THE CURRICULUM OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IN EARLY ISLAMIC ERA AND ISLAMIC GOLDEN AGE

Abstract

Muslim historians stated that in the beginning period of the call of Islam by the prophet Muhammad to the people was through education, and the first people who received Islamic education directly from him were his companions and then they spread Islam throughout the world successfully. Also, there was another period termed by orientalists as the Islamic golden age which is viewed from the perspective of the civilization sophistication, and this period was not separated from the important role of an excellent education too. The aims of this study were to examine the main principles of children education in both periods which was delivered the ummah to the glory? And what is the recommendation of concept for curriculum integration of both ages for applying in contemporary Islamic education? A qualitative method was utilized and comparative-historical methodology, as well as analytical, was employed. A review of the literature and its results related to children education in both periods showed a strong correlation that: (1) the main principles of education for children in both ages were very serious in implementing Islamic education from the beginning of children entering elementary school, (2) the curriculum applied to basic education of Muslim children was the memorization of the Qur’an and other basic Islamic knowledge before moving to the next education level which is usually in accordance with the abilities and tendencies of these children's interests and skills. These results suggest the conceptual recommendation of the curriculum for applying in contemporary Islamic education for children is to begin basic education by prioritizing the basics of Islamic sciences, especially the Qoran memorization. Further research is needed to identify the Islamic education curriculum for secondary and higher-level education which once delivered the ummah to those glory for over a period of centuries.