Course Announcement: An Islamic Perspective on Governance
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In a continuing partnership between Maqasid Institute (MI) and International Peace College of South Africa (IPSA), comes this new online course that mines Islam’s primary sources, the Qur’an and Sunnah, to explore governance, policy and leadership, challenging participants to delve deeply into their own values and beliefs.
Dr. Basma Abdelgafar, MI Vice President and Director of Policy, is the instructor for this 5-week course that commences on February 15th and examines governance and policy from an Islamic perspective. In particular, the four pillars of public policy in Islam – tawhid (unification), maqasid (objectives of the shariah), shura (collective decision-making) and islah (rectification) – and how they are intended to guide public affairs at multiple levels.
The course aims to improve the performance of individuals engaged in public life by helping to unlock the wealth of guidance available in Islam’s primary sources, Quran and Sunnah, as well as relevant scholarship through an integrative, comprehensive and dynamic methodology.
Participants are expected to be engaged by watching the class lectures exclusively available online, completing the assigned readings, answering related questions and participating in class discussions. Certificates will be issued upon completion.
Students of governance and policy, policy makers, takers and analysts, decision makers in government, NGOs and business, truth seekers are welcomed to apply. Application form is available here.
Dr. Abdelgafar, MI Vice President and Director of Policy, is a Professor of Public Policy, consults and provides training internationally on policy, governance and Muslim affairs. Prof. Abdelgafar has worked in the Canadian federal government, academia and the third sector. She has contributed to the development of graduate studies in public policy at the American University in Cairo, Qatar Foundation and the International Peace College of South Africa. She was founding head of the Public Policy in Islam Masters Program at the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University. She has a keen interest in research and teaching in public policy and governance in Islam as well as in Muslim history, thought, institutions and communities. She obtained her Ph.D. in Public Policy from Carleton University, Ottawa, in 2003. Her book publications include: Public Policy Beyond Traditional Jurisprudence (London: IIIT), Thriving in a Plural World (Singapore: MUIS), M.A. Draz’s Morality in the Quran and the Greater Good of Humanity (Wales: Claritas), and The Illusive Tradeoff (Toronto: University of Toronto Press). Prof. Basma is currently authoring a book on the Quranic Theory of Invention and Innovation.
Dr. Abdelgafar has recently presented a research paper on “Public Policy in Islam” which you can read about here.