Allama Iqbal’s Educational Philosophy and its Contemporary Relevance

Abstract

The paper will focus on the various basic tenets of Islamic education. We shall analyze the traditional Islamic education with contemporary secular education. The paper will focus on the relevance of (Madrassa) system of education in contemporary Islamic Ummah. The special focus shall be given to the educational perspective of Allama Iqbal. The paper will also focus and extract the increasing conflict between the liberal and conservative Muslims as for as the modern day scientific education is concerned. The paper shall focus on the increasing Islamic fundamentalism, how we could use education as the weapon against religious fanaticism, and the importance of spiritual education will also be extorted. The paper will also focus on Iqbal’s combination of education in materialism and of spiritualism, to Iqbal, the fundamental purpose of education is not to turn out employable graduates, but to produce the type of character that would ensure society’s survival and continuity. The paper will extract, Iqbal’s urge to Muslims to make both a deep critical study of their own cultural and intellectual traditions and serious study of modern western thought with a view to finding creative ways of reviving the Islamic legacy and making it relevant and viable in modern contexts.. It is important to note that all great educators have been great philosophers. Plato’s scheme of cultural education depended upon his idealism. Rousseu’s anti-social philosophy gave rise to his natural education. Pragmatist philosophy has been responsible for the project method in education. It is true that Iqbal was not an educationist in the strict sense of the word; but one cannot deny his contribution to our educational ideology. He did not present any specific educational technique or methodology; but he directed our attention to those basic and fundamental principles of education which underlie all the sound educational practices. When we work out the practical implications of his educational ideas they do throw lurid light on the modern problems of education and point out to their healthy solution.