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Islamic Ethical Principles and Contemporary Issues (Islamic Studies) (UR-110): Course contents (UR-110)

Course description

Islam and its ethical principles are comprehensive and universal. However, in general, people think Islam is like other religions, a matter of rituals, ceremonies, and offerings. This course briefly presents different aspects of the Islamic vision of life. The course will provide the students with an opportunity for learning the Islamic viewpoint on contemporary issues and challenges including knowledge of Islamic beliefs, ethics, 21 economics, politics, civilizations, culture, and society. The course while sharing the Islamic vision will help students in practical application of Islamic way of life. This course is a university graduation requirement and follows guidelines of the HEC for Islamic Studies.

Course contents

Part I

Unit I: Introduction to Islamic Vision of Life

 
    • What is a meaningful life?
    • Understanding the Purpose/Way of Life
    • What is the Islamic vision of life?
    • Unity in Life (tawhid) and its impact
    • Islam: A Complete way of Life (din, nizam-e-hayat)
    • Islamic identity and world view

Unit II: Meaning and role of ethics in building a holistic personality

    • Ethics at individual and social level
    • Common ethical concerns
    • Universal Ethical values of Islam
    • Ethics in an age of science and technology (can everyone decide what is good or bad)

Unit III: Islamic Ideology and its Importance

    • Islamic view of God (Allah s.w.t.)
    • Islamic View of Universe
    • Islamic concept of man as Allah’s vicegerent on earth
    • Characteristics & impact of Islamic ideology

Unit IV: Fundamental Beliefs of Islam

    • Definition of Iman and Articles of Iman
    • Building and Strengthening Iman
    • Unity of One God (Tawhīd)
    • Prophet-hood
    • Hereafter
    • Impact of Fundamental Beliefs on Human Behavior (dunya and al-Akhirah)

Unit V: Concept of Worship & Rituals in Islam

    • What is worship?
    • Conventional understanding
    • Monasticism (rahbaniyyah)
    • Concept & objectives of Islamic ‘ibadat (worship)

Unit VI: Pillars of Islam: Kalimah Tayyeba, Salāt, Sawm, Zakāh, Hajj

    • Objectives & Purposes
    • Impact on character
    • Personality Development
    • Collective Benefits

Unit VII: Ethical System of Islam

    • Meaning of akhlaq
    • Universality of Islamic ethics and morality
    • Universal role model of morality (uswah hasanah)

Islamic Ethical Principles and Contemporary Issues: Part-II Unit VIII: Basic Features of Modern ideologies

    • Materialism

 
    • Secularism
    • Democracy
    • Nationalism
    • Humanism

Unit IX: Characteristics of Islamic Civilization

    • The divine origin of civilization and culture.
    • Foundations of civilization in Islam
    • Local and particular cultures and civilizations
    • Universality of Islamic Civilization

Unit X: Social Ethics

    • Importance of family as foundation of social system
    • Peace & harmony as a major objective
    • Islamic Social Institutions; madrasah, zakah and auqaf, welfare of yatama, poor and needy

Unit XI: Ethics & Economy

    • Characteristics of Islamic economic order
    • Socio-Economic Justice
    • Business Ethics in Islam

Unit XII: Islam & Political Ethics

    • Islam & Democracy
    • Islam & Socialism
    • Islam & Secularism
    • Islam & Kingship

Unit XIII: Features of an Islamic State

    • Allah’s sovereignty v/s people’s authority
    • Khilafat or vicegerency v/s kingship
    • Shura as binding for all
    • State responsible for implementation of Islamic legal, economic, social and educational system
    • Welfare of people
    • Legal equality (‘adl) and protection of human rights

Unit VIX: Concept of Ummah: Iqbal, Jinnal, Asad

    • Iman as the basis of ummah
    • Brotherhood of faith and unity of the ummah
    • Discipline and order in order to promote ‘adl, peace, dignity in society
    • Ummah as shuhada ala amoor

Course objectives

  1. General Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able:

    • To understand the Islamic vision of life
    • To learn the main features of Islamic way of life
    • To know how to develop a moderate Islamic personality
    • To identify major ethical issues faced by the Muslim society and their solutions
    • To understand the concept of a meaningful and successful life
  2. Specific
  1. Knowledge
    • To understand the purpose of human life, man’s relation with the Creator Rabb, and man’s role in building a peaceful, fair, and secure social order.
    • To understand meaning of akhlaq, moral, and ethical conduct and behavior.
    • To learn the Qur’anic foundation of Islamic ethical system
    • To compare and contrast the Islamic civilization and Islamic social, economic, and political system with other world systems, civilizations and cultures
    • To understand concept of brotherhood (ukhuwah), Iman (Faith), ittihad (unity), and tanzim (discipline)
    • To get awareness of contemporary issues and challenges faced by the Muslims and the role of youth in their solutions.
  2. Skills
    • Ability to elaborate the Islamic ethical teachings and apply them in conduct.
    • To analyze and evaluate critical issues and challenges faced by the Muslims
    • To seek practical solutions for ethical and behavioral issues and problems.
    • Capacity building for social welfare.
  3. Attitude/Behavior
    • To excel in observing Islamic ‘Ibadat, ethical conduct(‘amal-saleh) and observe ethical values (mukarm al-akhalq) in their student and professional life
    •   To develop a creative and innovative (ijtihadi) attitude in the light of Islamic teachings
    •   To be a role model of ethical behavior and moral conduct (akhlaq hasanah) in their individual, social, and professional capacities.
    •   To become an ethically responsible (mas’ul) and pro-active leader (ra’id, qa’id) of the community (ummah)

Textbooks

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