Forum 2

Elaborate on the influence of the colonization in the Muslim education system.

Colonization attacked everything in Muslim country either its Politics, Economics, Cultural or Education. After the fall of Ottoman empire, marked the downfall of Islamic Civilization. Turkey collapse and became secular and other Muslim country started to follow. After this collapse Muslim in general are made to feel inferior about themselves and their religion. This inferiority complex is transmitted into their lives such as their achievements and their capabilities to develop their own political, economic and social systems. During the era of colonization, most Muslim countries by Western powers imposed their values, norms and beliefs which changed the worldview of most Muslims. They were programmed with the idea that modernization and progress is represented by the West while Islam implies backwardness. Hence, if Muslim countries were to grow and develop, they must adopt the West. When son of royalty family went to west for education, his idea was being imposed of western ideology. Thus, Muslim leader with westernized thinker were born. They practice and adapt the western ideology and western life style. So, when they become Muslim leaders, they promote Western Ideology.

As for educational system, it has created a separation of contents taught whereby knowledge is separated into secular knowledge and Islamic knowledge. School and universities are being turn away from Islam. And remain as private affair with limited access to fund. Even if there is fund it is only for secularization. Because of colonization, a major effect has happened to Muslim youth. Schools are one of the agent of socialization. School is the place where students learn formal curriculum. However, Muslim’s couldn’t learn Islamic knowledge and his knowledge is blunt and doubt started to occur. His view on Islam is lacking and he does not have the vision of Islam. Thus, Muslims disassociate themselves from their past legacies, traditions and submit themselves to the West and accept everything.

No Muslim government or private organization are addressing this issue of Muslim youth are being de-Islamize through education. Rather, Islamic component in universities are being remained unchanged because of conservatism and it is colonist plan for Muslim graduate to keep out of reality and modernity. Because of westernized and secularized, Muslim didn’t produce any education system, school, college or universities. Education in the Muslim world lack in vision in spirit of searching genuine knowledge which western itself doesn’t have. Thus, lacking of Islam vision are making Muslim becoming lack of concern, ignorance and lazy. Because of this lacking Muslim university teacher graduates from Western university with the ideology of western and secular, are far from Islam. He was not motivated in searching knowledge for the sake of knowing the truth and for sake of Allah but rather for his own agenda and interest. His teaching is solely on his agenda and depending on western textbook not more on building ummah of Islam. Hence, his student will fell less motivated then him and the knowledge itself become imitation of western education in Muslim world. In the end, Muslim embrace western ideology.