and
unity, on the basis of interfaith dialogues (based on scholarly discussions
among renowned scholars of the present age).
3)
A detailed critique of the notions
like skepticism, Atheism, Agnosticism , Communism, Socialism,Secularism, and Humanism,
so as to reach logical conclusions through the lens of core Islamic beliefs.
4)
A detailed introduction to the concept
of God, proof of God’s existence with specific reference to Islamic scripture
and scientific research. Islamic concept of tawheed, difference between tawheed
and the concept of God in other religions.
5)
A detailed overview of five pillars of
Islam and their importance , oneness of God and belief in Prophet Muhammad
(S.A.W) as the last Messenger, concepts of prayers, fasting, charity, pilgrimage,
etc.
6)
Selection from the Holy Quran
(translations and explanations). Selected verses from Surah Al-Furqan (i.e. The
Criterion), Surah Al-Hujurat (i.e. The Dwellings), and Surah An-Noor
(i.e. The Light), emphasizing the basic principles of Ethics and Morality
in Islam.
7)
Selection from authentic Ahadith of
the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), emphasizing the character building, moral values,
social work, establishment of peace in the world, and community services.
(It is important
to note in context that all of the listed course contents shall integrate the
required conceptual and methodological substructures).
Section B (Community Services, Self Development, Life Skills)
Section B seeks to integrate a pragmatic approach, revolving
primarily around the fundamental paradigms of Self Development, Life
Skills, and Community Services, interpreted and applied in real life
context, on the basis of Seerah of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W).
Before commencing any of the activities, based on the
aforementioned paradigms, instructor shall brief the students in the light of
the seerah of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W ), explaining the reward for such
services , based on references from the Holy Quran, ahadith, and biographical
details, pertaining to life of the Holy
Prophet (S.A.W).
Mentioned below is an account of some of the suggested activities
in this regard; learners and instructors may develop their own tasks/
activities in accordance with the requirements of their specific contexts:
i)
Field trips to hospitals, interacting
with patients, (affected by physical and mental illnesses), giving them handmade
gift baskets, flower baskets, snack baskets, cakes, chocolates, inspirational books,
prayer gift cards, etc.
ii)
Organizing Blood
Donation Campaigns
iii)
Collecting gifts to donate to
dar-ul- amans, hospitals, jails, etc.
iv)
Visiting orphanages, presenting
candies, chocolates, toys, flowers, handmade gift cards, etc. to children.
v)
Launching “tree plantation”, “city
beautification” and “city clean-up campaigns”.
vi)
Launching innovative campaigns like
“Share the Meal”, so as to distribute food among the needy and underprivileged
or homeless members of community.
vii)
Arranging seminars on emergency
preparation and response under the supervision of professionals, so as to
make students able to deal with all sort of accidents and natural disasters (like
floods, earthquakes, droughts, thunder storms, and volcanic eruptions), crises
management, emergency management, etc.
viii)
Apprising students of driving ethics,
business ethics, job ethics, personal ethics, religious ethics, and social
responsibilities as good citizens in general.
(Students, after being trained, may participate in school volunteer
programs so as to share the knowledge among schoolchildren).
ix)
Assigning
learners innovative projects, revolving around the themes of social behavior in
the light of religious teachings, arranging poster competitions, giving them
tasks of self improvement, reporting unnoticed instances of ethical misconduct,
conducting case studies, developing research proposals revolving around the
themes of social responsibility as viewed through the lens of Islamic
teachings.
x)
Giving
them task to access literature through free online libraries and share their knowledge
with class fellows/ introducing new good books/ articles/ reviews/ journals/
magazines etc. during class presentations.
xi)
Arranging
classes for street children on volunteer basis with new ideas to provide them
education & skills which may bring positive changes in their lives, thereby
making them able to live a better life.
xii)
Assigning
them tasks to meet their neighbors, arranging get-together parties for
neighbors in which they may share their interests, activities and problems.
xiii)
Arranging
interfaith dialogues, meeting non -Muslim students, knowing about their
religion, customs and rituals, finding similarities between Islam and their
religions.
xiv)
Arranging
seminars in which the representatives/leaders of different religions may be
invited to talk about the peace and harmony and similar issues, interpreted
through the lens of diverse religious standpoints.
xv)
Promoting
Islamic culture. Arranging seminars to talk about the real meaning of culture
and the difference between Islamic and other cultures. Discussing the importance of Islamic dresses,
foods, rituals, status of men and women , rights of elders in the families,
concept of going to masjid for daily prayers, concept of lowering gaze, concept
of taking permission while entering one’s room or house, meaning and importance
of Islamic greetings in a Muslim’s life
xvi)
Introducing
the people who accepted Islam recently, arranging their interviews to know what
inspired them.
xvii)
Identifying
problems in surroundings and sorting out their solutions, (for instance,
cleaning play grounds, painting walls,
cleaning blocked sewerage lines, planting new trees, cutting old branches for the overall maintenance beautification etc.)
xviii)
Launching
“Study add projects” to help those students voluntarily who need help in their
courses.
xix)
Collecting household items for
homeless families.
xx)
Inviting Muslim scholars
to address the importance of Human
Rights (With specific reference to the rights of children, women, neighbors,
religious minorities, prisoners of war, pedestrians, animals, etc.)
(Note: At the end of
every semester a special Award of Excellence shall be given to a group/ individual
for launching/ participating in the most outstanding project, pertaining to the
paradigms of Community Service, Life Skills, and Self Development.
Recommended
Books
1. Islamiyat for BS and Degree Classes by Prof.
Abdullah Zakir, Published by Fahad Publishing Company Quetta.
2. Islami Tehzeeb-o-Tamaddun by Molana Abu Al Hasan
Ali Nadvi, Published by: Majlis Nasharyat-e-Islam Karachi
3. Adab-e-Zindagi by Muhammad Yousaf Islahi
4.
Islam or Siasi Nazaryat
by Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani, Published by: Muktaba Maarif ul Quraan Karachi
5.
Seerat-e- Mustafa by
Molana Idrees kandahlwi
6.
Islamic History and
Culture by K. Ali
7.
Islamic Nazarya e Hayat
by Khursheed Ahmed
8.
Uloom ul Quran by Mufti
Mohammad Taqi Usmani, Published by: Muktaba Maarif ul Quraan Karachi
9.
Khair ul Usool by Molane
Khair Mohammad Jalundari, Published by: Muktaba Khair ul Madaris Multan
10.
Islam or Jadeed Maishat
o Tijarat, Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani, Published by: Muktaba Maarif ul Quran
Karachi
11.
Introduction to Islamic
Finance, Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani, Published by: Muktaba Maarif ul Quraan
Karachi
12.
The Meaning of the Noble
Quran, Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani, Published by: Muktaba Maarif ul Quraan
Karachi
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