Traditional Islamic schooling gives the teachings of Mohammed utmost preeminence, even at the expense of a well-rounded education. Thomas Patrick Hughes, writing the “Encyclopedia of Islam” a hundred years ago, says this:
The chief aim and object of education in Islam is, therefore, to obtain a knowledge of the religion of Muhammed, and anything beyond this is considered superfluous, and even dangerous.
Today, many “modern” Muslims receive a Western education – but they are often strongly criticized by fundamentalist Muslims for the Western (and often secular) views they adopt.
Listen to what the Muslim theologian Maududi said in 1936 to Muslims in India:
It is… high time for the Muslims to get rid of the old and stale system of education as well as the modern system of secular orientation and work out a separate system of education of their own… making best use of modern science and techniques but with undiluted Islamic orientation. This plan should be executed and implemented through those who are not only well versed in Islam but are also armed with firm faith and conviction and full of missionary zeal.
Maududi’s words are revered by today’s fundamentalist Muslims. In fact, he’s one of the intellectual heroes of the modern-day jihadist!
True Islam is concerned about education only in regards to how it will advance Islam. But it’s happy to use the current system for its own ends. That’s why moderate and fundamentalist Muslims are working together to co-opt our educational system for the purpose of permanently ingraining the Islamic world-view in America.
