Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought A Compendium of English-Arabic Texts By Bradley J. Cook and Fathi H. Malkawi, ed. (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press. August 2011, hbk, 305 pages.)

Abstract

Over the past decade, discussions on Islamic educational thought have become
popular mainly due to the political situation particularly as it concerns
the interaction between Islam and the West. However, regardless of
political considerations, most Western scholars seem to have paid less attention
to Islamic education as a concept worthy of attention. In this context,
Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought, which is a
recent publication on this topic, plays an exceptional role. Making some
of the major classics on Islamic education available in parallel English-
Arabic texts, this volume is an indispensible compendium for students and
scholars alike.
The main editor, Bradley J. Cook, has a lot of practical experience
in the field of Islamic education. In addition to his academic endeavors
and remarkable publications on education, Cook has had the advantage of
teaching in a number of Muslim countries including Egypt and the United
Arab Emirates, where he also held several executive positions. With the
assistance of Fathi H. Malkawi, a Jordanian-born educator, Cook has managed
to make a good selection of texts on a variety of educational subjects,
which reflect both educational rules in classical Islamic thought and the
holistic attitude of Muslim educators who consider learning as part of the
moral and spiritual growth of those reading this volume ...