Skip to Main Content

Islam, Society and Contemporary Issues (Islamic Studies): UR-511-Course Outline

UR-511-Curriculum of Life & Living - I Master Degree Program

General Objectives

  1. To understand the Islamic vision of life
  2. To learn the main features of Islamic way of life
  3. To know how to develop a moderate Islamic personality
  4. To identify major ethical issues faced by the Muslim society and their solutions
  5. To understand the concept of a meaningful and successful life

Teaching Methodology

  1. Interactive lectures linked to theory & practice
  2. Activity-Based Learning (ABL)
  3. Experiential Learning (EL)
  4. In-House Seminars/ Workshops.
  5. Presentations/ Exhibitions
  6. Community Projects/ Study Visits
  7. Audios/Videos

Course Contents Professional Ethics: Part-I

  1. Introduction to Islamic Vision of Life
  1. What is a meaningful life?
  2. Understanding the Purpose/Way of Life
  3. What is the Islamic vision of life?
  4. Unity in Life (tawhid) and its impact
  5. Islam: A Complete way of Life (din, nizam-e-hayat)
  1. Meaning and role of Ethics in building a holistic personality
  1. Ethics at individual and social level
  2. Common ethical concerns
  3. Universal Ethical values of Islam
  4. Ethics in an age of science and technology (can everyone decide what is good or bad)
  1. Islamic Ideology and its importance
  1. Islamic view of God (Allah Almighty)
  2. Islamic View of Universe
  3. Islamic concept of man as Allah’s vicegerent on earth
  4. Characteristics & impact of Islamic ideology
  1. Fundamental Beliefs of Islam
  1. Definition of Iman and Articles of Iman
  2. Building and Strengthening Iman
  3. Oneness of Allah Almighty (al-Tawhīd)
  4. Messenger-hood/ Prophet-hood (al-Risālah)
  5. Hereafter (al-Akhirah)
  6. Impact of Fundamental Beliefs on Human Behavior (al-dunya and al-Akhirah)
  1. Concept of Worship & Rituals in Islam
  1. What is worship?
  2. Conventional understanding
  3. Monasticism (rahbaniyyah)
  4. Concept & objectives of Islamic ‘ibadah (worship)
  1. Ethics and society
  1. Objectives of shari’ah
  2. Personal ethics
  3. Social ethics
  4. Economic ethics
  1. Pillars of Islam: Kalimah Tayyeba, Salāt, Sawm, Zakāh, Hajj
  1. Objectives & Purposes
  2. Impact on character
  3. Personality Development
  4. Collective Benefits

Course Contents Professional Ethics: Part-II

  1. Basic Features of Modern ideologies
  1. Materialism
  2. Secularism
  3. Democracy
  4. Nationalism
  5. Humanism
  1. Characteristics of Islamic Civilization
  1. The divine origin of civilization and culture.
  2. Foundations of civilization in Islam
  3. Local and particular cultures and civilizations
  4. Universality of Islamic Civilization
  1. Ethical System of Islam
  1. Meaning of akhlaq and adāb
  2. Universality of Islamic ethics and morality
  3. Universal role model of morality (uswah hasanah)
  1. Social Ethics
  1. Importance of family as foundation of social system
  2. Peace & harmony as a major objective
  3. Islamic Social Institutions; madrasah, zakah and auqaf, welfare of yatama, poor and needy
  1. Ethics & Economy         
  1. Characteristics of Islamic economic order
  2. Socio-Economic Justice
  3. Business Ethics in Islam
  1. Islam & Political Ethics
  1. Islam & Democracy
  2. Islam & Socialism
  3. Islam & Secularism
  4. Islam & Kingship
  1. Features of an Islamic State
  1. Allah’s sovereignty v/s people’s authority
  2. Khilafat or vicegerency v/s kinship
  3. Shura as binding for all
  4. State responsible for implementation of Islamic legal, economic, social and educational system
  5. Welfare of people
  6. Legal equality (‘adl) and protection of human rights

Text Books

Specific Objectives

  1. Knowledge:
  1. 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.
  2. To understand meaning of akhlaq, moral, and ethical conduct and behavior.
  3. To learn the Qur’anic foundation of Islamic ethical system
  4. To compare and contrast the Islamic civilization and Islamic social, economic, and political system with other world systems, civilizations and cultures
  5. To understand concept of brotherhood (ukhuwah), Iman (Faith), ittihad (unity), and tanzim (discipline)
  6. To get awareness of contemporary issues and challenges faced by the Muslims and the role of youth in their solutions.
  1. Skills:
  1.   Ability to elaborate the Islamic ethical teachings and apply them in conduct.
  2. To analyze and evaluate critical issues and challenges faced by the Muslims
  3. To seek practical solutions for ethical and behavioral issues and problems.
  4. Capacity building for social welfare.
  1. Attitude/Behaviour:
      1.   To excel in observing Islamic ‘Ibadat, ethical conduct(‘amal-saleh) and observe ethical values (mukarm al-akhalq) in their student and professional life
      2.   To develop a creative and innovative (ijtihadi) attitude in the light of Islamic teachings
      3.   To be a role model of ethical behavior and moral conduct (akhlaq hasanah) in their individual, social, and professional capacities.
      4.   To become an ethically responsible (mas’ul) and pro-active leader (ra’id, qa’id) of the community (ummah)