The contribution of syed ali ashraf, syed naqib al-attas and ismail raji al-faruqui to the islamization of knowledge

Abstract

In the contemporary period of the history of Muslim education, there are only a handfulof scholars who are acclaimed for their invaluable contributions to the idea of Islamization of Knowledge. They include Syed Ali Ashraf, Syed Naqib Al-Attas, and IslamilRaji Al-Faruqui. They contributed by educating, publishing, and active engagement in the educational domain. They heightened awareness among the Islamic scholars and academics about the significance of the reform in the educational realm. This humble study critically examines idea of the above mentioned personalities on Islamization of knowledge, its methodology and its necessity. It also provides a general overview on their formative period of life and the formulation of their thought. A brief discussion has been presented on their other activities which are deemed to be worth mentioning such as the spiritual dimension of Syed Ali Ashraf and a few significant shifts in the formulation of thought in the case of Ismail Raji Al-Faruqui. The study is divided broadly into three parts. Each parts is devoted to one the above mentioned personality. In the beginning of each part a biographical narrative and analysis has been presented. However, the main focus has been given on their contribution to Islamization of knowledge through their lifelong commitment to the subject. The role of different institutionsestablished by them have also been discussed, namely the International Institute of Islamic Thought in the USA, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and DarulIhasn University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The similarities and differences among them are also shown where it deemed to be relevant. This work also shades light on their methodology of implementing the Islamization agenda which would be a sefulsource for the researchers who wish to extend their knowledge in the subject.