These combined with the Arabic Qur’an and Hadeeth (the...

These combined with the Arabic Qur’an and Hadeeth (the individual narrations of the Sunnah; pl. ahadeeth) exegesis available here in America have been the primary sources for this research.

For exegesis, I have relied the most heavily on those of Ibn Kathir (the most widely known exegesis in the Muslim world, compiled by the named 13th century alim), Al-Ashqar (which is an abridged version of the famous 18th century Al- Shawkaanee’s exegesis), and Arkahdaan (which is an abridged version of the widely respected Al-12th century Qaasimi exegesis). In regard to the Sunnah, I have relied mostly on the two most authentic collections of ahadeeth (the compilations of Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Other than my own scriptural reflections, I have also highlighted the educational perspectives of two of the most knowledgeable ulamaa in the past half century, Shaykhs Bin Baz and Uthaymeen, as well as educational specialist Dr. Ahmad Mutawalee. Qur’an and Hadeeth exegesis ulamaa have frequently highlighted pedagogical issues in their works although they did not usually dedicate specific treatises to the topic.

The works that have been found specifically described as “Islamic pedagogy” actually dealt more with outlining a specific curriculum of Islamic values that promote social, psychological, academic, and moral development, but less on how to teach them. Paradoxically, what would normally be viewed as a dearth in the literature has a lot to do with what exactly Islamic pedagogy is as will be explicated.

There are over 6,000 verses in the Qur’an and more than 20, 000 authentic ahadeeth; accordingly, to knowledgably speak about the Islamic stance on a topic is not just to mention one verse of the Qur’an or one hadeeth from the Sunnah as proof, but rather to present all pertinent revelation with the appropriate corresponding analysis.

Understandably, such a task is more appropriate for an entire lifetime’s work than a Master’s thesis; ergo, what is presented here is a survey-natured textual analysis of the Qur’anic method of teaching in the Qur’an itself, the pedagogical wisdoms behind the fashion in which scripture was revealed, and the pedagogical techniques that prophet Muhammad used with his companions. Glimpses of how this pedagogy was utilized historically will be brought to light as well.