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

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
Specific

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.
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.
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)