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Sciences relevant to Islamic and Oriental Studies in Egypt
Egypt is considered the stronghold of the Sunni theology in the Islamic World. Its fame was prompted by Al Azhar University, built in Cairo in the year 988. Here and through the centuries, the greatest and most renowned Islamic theologians, Egyptians as well as foreigners, have received their studies. Upon its reform in 1961, it was no more limited to theological sciences and Arabic Studies, but opened up to all subject matters. For most Egyptians, Al Azhar University is associated with their self-image as Moslems: being proud of the oldest and internationally most reputable university in the Islamic World and proud of its famous graduates, scholars and theologians like Jamal ud-Din al-Afghani or Mohammad Abduh.
Beside the state-supported Al Azhar University there are 12 other state-owned in Egypt, most of which offer relevant courses in Islamic and Oriental Studies. The Cairo, Ain Shams and Alexandria University count as the best known and largest. Cairo University also offers –in addition to the sections established for Arabic Studies and Oriental languages- at the faculty “Dar El ‘Uloum” the subject matters Law of Islam, Islamic Philosophy, History and Culture. Students of Al Alsun Faculty (Faculty of Languages) Ain Shams University have the option to study the Arabic, Persian, Turkish or Urdu language. The Faculty of Arts at the same University offers studies in the same languages, yet from literary, historic and cultural perspectives.
The independent “American University in Cairo” (AUC), founded in 1919, likewise offers an abundance of humanities relevant to Islamic sciences. Affiliated to such is an Arabic Language Institute, an Office of African Studies as well as a Social Research Center, which deal with local topics and those concerning the Islamic World in general. The German University in Cairo (opened in October 2003) with is focus on modern sciences and economics currently does not offer philosophical courses of study.
With the exception of the AUC, all universities are way behind the “western” educational standard with regard to facilities, number of publications, educational materials, curricula, but also with regard to networking with partner institutions, which negatively reflects on the quality of education.
Method and Results of the Data Collection
In the course of collecting data, several universities and relevant institutes were contacted, e.g. the Cairo University, the Ain Shams University, Al Azhar University and the AUC.
Internet and e-mail were made use of intensely for contacts and data collection. However, it has been established that very few universities, colleges respectively, have an efficiently developed electronic infrastructure, rendering it quite difficult to reach most universities via e-mail and Internet to collect data: contacts were made difficult by limited detailed web sites, no updated data and information – not to mention the bureaucratic hurdles. (Thus it is, a certain contradiction to contact Egyptian universities via the web site of Islam Research Directory, which offers its service completely through the Internet). Thereupon, contacts to most universities are made through traditional means via telephone or correspondence/fax. AUC is the best, followed by far by the Cairo, the Ain Shams and the Alexandria University.
Here, the contact was heavily dependent on telephone, fax and personal meetings, e.g. with single scientists, deans respectively. The inquiries made to Al Azhar University remained unanswered, with no results respectively, and in spite of the University’s significance, it has the worst infrastructure in terms of electronic and communication technology.
When collecting data and selecting the scientists, several criteria were of importance. First of all, sufficient knowledge of German, English or French was an imperative pre-requisite, in order to facilitate contact and dialog between German/European experts and their colleagues in Egypt. Secondly, sufficient availability of electronic, technical infrastructure respectively, like e-mail or fax was in focus. Thirdly, a clearly apparent readiness to participate, to have a dialog and to cooperate formed a strong condition for inclusion in the data base.
For registration in the Islam Research Directory (IRD) 36 scientists and experts were selected from 8 fields of specialization, distributed as follows: 10 specialists in political science, 8 specialists in linguistics/literature, 7 specialists in art/culture, 4 sociologists, 3 theologians, 2 historians, 1 economist, 1 psychologist. All hold the academic degree of Ph.D., professor respectively, except for two who hold a master degree.
The Universities of Cairo and Ain Shams have expressed their intention to provide data on their scientists at a later date, so that there is hope to expand the list of scientists and special fields, measured according to the significance and the role of Egypt in the Islamic World.
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