THE CURRICULUM OF ISLAMIC STUDIES AND ISLAMIC STUDIES EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

Islamic studies or religious instruction is a subject that is taught
throughout primary and secondary schooling, a period of about
twelve years to Muslim students in Malaysia. This testifies its
importance for the preservation of the Islamic tradition and as a
precursor of change within the Muslim mind and soul. Islamic
studies when properly taught, provides a great opportunity to
transform Muslims’ lives especially in the era of globalization that is
filled with challenges including the spread of Islamophobia. This
article argues that this transformation is only possible if the
curriculum of Islamic studies and Islamic studies education
programs, which produce the teachers of Islamic studies, are sound
and take into account the contemporary situation. Two important
elements that are crucial in meeting the challenge of globalization
and are consistent with the aims of higher Islamic studies are
intellectualism and relevance of the Programs. Hence, this article
examines the curriculum of higher Islamic Studies program in three
universities and that of an Islamic Study teacher preparation
program in Malaysia for their adequacy in generating Islamic
intellectualism and relevance in the context of globalization. The
article found that the Islamic Studies Programs at the universities
are still traditional, although some changes have been made in order to stay relevant. But the programs still lack the ingredient of
intellectualism due to its pedagogical approach. The article proposes
some changes in the curriculum for its improvement.