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Gender, Religion and Education in a Chaotic Postmodern World pp 241–252Cite as

Islam, Education, and Gender: Discourses and Practices Among Pakistani Diaspora in the UK

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Abstract

The emphasis on seeking knowledge is one of the basic tenets of Islam (Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Sahih al-Bukhari by Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (trans: Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan). Kazi Publications, Lahore, pp 810–870, 1979), and learning is compulsory on every Muslim male and female. Islamic sacred texts propound a philosophy of education, which in spite of different interpretations is underpinned by the principal of education for all andand provides a basis for shared concepts and practices across Muslim societies. This chapter first discusses the essentials of Islamic philosophy of education underpinning Islamic values, principles, and practices, followed by a discussion of education and Muslim women with reference to Islamic religious texts. The interface between gender and faith and its impact on educational choices and decisions are debated in the final sections to explore and understand the discourses and practices among the Pakistani diaspora in the UK with regard to female education with specific focus on appropriation of religious discourses in the struggle for empowerment.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The interrogative expression is often used in the Quran for stress purposes.

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Acknowledgement

This chapter was written during my study leave (January–June 2012). I thank Professor Janet Ainley, director of the School of Education; Professor Elizabeth Murphy, head of the College of Social Sciences and pro-vice chancellor; and Professor Mark Thompson, the chair of the staffing committee for approving my study leave which enabled me to work on this chapter, among other outputs. Special thanks go to the colleagues, who covered my work during this study leave.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Saeeda Shah

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  1. Saeeda Shah
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  1. Ramat-Gan, Israel

    Zehavit Gross

  2. School of Education, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

    Lynn Davies

  3. David Yellin Academic College of Educ., Maagal Beit Hamidrash St 7, Jerusalem, 91035, Israel

    Al-Khansaa Diab

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Shah, S. (2013). Islam, Education, and Gender: Discourses and Practices Among Pakistani Diaspora in the UK. In: Gross, Z., Davies, L., Diab, AK. (eds) Gender, Religion and Education in a Chaotic Postmodern World. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5270-2_16

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