Integrative Learning – Already in Islaamic Teaching Methodology

Bismillaah
Today morning I read an exciting article in Times of India alhamdulillaah, which is on Integrative Learning titled as “Maths, Eng, Science Lessons to get one theme”
Right from my School days, I use to ask my teachers what is the objective of studying so and so. “Why I should study Integral Calculus?” “Why I should study Trigonometry?” Qadr Allaah, I am not able to get answers from my teachers that time. However, answers are already there in my other Subjects, which I have realized later. For instance, Physics uses same integral calculus to find the gravity of the earth using the sample gravity calculated in given area. Thereafter I use to tell my friends, there is definite overlap and application between the disciplines that our teachers are not demonstrating. When my friends ask some doubt in Mathematics, I give examples from Physics, which they found it to be beneficial and easy to relate alhamdulillaah. That point, I thought it would be great if we can have a curriculum integrating different subject like Maths, Physics into one book to develop a practical understanding in the minds of the students. Alhamdulillaah, Kendra Vidyalaya School in India is experimenting this model and the article is all about this, which they call as “Integrative Learning”
Integrative Learning looks so amazing now alhamdulillaah. However, this is how Muhammad (sallaalahualayhi wasallaam) taught to his students, Sahaabahs. He never segregated into Aqeedah, Adab, Seerah and so on but all his teachings catered one or other disciplines or all simultaneously.
For instance, (following relationship is taken from my Islaamic Ethics 24×7 handout)
Relationship between Adab and Akhlaaq
Abu Hurayrah(r) narrated that the Prophet(s) said, “Verily Allah the Exalted does not look at your figures and attires rather He looks at your hearts and actions.” [Muslim]
1. Akhlaaq is the action of the heart and Adab is the action of the limbs.
2. Akhlaaq is basis for any adab
3. Akhlaaq is manifested in person‟s adab
Relationship between Adab, Akhlaaq and Aqeedah
“Hayaa is part of Eeman and Eeman is in paradise. Lewdness is part of hardness of heart and hardness of heart is in the fire.” [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Sunan at-Tirmidhi]
If a person is exposing the awrah deliberately to attract others, then the character of Hayaa is missing, which implies his/her Eeman is weak
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The above gives a very clear indication that these disciplines are connected walhamdulillaah. Just sit back now and think, where all these sciences came from? All came from one source – Allaah azza wajal . We segregated into different discipline for the sake of analysis. However time passed and we lost why the segmentation happened, started treating each as totally different subject with no overlaps.
If you want to find a touch of Integrative learning in Islaamic studies, you should read the explanations of 40 hadeeth an Nawawee. Subhanallaah, explanation of these ahadeeth gives foundation in different disciplines like Aqeedah, Fiqh, adab, Da’wah, and so on bi-ithnillaah. This is also one of my dream projects and I am positive it will happen after Ramadan in the form of series of classes insha Allaah
In the end, Integrative learning is the way forward in creating sound students and leaders bi-ithnillaah
Fond Regards,
Umar Shariff
P.S.: If you like read TOI article “Maths, Eng, Science Lessons to get one theme” dated 19th June 2010, Please go to this link and visit 4th page in the main paper (Chennai edition)