The Islamic Perceptions of Knowledge vis-à-vis the Western Perceptions as the Bedrocks of Educational Systems

Abstract

Knowledge and its various perceptions from the ancient times to the Islamic and the modern era constitute essentials bedrock of Islamic and Western system of education. Knowledge in the Islamic world finds its basis in the Qur'ān as well as the in the Muslim philosophies of education, while the Western education is based on the Western philosophies besides the physiological educational concepts which developed in the 20 th century. Both philosophies, Islamic and Western, have led to the development of two distinct systems of education currently prevalent in the Muslim world, particularly in Pakistan. The inadequacy of the Islamic system of education to meet the challenges of today has been long felt. This paper attempts to investigate into this broad field of inquiry in the hope that its serves to understand the educational superstructures raised on two philosophies of education. Further, it highlights how the Islamic systems initiated the spread of education initially and yet with time it lost its appeal. It has been shown how the later philosophies of education in the West have dominated the world and today's educational scenario with the lesson that the Muslim world should heed to the demands of the modern times and improve their systems of education. Keywords - Knowledge and its perceptions, the Islamic philosophy of education, the Western philosophy of education, Educational concepts of knowledge, the Islamic vis-a-vis western system of education.