The Role of Madrasa Curriculum in the Muslim Community Education, Identity, and Christian-Muslim Relations
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THE ROLE OF MADRASA CURRICULUM IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY EDUCATION, IDENTITY AND CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS: A CASE OF MUMIAS WEST CONSTITUENCY MURUA IBRAHIM JUMA A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 2016 i DECLARATION This research project is my original work and has not been presented for any academic award in any other university. _____________________ ___________ MURUA IBRAHIM JUMA DATE C50/68998/2013 This projecthas been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors. _____________________ ___________ DR.ABDULKADIR HASHIM DATE Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies University of Nairobi _____________________ ___________ DR.ABRAHAMWAMBUA DATE Department ofPhilosophy and Religious Studies University of Nairobi ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to the late Prof. Ali Mazrui, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and Shaaban Bin Robertfor their tireless struggle for the emancipation of African culture, history, scholarship, and individuality from negative European or Euro-centric depiction. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I take this opportunity to thank the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies for allowing me to study the phenomenon of religion. I wish also to thank the Chairman of the Department, Prof. S. I. Akaranga, for his challenging but instructive advice. Furthermore, innumerable gratitude goes to my supervisors, Dr. Hashim, A. and Dr. Wambua, A. for their invaluable advice and scholarly guidance. I particularly thank the two for their patience, encouragement, and persistence. Let me also extend my gratitude to my two research assistants; Abubakar Hamis and Sheikh Omar Mombo of Sheikh Khalifa Masjid, Lukoye. I also wish to thank my fellow students; Kenneth Ng‟ang‟a and Fancy Cheronoin the department for their constructive criticism, suggestions, and perspective. My thanks also go to my wives, Mwanatena Auma and Mariam Ibrahim Mbeke for their patience, encouragements and selfless guidance. My children; Asya Bahati, Emmanuel Hashim, and Tasneem Zawadi must also be thanked for their patience during prolonged absence during my study. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................... viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .......................................... ix A GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS ............................................................. x A GLOSSARY OF SWAHILI TERMS ........................................................... xv A GLOSSARY OF WANGA TERMS ............................................................. xvi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................... xvii CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the Problem .......................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem.............................................................................. 6 1.3 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................. 7 1.4 Scope and Limitations of the Study .............................................................. 8 1.5 Justification of the Study .............................................................................. 9 1.6 Literature Review ....................................................................................... 10 1.6.1 Content and Goals of the Madrasa Curriculum ...................................... 10 1.6.2 Madrasa Curriculum and Muslim Community Identity .......................... 12 1.6.3 Madrasa Curriculum and Christian-Muslim Relations ........................... 14 1.6.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 15 1.7 Theoretical Framework of the Study .......................................................... 16 1.8 Research Hypotheses .................................................................................. 19 1.9 Research Methodology ............................................................................... 19 1.9.1 Research Design ...................................................................................... 19 1.9.2 Location of the Study............................................................................... 20 1.9.3 Target Population..................................................................................... 21 1.9.4 Sample and Sampling Procedures ........................................................... 21 1.9.5 Research Instruments ............................................................................... 21 1.9.6 Validity of the Instruments ...................................................................... 22 1.9.7 Reliability of the Instruments .................................................................. 23 1.9.8 Data Analysis ........................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER TWO:THE EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MADRASA SCHOOLING IN KENYA ........................................................ 24 2.0 Introduction................................................................................................. 24 v 2.1 The General Conceptof Education and Curriculum ................................... 24 2.2 Kenya National Goals of Education ........................................................... 29 2.3 Islamic Concept of Education and Educational Goals ............................... 30 2.3.1 The Qur’anic Basis of Islamic Education ............................................... 31 2.3.2The Hadith Basis of Islamic Education .................................................... 32 2.4 Muslim Traditional Learning ...................................................................... 34 2.5 Wanga Indigenous Religion ....................................................................... 36 2.6 Madrasa Curriculum in the Colonial Context ............................................ 37 2.7 Madrasa Curriculum in the Post-Colonial Context .................................... 40 2.8 The Goals and the Role of the Madrasa Curriculum ................................. 44 2.9 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 46 CHAPTER THREE:MUSLIM COMMUNITY IDENTITY ..................... 47 3.0 Introduction................................................................................................. 47 3.1 Primary and Secondary Identities ............................................................... 47 3.2 The Madrasa Curriculum and the Muslim Community Identity................ 48 3.3 Subjects in the Formal MadrasaCurriculum .............................................. 49 3.4Language and identity.................................................................................. 52 3.5 Islamic Traditions and their Scripture ........................................................ 53 3.6 Islamic Rituals and Naming........................................................................ 56 3.7 Marriage (Nikah) ........................................................................................ 58 3.8 Food and Eating Habits .............................................................................. 60 3.9 Dressing Style ............................................................................................. 62 3.10 Death Rituals ............................................................................................ 63 3.11 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 63 CHAPTER FOUR:CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS ........................ 65 4.0 Introduction................................................................................................. 65 4.1 Islamic Foundations of Christian-Muslim Relations .................................. 65 4.2 The Historical Roots of Christian-Muslim Relations in Kenya.................. 68 4.3 Christian-Muslim Relations in Mumias West Constituency ...................... 76 4.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 79 vi CHAPTER FIVE:SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 81 5.1 Summary of the Findings ........................................................................... 81 5.2 Conclusions ................................................................................................ 84 5.3 Recommendations....................................................................................... 86 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................... 88 APPENDICES ................................................................................................. 95 Appendix A: List of oral respondents. .............................................................. 95 Appendix B: Questionnaire