Translating al-Mawwaq to be used as a primary source to address curriculum deficiencies in the South African Darul Ulooms

Abstract

It is knowledge that ultimately changes the face of the world because it allows the individual to conduct himself in a dignified manner conscious of his Creator. The Darul Ulooms in South Africa ever since inception have played a very important role in guiding the Muslim community. However, when we trace the development of Islamic knowledge with specific reference to the early days of Islam with the presence of the Prophet Muhammad in Madinah, to the thriving Islamic scholarly ambience in Spain, to the transformation of the desert of Mauritania through the mahdarah into a vibrant land of scholarship until the establishment of Darul Uloom Deoband in India we observe that true scholarship results in greater tolerance and better coexistence between people. Islamic scholarship underwent different changes to adapt to different environments and circumstances. Likewise, the Darul Ulooms in South Africa need to embrace some changes and reforms to its curriculum to remain relevant and to continue to provide the desired guidance for the country. Al-Mawwaq, who was a Spanish Muslim scholar from Granada, authored a book wherein he discussed important concepts related to Islamic Jurisprudence and Sufism that could be incorporated under the broader topic known as the Objectives of the Shariah, which is common in the present discourse on Islam. The themes and topics in his book will be suggested as important inclusions to the Darul Uloom curriculum in order to address some deficiencies.