Contemporary Curriculum Design for Higher Education: An Islamic Appraisal

Education is a key to developing positivity in human beings. It helps to become a good citizen. In Islam, education has a central role that every Muslim must seek. Islamic education is centered on the teaching of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The Quran is revealed in Arabic, therefore sources of the teachings of Islam are in Arabic. It is the religious duty of the Muslim Ummah to learn Arabic and have command in it. The Quran is the only Book that provides complete guidance to humanity, whether the matters related to social life, economic matters, political issues, or religious life. Keeping this in view, the curriculum should also be prepared in the light of the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Focusing on the contemporary curriculum design for Islamic studies for higher education, this paper describes the missing material in the existing curriculum and suggests that the use of modern resources, arranging conferences, and an expansive transformative framework for Islamic studies are the key tools for its implementation. It stresses the curricular designers to approach the existing curriculum more comprehensively which covers Islamic Law, comparative studies, contemporary trends in world traditions, peace dialogue, and practical involvement of students too. This goal can be gained through amendments or revising the existing curriculum. The outcome of it will results in students' critical thinking, positivity, comprehensive knowledge, language proficiency, and character building.

Metal-Microbe Interaction in Municipal Solid Waste Compost Amended Soil and its Effect on Maize Zea May L. Growth

The use of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) can be very helpful in agricultural soils because of its associated useful characteristics. It improves soil physico-chemical properties, soil microbial biomass (SMB), mitigates soil diseases and enhanced soil organic matter (SOM) etc. However, the threat related to toxic heavy metal presence in MSWC can limit its extensive use as a soil amendment in agriculture. Higher heavy metals concentrations can decrease SMB, soil microbial ecology and activities of enzymes etc. The microbial processes affect transformation of metals which influence the availability of these metals in soil. The microbiological processes can either solubilize metals which may result in their potential toxicity and bioavailability or immobilize them. A lot of work has been done on the effect of toxic heavy metals on soil microorganisms, however, the research work is mainly experimented in acidic soils. The data regarding metal–microbe interaction in alkaline calcareous soils amended with MSWC is very limited. A study was planned to evaluate the effect of heavy metals present in MSWC on SMB and how soil microorganisms (Enterobacter sp. MN-17 (ST1) and Bacillus sp. MN-54 (ST2)) transform cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The effect of MSWC on heavy metals availability, and growth of maize (Zea mays L.) was studied. The role of biochar and metal tolerant bacterial strain (MN-17) was also assessed to reduce metal availability in MSWC amended soils. Results showed that the increase in MSWC rate from 5 to 20 t ha-1 significantly increased the SMB (C and N) and soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA). MSWC application at 20 t ha-1 showed highest values of SMB C (21 %), SMB N (111 %) and DHA (25%) over control. No negative impacts were observed on the soil quality indicators by applying higher rates of MSWC during the whole incubation period. The addition of metal tolerant strains (MN-17 and MN-54) showed significant difference in reducing the exchangeable fraction of Cd and Pb in MSWC amended soil. Soil microbial biomass C and N and soil dehydrogenase enzyme concentrations were also increased by the addition of metal tolerant strains in MSWC. It was noticed that the metal tolerant bacterial strains can affect the mobility of metals through microbial transformation in soil and can reduce the exchangeable fraction of heavy metals in MSWC amended soil. Furthermore, roots of maize plants showed the highest metal concentrations which might act as a barrier for Pb, resulting in reduced concentrations of Pb in shoot of maize. However, the uptake of Cd remained higher from roots to shoots in maize vii plant. MSWC showed a positive impact on the plant growth and physiological parameters. Soil quality parameters (SMB and DHA) were also enhanced in soil where maize plants were grown upon the application of MSWC. In addition, poultry manure biochar and metal tolerant strain MN-17 and their combination remained more effective in the immobilization of Cd (66%) and Pb (61%) in MSWC amended soil. The mixing of biochar and metal tolerant strain MN-17 alone and their combination with MSWC showed better growth and physiological parameters as compared to the plants grown in MSWC amended soil. Soil microbial biomass C and N and soil dehydrogenase enzyme concentrations were also increased by the addition of biochar and MN-17 in MSWC amended soil. With incorporation of MSWC in soil, no detrimental effects of heavy metals on maize plant growth and soil microbial biomass were found. However, due to the high bioavailability potential of Cd and Pb, the repeated applications of MSWC would carry a risk of Cd and Pb build-up in soil.