Reality of Researchwith an Islamic foundationand Guidance in Educational Sciences inSaudi Universities

Abstract

The study aims to identify the reality and obstaclesofresearch withan Islamic foundation and guidancein educational sciences in Saudi universities. In addition, it puts forward some proposals to strengthen it from the perspective of professors of Islamic education in those universities. The descriptive survey approach is used in this study andthe researcher hasdesigned a questionnaire containing (80) sections divided into 3 parts and hasapplied it on a sample of (58) faculty members at the University of Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, the Islamic University in Madinah and Umm Al- Qura University in Makkah.

The study reveals several results:it is obvious that researchers recognize the Islamic concepts of the human being, society, universe and life with a mean of (3.33), and they distinguish between sources of knowledge in Islam and those of the West with a mean of (3.21). In addition, scientific publication in this field is weak with a mean of (2.57), and the researchers' non-acquaintancewith Western educational thoughts with a mean of (2.71);moreover, exclusion of concepts and thoughts conflicting with Islam with a mean of (3.26); lack of addressing both Western and Islamic educational theories with a mean of (2.79); and non-free content of non-Arabic terms with a mean of (2.81). Furthermore, some of the most importantobstacles that researchersin Saudi universities encounter regardingIslamic foundation and guidance of educational sciences are: First, weakness of institutionalwork in this fieldwitha meanof(3.38). Second, weakness ofsupport and encouragementin the Islamic worldwitha meanof(3.29). The researcher suggests the following:supporting and encouraging researchers in this field and establishing specializedresearch centers in this field. The study concludes with a number of recommendationsand suggestsfurther  research studies.