PRESENTATION

Islam spreads in ArabicPeninsula during the life of Prophet Mohammad and it continues to spread in many territories of Asia, Africa and European continents with the conquests, continuing approximately one century after his decease and a new period starts in the world history. Works, having important tracks in the religious, political, managerial, social, economical, architectural and musical knowledge, are produced in such geographies, where are governed by Muslims in the following centuries.

People are provided to enter in such religion by satisfying the local societies in the conquered countries immediately after military conquests for flashing Islamic Civilization unbelievably. Cultures and civilizations, which are available in the different geographies as of the previous centuries, are not excluded and it is benefited from them. Having a level over the current era in the educational area, especially constituting the base of all these positive developments provides existence of these civilizations for a long time. However, it is difficult to state that such educational level, obtained in the past, are maintained in the countries in which current Muslim societies are living and it is real that many of them could not benefit from contemporary education and instruction possibilities in these days. For example, it is sufficient to look for literacy rate in Muslim societies.

Each Islamic activity, which is positive or negative, performed in 57 countries, member of Organization of The Islamic Conference in the last era, 21st Century, are not only restricted with such member countries but also they interest the whole world closely. Everybody benefits from the positive developments. In case of any mistake, it does not only interest the venue but also it echoes in all parts of the world in the short period. There are the ones, which can compete with the most developed countries of the world in many fields as well as ones, which can not display any development mark among 57 countries. It is known that the difference among these countries is based on not giving required importance to the education. It should not be forgotten that the most important and humanitarian feature is the education and instruction. Difference of uneducated person from other living creatures is only being human.

Turkey is not only in its own geography but also it is much more active in the international organizations, in which it is member, with the passing each day. Especially Organization of The Islamic Conference interests many matters of Eastern countries from economy to education, from health to trade, from international relations to art, from history to culture closely and fulfills a great duty. Activities of such organization should be enriched much more with the supports of private organizations such as TASAM (TACSS - TurkishAsianCenter for Strategic Studies) and İSAV (The Foundation for Research in Islamic Sciences) and it should be supported with the studies, opening horizons for new generations. Many Eastern and African countries are exploited by European countries in the first half of 20th Century. Education is one of the first fields, taken hand by exploiter countries and many historical and traditional education institutions are closed in this period, open ones lose their importance. Especially traditional education institutions, providing religious education, do not endure the press on them and they are disappeared or they adopt Western educational systems considerably and they depart from their original and historical identities.

All the countries, in which Muslims are living, become independent in the process, beginning as of 1950’s years and continuing until 1970’s years. Today we have to know the educational institutions in these countries from preschool education to post-university education closely.

We consider that it is the good time that studies performed in any country or among territorial countries, should be handled in much more comprehensive meeting and they should be gained into the whole Islamic world and Turkey model about this subject should be explained.

International Argumentative Scientific Meeting, with subject of "Education in Islamic Countries", organized by TASAM and ISAV, is a subject, which is not emphasized more comprehensively up to now. Historical education experiences of member countries of Organization of The Islamic Conference was assessed in this international meeting and current available situations was stated by the experts personally and the most important one is that it was provided to determine a common vision for the future.