The "Islamic" at an Islamic School

• In Event: Crown Plaza Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Religion, Identity, and Philosophy

Abstract

In this paper, based on a four-month ethnography of an Islamic high school, I examine the “Islamic” at an Islamic school by studying its influence on school policy, curriculum, and self-representation. Literature on religious schools generally illustrates the role of religion at these schools. However, my study shows that while religion plays a role in the school’s decision-making, the reverse also occurs: the school’s decisions play a role in religion. Just as the “Islamic” influences the school, the school also negotiates and redefines notions of what can be considered “Islamic”, without compromising Islam. This is significant as it illustrates the interaction of theoretical Islam and Muslim agency, both of which are necessary to understand what makes an Islamic school Islamic.

Author

• Abiya Ahmed, Stanford University