The Five Purposes of Creation and the Authentic Essence of Tarbiya (Education): A study in light of the Holy Qur’an

أهداف البحث: يهدف البحث بالأساس إلى دراسة مقاصد الخَلق الخمسة: العبادة، والاستخلاف في الأرض، وعمارتها، والابتلاء، والاختلاف بين الناس، وتحليل العلاقات فيما بينها، وعلاقاتها بجوهر التربية الأصيل، ألا وهو الترقي السامي في معارج الكمال، بناءً على تحليل الباحث لمفهوم التربية الأصيل في دراسة دلالية تأصيلية سابقة، فهذا البحث متمم لتلك الدراسة ويستجيب لتوصيتها. منهج الدراسة: أُنجز البحث باتباع منهجية تحليلية تأصيلية في ضوء القرآن الحكيم، وذلك باستقراء الآيات التي كشفت عن مقاصد الخلق بصِيَغِ تعليلٍ ظاهرةٍ، ودراستها دراسةً دلاليةً مقارنة في ضوء سياقاتها، وتحليل العلاقة بين دلالة كل مَقصد ودلالة جوهر التربية الأصيل، ثم استخلاص أهم النتائج وآفاقها. النتائج: أهم ما كشف عنه البحث هو أنه بمقدار تمثل الإنسان لمقتضيات مقاصد خلقه الخمسة -التي تشير إليها دلالاتها حسب تحليلها في ضوء القرآن - فإنه يحقق إنسانيته ويرتقي في معارج الكمال البشري ارتقاءً شاملًا وساميًا، يقربه إلى ربه ذي المثل الأعلى للكمال، وذلك الارتقاء هو جوهر التربية الأصيل. أصالة البحث: تكمن أصالة البحث في كونه يكشف عن دلالات مقاصد الخلق الخمسة، والعلاقات فيما بينها جميعًا، وعلاقاتها بجوهر التربية الأصيل، وارتباطها بفكرة التقرب إلى الله ذي الكمال المطلق، كشفًا تأصيليًا جديدًا يعمق تصورنا عن مفهوم التربية وجوهرها الأصيل، الذي من شأنه تحقيق ارتقاء إنساني تجديدي شامل نحو الكمال.Purpose: This research mainly studies the five purposes of creation: worship “ʿibāda”, viceroyship “khilāfa” on earth, developing “ʿimār” on earth, testing “ibtilāʾ”, and human differences “ikhtilāf”. It also analyzes their interrelationships as well as their relationships with the authentic essence of tarbiya (education), i.e., the eminent progression along the stairway to perfection, based on the researcher’s analysis of the authentic concept of tarbiya in a previous semantically authenticating study. Thus, this research is complementary to the previous study and was conducted in response to the latter’s recommendations. Methodology: The research follows a semantically analytical authenticating methodology in light of the Qur’an. It examines the Qur’anic verses that clearly convey the purposes of creation, studies them semantically, compares and contrasts them in light of their respective contexts, analyzes the relationship between each purpose and the connotations of the authentic essence of tarbiya, and then derives the key findings and their contributions. Findings: The key findings of the research reveal that, in as much as human beings commit to the requirements of the five purposes of their creation – to which their connotations point to, according to their analysis in light of the Qur’an - they fulfill their humanity and ascend comprehensively and nobly towards human perfection, which places them closer to their Lord, whose perfection is the loftiest. This ascension embodies the authentic essence of tarbiya. Originality: The originality of the research lies in the fact that it newly and authentically reveals the connotations of the five purposes of creation and their interrelationship, their relevance to the authentic essence of tarbiya, and the linkage between them and the notion of becoming closer to Allah, who has the ultimate perfection. This disclosure deepens our perception of the concept of tarbiya and its essence that can potentially fulfill a comprehensive and renewed human progression towards perfection

Towards Reviving the Authentic Concept of “Tarbiyah”

