196 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6. No. 1, 1989 Conferences/Seminars Workshop on lslamization of Knowledge Sokoto, Nigeria Sho'ban 20-22. 1409/March 27-29, 1989 The Workshop on Islarnization of Knowledge was held Shaban 20-22, 1409/March Zl-29, 1989 at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, Nigeria. It was jointly sponsored by the University's Center for Islamic Studies, the Islamic Education Trust of Nigeria, the Muslim World League, and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (Ill1). The Center for Islamic Studies is headed by Dr. Omar Bellu, a specialist in Arab Islamic Studies who serves as the Urtlversity's Vice-President, and as Secretary of the Nigerian Council of Scholars. The Islamic Education Trust is headed by Al-Hajj Ahmad Lemu, the Supreme Judge in Niger State and a prorrtlnent leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who has established a number of Arabic Islamic Schools considered among the best for teaching Islamic and secular sciences. Objectives: The objective of the Workshop was to determine the means through which Usmanu Danfodiyo University, in cooperation with the Islamic Education Trust and other Islamic organizations could devise a program of action for the Islamization of general and higher education in Nigeria. It also aimed at revising curricula for various academic disciplines to accommodate Islamic perspectives and to meet Islamic norms; developing and producing teaching and reading materials for various disciplines; and developing staff to service the revised curricula along Islamic lines. The Workshop's attendance was restricted to the professors and teaching staff at Othman Dan Fodio University, and a number of youths from outside the university. On average, about eighty persons, including three or four women, attended each session. The participants paid special tribute to the martyr Isma'il al-Fan1qI for his pioneering role in the Islarnization of Knowledge. The Seminar's Discussions: The first working session, chaired by Professor ~bdul-Karirn Hussain, The American Journal of hlamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. I. 1989 )97 the Chairman of the Biochemistry Department at Maidqori University, discussed the following Papers: 1. "Creative Writing and the Islamic World View" by Abdul Rauf Adebesi. 2. ''Islamiz.ation of Knowledge: Methodology of Research in Political Science" by Dr. Rashid Moten. 3. "Measurement of Islamic Religious Knowledge" by Dr. A. H. Saleemi. 4. "Mystical Experiences, Miraculous Revelations and Powers: Valid Sources in Islamic Theory of Knowledge" by 8. Y. Muhammad. The following papers were distributed without presentation or discussion: 5 . "The Islamization of the Sciences: its Philosophy and Methodology" by Dr. Ja'afar Sheikh Idris. 6. "Islamization of Knowledge: an Overview of Recent Developments" by D. A. Maiwada. The latter paper described numerous IDT activities in Islamizing Knowledge, providing the details of this process as outlined in the book: The lslamization of Knowledge. The second working session, chaired by Dr. At-Tayyib Zainul- ~bidin, the representative of the IDT (the only agency represented in the Seminar from outside Nigeria) discussed the following Papers: 1 . "Islamization and the Model Islamic Primary School" by Aisha Lemu. 2 . ..Islamization of Knowledge: a Workplan for Islamic Nursery Education'' by SaJahudeeo Yusuf. 3. "An Islamic Approach to the Concept of the Library and Practice of Librarianship" by Misbah Naiya Katsina. 4 . "Islamic Concept of Knowledge: the Need for Islamizing the Present Pattern of Education" by Umar Isa. 5. "Utilizing the Principles of Ta'limu al-Muta'allim ... for the Islamiz.ation of the Modern Techniques of Learning" by Ishaq 0. Oloyede. In the third working session, chaired by Al-Hajj Ahmad Lemu, the following Papers were presented: 198 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. I. 1989 1. "Morality of Education" by Shaikh Ahmad Lemu. 2 . "Framework of Model Islamic Primary· Schools and Pre- School Education in Nigeria" by D. A. Maiwada. The Special Session, which discussed the "Action Agenda for the lslamization of Education in Nigeria;' was chaired by Shaikh Ahmad Lemu and Prof. lsma'iJ Bluqun. The discussion revolved around a Paper prepared by the Committee sponsoring the Workshop, entitled: "A Five Year Plan for Islamization of Knowledge in Nigeria." Recommendations: The Workshop's final statement includep the following recommendations: l . Because the secular knowledge being taught and the educational system being pursued in Nigeria and in other Muslim countries is the major cause of moral decadence, social disintegration, and political instability, the Workshop strongly urges the review and restructuring of educational and intellectual pursuits to conform to the worldview of Islam. The Workshop particularly urges various academic and training institutions in Nigeria to reshape their curricula along Islamic lines. 2 . The workshop urges the federal and state governments to support the lslamization program by promoting Islamk scholarships in various disciplines. 3. The Workshop believes that it is the duty of the Muslim Ummah in general and the intellectuals in particular in the country to establish Islamically oriented institutions, formulate appropriate curricula, and develop and publish appropriate books and reading materials on various Islamic disciplines. 4 . The Workshop participants believe that the objectives of the Islamization of Knowledge would be better served if the Ummah and the governments adopt the Islamic System and abide by Islamic Jurisprudence (Shari'ah). We, therefore, urge the Muslims and the government of Nigeria to abide by Shari'ah. 5 . The Workshop condemns in the strongest terms the blasphemous book, The SaJ.a.nic ~rses, its author, publishers, supporters and protectors and supports the position and action The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6 , No. I, 1989 taken by the Iranian Government and the Organization of Islamic Conference, and commends the Nigerian Government in denouncing and banning the book. 6. The Workshop urges the Council of Ularna of Nigeria to take initiatives in working out a program of action for Islarnization of Knowledge. The Council should explore the possibility of establishing a publishing and printing house and a broadcasting station in the country for dissemination of Islamic knowledge and values. 7 . The Seminar calls upon the Muslim intellectuals and scholars in Nigeria to organize themselves into professional bodies, publish journals and periodicals to promote Islamization of Knowledge. 199 Tayyib Zain al-Abedin Khartoum. Sudan JOURNAi. _d_"-'v_ Eduor: Syed 2.. Abcllm HJCHUCHlli INI AW•IHt•hl A-5 ... ,au; AI-Ohimmah and RC'l11td CoMtpU. 1n H1$10,,a.t P usptcuvc. lbrl.W. M• U....rltH: t>a' .-ah ffl 1bt Ch,n~ Coiwei.1 Cttt k•••: Non•M'*'1lim, \n l>a\.tuan · A Qvc:1Uon or Ju.ittc'c' and Eqv.al1ty t..aw,uu Zlrt•t: COA:s:Ut1,1tk)ft1litM l.od t1K Qwan in d1f final Dtadn of 1he. 10th Cttttu,, ~ M . Ma.Mk : Pobuco-Rd11t0UJ hnn Rdluna 10 1hr SvtYT\'"&l of Cht,ttW11t)' 1.11 the Maddk Eat a.~ IVMll! b the'tc $Al's U) C1un0< hbm" P. A l•1tu: Rch1,ou.1 Fr«doto and H11man R..1hu U'I Amuali1 u..,. AW•tnlillM .. : Ahyu N a Manti· Po,n.. Prt11Ch,, and -Puryeyor or Afton bl1m . loth• S~"OWO:I: M u&llm Pt0pk ffl Ea.M.an Eu,~. M• lrtam....it M . A . lCllH: Dano,nph.k Ch.lnsn la cht Mu.dim Popu • .. ltOA or Sov~ Ru.wa· has and F.ak>n. AWatb• 0 , Nu...f: M1h10t1 10 8ul111l1 Ruaa AW••~ Y•h1•: fac1on tnn«nana lht .S.11-'fa.niofl of Mu,hm Oraani.uuon Mtmbcn UI I Un1~u,h1 Town In I.ht U.S Ct.a. ..... '11) Lah Laar: Nqlttlcd Dunc:ntkNO ut l ht On-tlOpmcnl or M1uhm M lft cllnao and 1M' Suuqqlt o f tht Moro Ptoplt (o, k"lt, Danm,n.111,on H•• .. Of"at ~ s.•dt: Hj.140,k:al hnpa,c:t of lst&m •nd iu Fu1u,c Pto.tPt("t• ti\ Afrtea C.tuU. SonbJ5: blamk: Rcvtval aod M•m •sc u, &o,nu, a.,..tro Hay11: bLun In Twrh1u.n S1dt• - Jil'llllftl•I Xa-t11rtl: Modem U1a,hur Ln cTIOlfC A•J,- Mobat4 luro4:te: The .M,ulin:i Mcshod of Afttmat Sll'U.Jhtt r and M.1 Sdcnd fte •nd Soaal R:dcvancc m Non-MUJhm Soattm S ..... R.1. 120 Tk.2'0 1rr lodt, Nhdl tl6 (.fWIMt) ... ,1t ... ,'° Tl<.l7S I yr Ioctl, tduaJ t1e11 ...... 1 lh.1$ lls. lOO n.. ns A•1 WMII Sccnoru 0. IMfffalt .. 0Wot.•, A• l....ic -' ..... ,., M.._ M .......... ~ ._ ''"'"'· .... ~ M.,.._ MrMn1,- p,.rdn, -Or41a l'ow, Cot,,J f\o- tmdt9rr .r .._..,_ M.._.., Atflln .. G,aolr s.r..t. ~ WTP 1FJ u- .......