In its effort to provide solid religious foundation for Muslim students, the Ministry of Education Malaysia has launched a national religious literacy initiative known as the j-QAF Programme in 2004. This programme has since been implemented in public primary schools throughout the country and incorporated as a part of the curriculum of studies. The programme includes a wide range of basic religious skills including recitation of the Quran, the learning of the Jawi script and Arabic language as well as the basics of worship. After several years of its implementation, much concern is raised on the effectiveness of this programme in achieving its objectives. Thus, this preliminary paper aims to shed some light on this matter. Specifically, it focuses on analyzing the aspect of Quranic recitation skill, which constitutes one of the core subjects of the programme. A Quran reading test was administered to selected respondents in one of the schools, and the results were analyzed through descriptive statistical methods. The findings indicate the level of proficiency of the students in mastering the skill of Quranic recitation and its possible implication and reflection on the overall effectiveness of the programme.
The objectives of this preliminary work on the Islamic creativity concept are to reassess the role of bid'ah in creating creative and innovative Muslim through its conceptual and understanding framework; discover the relationship between bid'ah and the advancement of Islamic civilization; and discuss its necessity positively as highlighted in the approach of avoiding extremism or "duna ifrat wa la tafrit" in building a just and balanced Muslim society (ummatan wasatan). By employing the qualitative method through content analysis in evaluating the necessary and relevant reports, articles and texts, it is hoped that this paper will offer a distinctive perspective of bid'ah, its positive role and contribution in contemporary Muslim society.
This study aims at exploring the structure and operational mechanism of Shalish-a traditional rural dispute resolution system in Bangladesh. It seems that this dispute resolution system, being very informal and flexible in nature, has no organized structure and operational mechanism. However, this paper aims to critically investigate the situation. Based on observation of a number of Shalish events in a rural area of the country and extensive discussion with some Shalishkars and disputants, this qualitative study finds that the system is well structured and its operational mechanism is quite effective, albeit with some limitations. It is recommended that a local Alim (Islamic Scholar) should be included in all Shalish to ensure shari’ah related issues like some family and inheritance related disputes. Shalishkars need to be trained and upgraded in their experiences and qualities through workshops, seminars in respect of legal, moral and shari’a issues.
IIUC Studies Vol.16, December 2019: 35-56
The word thaghut is mentioned in various places of the Quran, both in Meccan and Medinan verses. It is a term that is commonly used by scholars and preachers in various meanings and connotations ranging from a moderate understanding to the extreme interpretation. In this paper, an attempt is made to expound a detailed understanding of the meaning of the term thaghut in the Quran, its types and implementation in the field of Islamic propagation as well as its implications. In general, the paper is divided into two sections. The first part analyses the concept of thaghut while the second part discusses its methods and purposes. In its findings, the study presents a comprehensive concept of thaghut in the Quran that includes false deities and those who are against the rules of Allah whether in the form of demon, idol, human or others. Similarly, it also highlights the various methods and means of spreading false ideology of thaghut through knowledge, mass media, trickery and others. The various types of thaghut worship are also explained together with its implications both in this world and in the hereafter.
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