Objective of Islamic Education

The Arabic language has three terms for education, representing the various dimensions of the educational process as perceived by Islam. The most widely used word for education in a formal sense is ta’līm, from the root ‘a-li-ma (to know, to be aware, to perceive, to learn), which is used to denote knowledge being sought or imparted through instruction and teaching. Tarbiyah, (to increase, to grow, to rear), implies a state of spiritual and ethical nurturing in accordance with the will of Allah. Ta’dīb, from the root a-du-ba (to be cultured, refined, well-mannered), suggests a person’s development of sound social behaviour. What is meant by sound requires a deeper understanding of the Islamic conception of the human being.

ومَا كَانَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا۟ كَآفَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُون

Nor should the believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind they could devote themselves to studies in religion and admonish the people when they return to them that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil). 9:122

Islamic education glorifies the understanding of religion and spreading of Islam as a religion of all mankind. Islamic education aims at understanding the teaching of the Holy Quraan   as the first step of education and establishes the relation of humankind with Almighty Allah. The purpose of Islamic education is not to cram the pupil’s head with facts but to prepare them for a life of purity and sincerity. This total commitment to character-building based on the ideals of Islamic ethics is the highest goal of Islamic education. The supreme goal of Islamic education is to provide experiences which are based on the fundamentals of Islam as embodied in the Holy Quraan and Sunnah which cannot be changed. Beside these, Islamic education provides experiences in the form of knowledge and skills. These experiences are likely to be changed in accordance with the changes in society. It is a certainty that knowledge without the basis in faith and religion is merely incomplete education. Islamic education teaches the commitment towards the basic values which have been prescribed in religion and scripture. It also focuses on the sense of accountability towards Almighty Allah so that men can pass their lives as a faithful servant. Islamic education seeks to remind a person of the consciousness of the Divine Presence in the universe and brings humankind nearer to an understanding of Allah and of the relation in which man stands to his creator.

It is imperative to mention that these aims of Islamic education can clearly be distinguishable from the so called modern system of education which is based on Western philosophy of life.

The ultimate aim of Muslim education lies in the realization of complete submission to Allah on the level of the individual, the community and humanity at large.