Enlightenment from the Sacred Precinct

Fayd al-Haram is a unique gem in the Islamic intellectual history pertaining to pedagogical thought. Students who were in search of texts that outlined the correct method of the acquisition of knowledge would encounter books focused mainly on the etiquettes of learning. These etiquettes included daily activities such as the order of stacking books, manners when eating, and intentions for learning. While we hold these mannerisms as necessary principles to follow, a student in the context of the modern world is direly in need of learning the tools to decipher texts and acquire knowledge. We believe that the author’s fear of a paradigm shift away from critical analysis within the Islamic educational system has been actualized.

This text will elucidate some of best practices on the manners and methods regarding the acquisition of knowledge and reading.