Part 7
Ayyub
Education and Culture: The Link Between Islamic Teachings and Modern Sciences
Education and upbringing are regarded as the lifeblood of progress, and in every society as the most foundational pillar for shaping the identity, morals and worldview of the young generation. In an Islamic society like Afghanistan, education and upbringing can never stop at passing on scientific knowledge and professional skills; the spiritual, doctrinal and moral formation of students needs particular attention too. For this reason, the IEA’s education policy rests on one clear, foundational principle: a deep connection and proper balance between the sacred Islamic teachings and modern sciences, so that students are raised who have professional expertise and also stay committed to their religious values.
To understand the IEA’s achievements in this area, it’s necessary to look at the shortcomings of the education system during the foreign occupation. Over the past two decades, even though large amounts of financial aid poured into the country, there were hidden and open efforts to secularize its schools and universities. The education system of that time was under foreign influence and had set modern sciences against Islamic upbringing. Religious subjects were pushed to the margins and had taken on a token, for-show form.
The result of this cultural invasion was a generation that, although familiar with technology and the new sciences, remained far from any deep knowledge of Islamic creeds, necessary Sharia rulings and Islamic morals. It felt estranged from its own authentic Afghan and Islamic identity, and intellectually shaky about it. The occupiers’ aim was to separate religion from the scholarly environment and raise young people who were tied to the West in their thinking.
When the IEA returned to power, one of its great and lasting achievements was the reorganization of the system of education, upbringing and higher education, and the return of the Islamic spirit and identity to schools and universities. Recognizing the great danger that expertise without religious commitment becomes a source of corruption in society, the IEA revised the curriculum. In the new system, the place of religious teachings, Islamic creeds, acts of worship and Islamic morals was strengthened, so that a young Afghan Muslim is raised, before becoming an engineer or doctor, as a committed, responsible person who knows Allah (SWT). These reforms rescued schools and universities from the poisonous atmosphere of secularism and turned them into centers where knowledge and faith are taught shoulder to shoulder.
At the same time, some secular circles and opponents of the Islamic system spread negative propaganda and doubts, creating the impression that the IEA opposes modern sciences and wants to confine education to jurisprudential debates alone. This accusation is completely baseless and far from reality.
A brief look at the Ministry of Education’s official curriculum and the universities’ course schedules shows that, alongside Islamic subjects, considerable importance is given to mathematics, science, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and the English language. If the IEA opposed modern sciences, it would never have kept these subjects in the official structure of education, nor strengthened them. Stressing religious needs doesn’t mean removing modern sciences at all; the aim is to give these sciences the right direction.
From an Islamic perspective, there’s no contradiction between the religious and modern (empirical) sciences. Islamic fiqh counts learning the sciences society needs, such as medicine, agriculture, engineering and economics, as fard kifayah. To achieve true independence and self-sufficiency, Afghanistan needs skilled doctors, experienced engineers and technology specialists just as much as it needs scholars of religion.
The difference is that Islamic teachings give modern sciences their moral values. Knowing religious values leads a specialist to see their knowledge as a way to serve people and win the pleasure of Allah (SWT), and to avoid misuse, corruption and betrayal in their profession.
Islamic teachings and modern sciences are the two wings of flight for building a prosperous, independent Afghanistan. Through prudence and planning, the IEA has managed to join these two important parts in one sound education system. This is a great achievement. Today our young people, in a safe environment far from the West’s cultural invasion, are learning about their strong Islamic identity and, by studying the day’s highest-quality sciences, preparing themselves to build the country’s bright future. Raising such a knowledgeable, skilled and committed generation will guarantee Afghanistan’s survival, dignity and progress in the years to come.
