al-Talim fi Bilad al-Muslimin

al-Talim fi Bilad al-Muslimin (Education in Muslim Lands) is a contemporary treatise on Islamic educational reform written by the scholar and educator Abd al-Fattah bin Sulayman Ashmawi al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…+1. The work examines the state of schooling across the Islamic world, proposing a comprehensive restructuring of educational policy, curricula, subject matter, and ultimate objectives according to Islamic principles al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…+1.

Background and Publication

The treatise was originally prepared as a research paper titled al-Ta'lim fi Bilad al-Muslimin wa-Kayfa Yakunu fi Siyasatihi wa-Manahijihi wa-Mawaddihi wa-Ghayatih Islamiyyan ("Education in Muslim Lands and How It Can Be Islamic in Its Policy, Curricula, Subjects, and Aims") for the First International Conference for Directing Da'wah and Preparing Callers, held at the Islamic University of Madinah in Safar 1397 AH / February 1977 CE al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…+1. At the time, Ashmawi was an instructor at the secondary institute affiliated with the university al-Mutamar al-Alami li-Ta…. Following the conference, which issued ninety-eight general recommendations, the administration of the Islamic University of Madinah—under its president Dr. Abdullah bin Salih al-Ubayd—selected Ashmawi's study along with several other conference papers to be published independently as standalone booklets for the benefit of Muslim educators and callers al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl….

Structure and Content

The book is organized into thematic chapters addressing the core dimensions of education in Muslim societies:

• Educational Policy (Siyasat al-Ta'lim): Ashmawi argues that prevailing educational policies in Muslim countries require thorough revision to align with principles derived from the Quran and the Sunnah al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…. He critiques the modern shift toward utilitarian learning, where students pursue academic credentials merely to secure employment rather than valuing knowledge for its own sake, which has led to superficiality and the replacement of rich foundational references with brief study summaries al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…. He also calls for establishing authentic Arabic and Islamic designations for academic degrees rather than uncritical borrowing from foreign terminology, and emphasizes the teacher's role as a moral exemplar al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl….
• Curricula (Manahij al-Ta'lim): The work presents religious instruction as the bedrock of sound behavioral upbringing, emphasizing that Islam encompasses both creed (aqidah) and conduct (suluk) al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…. Ashmawi urges educators to present Islamic teachings in an accessible manner, integrate spiritual education across various subjects, and connect classroom topics to contemporary societal problems through the lens of faith al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl….
• Subject Matter (Mawadd al-Ta'lim): The author underscores that the Islamic concept of knowledge ('ilm) is open and comprehensive, excluding only disciplines that directly harm society, such as sorcery or divination al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl…. He highlights the duty of deep contemplation (tafakkur) upon the natural world to foster reverent awe of God al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl….
• Aims of Education (Ghayat al-Ta'lim): Ashmawi outlines the ultimate objective of learning as seeking knowledge for general communal benefit, disseminating it without withholding, and viewing education as a noble duty aimed at restoring the civilizational standing of the Muslim community al-Talim fi Bilad al-Musl….