Development of a Classification Scheme for Islam

Abstract

The Libraries that have rich collections on Islam are facing the problems of knowledge organization while classifying materials on Islam. This is because the standard classification systems like Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, Universal Decimal Classification, Bliss Classification, and Colon Classification, which are used by a huge number of libraries, have not provided with sufficient place and proper enumeration or hierarchy for Islamic knowledge. Subsequently, different alternative solutions have been sorted by scholars and opted by these libraries. These solutions include expansions made in standard classification systems with different approaches and indigenous classification systems for Islam. Despite these solutions, the libraries had problems and were not satisfied. This study has addressed this problem, reviewing literature on the problem and collecting empirical data from relevant libraries and scholars of Library and Information Science (LIS) from nine different countries of the world, using interviewing as data collection instrument. Findings of literature and empirical data confirmed the existence of problem and dissatisfaction of libraries. Consequently, the optimal solution indicated in literature and by researched population has been brought forward in this research, i.e., development of an independent and comprehensive classification system for Islamic knowledge. This system has been got verified by the scholars of LIS and of Islamic Studies.