Journal Article

Islamic Education, Possibilities, Opportunities and Tensions: Introduction to the Special Issue

Waghid, Yusef, Davids, Nuraan

2014

Overview

If Islam continues to evoke skepticism, as it has done most intensely since 9/11, then it stands to reason that its tenets and education are viewed with equal mistrust, and as will be highlighted in this special issue, equal misunderstanding. The intention of this special edition is neither to counter the accusations Islam stands accused of, nor to offer solutions to the myriad challenges facing Muslims in majority and minority Muslim countries. As will be evidenced in the diverse offering of this compilation, the intention is to offer a different perspective, an opportunity, perhaps, to glance at both the tensions and the possibilities that Islam and Muslims have to offer not to only others, but, perhaps, more importantly, to themselves. As such, in many instances the edition, while attempting to encompass as broad a spectrum as possible in terms of multiplicity of religiosity and lived experiences of Muslims and Muslim society, is at once also a critical refection on what Muslims themselves often neglect. This means, that perhaps the tensions inherent in Islam are not so much externally constructed, as they are shaped by the reluctance of some Muslims to critically engage with their own Muslimness and way of being.

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Arabs / Citizen Participation / Citizenship Education / Community / Community Relations / Criticism / Education / Educational Philosophy / Educational Policy / Intention / Islam / Islamic countries / Islamic schools / Jews / Miscommunication / Misconceptions / Muslims / Opportunities / Periodicals / Philosophy / Philosophy of Education / Politics of Education / Religion / Religiosity / Religious Education / Self Concept / September 11 terrorist attacks-2001 / Social Change / Teachers / Terrorism / Women