Dialogue within Islam held its launch event, “Is Islamic Education working for the Community?” on 5 July 2025 at the South Woodford Islamic Centre in East London.
The event was chaired by Dr Ali Ahmed Shuaib, Director for Policy and Communications at the Centre for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. The distinguished panel featured:
- Dr Farah Ahmed, Senior Research Associate at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge.
- Dr Shahrul Hussain, Director and Head of Research at the Ibn Rushd Centre of Excellence for Islamic Research; and
- Dr Saffaruk Chowdhury, Academic Director of the Centre for Islamic Knowledge.
Hosted by the South Woodford Islamic Centre, the event explored the current state of Islamic education both within local communities and across the Ummah more broadly.
The discussion highlighted how, in the post-colonial period, Islamic education has increasingly become divided along secular and “Islamic” lines. As a result, we now see a generation of professionals whose studies and careers are disconnected from Islam, while, conversely, many scholars of the Islamic sciences often lack grounding in the natural and social sciences. This division was not characteristic of the Golden Age of Islam, when Muslim scholars made pioneering contributions across diverse fields—from linguistics, grammar, and the arts to medicine, astronomy, and mathematics.
The panellists reflected on how the secret behind this historical flourishing was the critical thinking and intellectual curiosity instilled by Islam itself, beginning with the first revelation of the Qur’anic command, “Read.” Islam gave Muslims a unique worldview that transformed their minds and hearts, inspiring them to explore the world and equipping them with a sense of responsibility to convey the spiritual and ethical message of Islam to humanity.
This distinctive educational methodology developed human beings on two complementary fronts: grounding the intellect in sound principles about life—namely, the recognition of a Creator, Allah (SWT), and the understanding that life’s purpose is to worship Him and serve humanity—and cultivating behaviour rooted in elevated moral and ethical standards.
Dr Shahrul Hussain and Dr Saffaruk Chowdhury further observed that over the past few centuries, a severe intellectual decline (Inhitaat) has set in across the Ummah, leading to the situation we face today. Islamic sciences are too often taught through rote memorisation, with an excessive focus on memorising texts and lists of rules, and little emphasis on critical thinking or reflection. This approach does not inspire or transform minds, nor does it encourage Muslims to push the boundaries of knowledge.
In considering how to address these challenges, Dr Farah Ahmed emphasised the urgent need to develop innovative teaching methods grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah. She spoke at length about the concept of education as a truly transformative process that shapes the worldview and character of children. The ultimate aim of education, she noted, is not simply to achieve certificates or grades, but to cultivate personalities (Shakhsiyah) rooted in God-consciousness (Taqwa) and a commitment to serving society. To realise these objectives, teachers must individualise their approach to students, following in the footsteps of our greatest teacher, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session that underscored the importance of raising community awareness of these vital issues and the need for further events and workshops to develop critical thinking skills and effective teaching practices for the benefit of the next generation.
We are truly grateful to all those who attended and contributed to this lively and thought-provoking discussion, and we extend our thanks to the South Woodford Islamic Centre for graciously hosting the event.
May Allah (SWT) grant us Tawfiq to sincerely strive in serving His Deen. Ameen.
