ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide an overview of traditional Islamic educational thought and practice and to discuss some aspects of the challenges facing contemporary Muslim educators. It points out that Islam is part of what can be termed the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition; sharing with Judaism and Christianity many core beliefs, ideas, and values. The chapter examines the contemporary educational systems of two Muslim-majority countries, ranging from Turkey, where a historically secular system has in recent years begun to shift toward a more religious orientation, to that of Saudi Arabia, where schooling is fundamentally religious in nature, albeit with secular functions as well as religious ones. With respect to Islamic religious education in Turkey, the inclusion of religious education in the formal educational system has evolved over time. The chapter looks at a number of examples of anti-Muslim attitudes and policies in various settings, including in the United States.