أهداف البحث: يسعى البحث إلى تحرير مفهوم التربية تحريراً تأصيلياً متحرراً مما شُحن به من دلالات مستوردة من نسق فكري مغاير إجمالاً للنسق الفكري الأصيل للأمة، مما أدى إلى ضياع أو ضمور الدلالات الأصيلة، كما أدى إلى كثير من الإشكالات في التناول السائد للمفهوم. منهج الدراسة: يتبع البحث المنهجية التحليلية الدلالية التأصيلية في ضوء المعاجم العربية الأصيلة – باعتبارها المراجع الأساسية لمعرفة جذور الألفاظ العربية واشتقاقاتها ودلالاتها الأصيلة - والقرآن باعتباره المرجعية العليا للتأصيل وتأسيس منظومة المفاهيم الخاصة بالأمة الإسلامية. النتائج: التحليل الدلالي لجذور لفظ التربية والاشتقاقات المرتبطة بها كشف مدى ثراء المخزون الدلالي الأصيل للتربية. وبتوظيف نتائج هذا التحليل حُرر مفهوم التربية في البحث تحريراً جامعاً مؤصلاً على النحو التالي: "التربية عملية تنشئة متواصلة ورعاية دائمة وترقية متدرجة للمربوب إلى حد الكمال". وبالتأمل والتدقيق في هذا التعريف تبين أن جوهر التربية الأصيل إنما هو الترقي في معارج الكمال. وبتحليل دلالات هذا الجوهر في ضوء القرآن تبين أن هناك علاقة وثيقة بين جوهر التربية وكون الكمال المطلق لله وحده، إذ هو المثل الأعلى للكمال. وبالتعمق في هذه العلاقة وتحليل دلالاتها في ضوء القرآن كشف البحث عن الأبعاد السامية للتربية. أصالة البحث: تكمن أصالة البحث في تحريره لمفهوم التربية الأصيل وتأصيله وتحليل دلالاته وأبعادها بمنهجية تجاوزت الإشكالات المنهجية السائدة في تناول المفهوم.Purpose: The study seeks to clarify the concept of tarbiya (education) in an authentic manner that is free from the foreign connotations of an intellectual pattern that is significantly different from the genuine intellectual pattern of the Umma (Islamic nation). This has led to the fainting or loss of the genuine connotations, as well as to many problems in the mainstream approach of dealing with  the concept. Methodology:  The study follows the authenticating analytical semantic method in the light of authentic Arabic dictionaries - as the basic references to the knowledge of the roots of Arabic words and their derivations and their authentic connotations. This is in addition to the Qur'an as the supreme reference for authenticity and establishing the system of concepts of the Umma. Findings: Semantic analysis of the roots of the term tarbiya and the derivations associated with it reveal the richness of the inherent semantic connotations of the term . Using the results of this analysis, the concept of tarbiya in the study is comprehensively and originally defined as follows: "tarbiya is a process of continuous upbringing, constant care and a step-by-step promotion of the educated to perfection". Reflecting on and scrutinizing this definition, it is clear that the essence of tarbiya is the promotion to the ranks of perfection. By analysing the connotations of this essence in the light of the Qur'an, it is shown that there is a close relationship between the essence of tarbiya and that absolute perfection belongs to Allah alone, as He is the ideal of perfection. By delving deeper into this relationship and analysing its connotations in the light of the Qur'an, the research reveals the sublime dimensions of tarbiya. Originality: This lies in its explanation of the genuine concept of tarbiya and its authenticity and analysis of its connotations and dimensions with a methodology that goes beyond the methodological problems prevailing in dealing with the concept

PROBLEM BASED LEARNING IN THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE – UNIVERSITY OF GEZIRA

This article describes the main objectives of a medical school, how effective is problem based learning (PBL) in helping the student achieve the educational objectives of the faculty, the approach to PBL adopted by the Faculty of Medicine University of Gezira (FMUG)

DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF DICHROSTACHYS CINERA, GUIERA SENEGALENSIS AND VITEX DONIANA

The present work was undertaken to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of three plants used in Sudanese folk medicine.The total phenolic content was measured by Folin Ciocalteau method using gallic acid as standard while the antioxidant capacity was based on the ability of these plant extracts to scavenge DPPH radical.High total phenolic content was detected in Dichrostachys cinera followed by Guiera senegalensis and Vitex doniana. Dichrostachys cinera exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity with EC50 6.63 μg/ml, followed by Guiera senegalensis (7.74 μg/ml) and Vitex doniana (22.72 μg/ml). A significant linear correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity(R2=0.9957) confirmed that the phenolic phytoconstituents are responsible for the antioxidant activity.It can be concluded that the three surveyed plants could be potential sources of antioxidant agent

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF XANTHAN, GUAR AND TREATED GUAR GUMS AS DRUG RELEASE BARRIERS IN ORAL MATRICES

Objective: This study addresses comparative efficiency of three natural gums, namely, xanthan gum, guar gum and thermally treated guar gum, as drug release barriers for sparingly and free water soluble model drugs.Methods: guar gum, xanthan gum or thermally primed treated guar gum (as matrix forming gum) were each used with microcrystalline cellulose (as supportive polymer) and either Propranolol-HCl, as a water soluble drug or Diclofenac-Na, as a water insoluble drug, to produce a series of matrix formulations using direct compression. Matrices were then qualified for friability, hardness, and drug release attributes.Results: With an exception to guar gum based matrices which measures very low hardness, all matrices were found within the acceptable limit or criteria for friability and hardness. Guar gum demonstrated more ability to sustain the release of loaded drugs as compared to other gums. Although both drug solubility and gum type were shown to influence drug release profiles of investigated matrices, only drug solubility demonstrated to affect the kinetics of drug release, especially with xanthan gum matrices.Conclusion: Compared to treated guar and xanthan gums, guar gum can be effectively used to fabricate sustained release matrices for both water soluble and insoluble drugs.Keywords: Guar gum, Treated guar gum, Xanthan gum, Matrices, Propranolol-HCl, Diclofenac-Na

An Examination of Income Effect on Consumers’ Ethical Evaluation of Counterfeit Drugs Buying Behaviour: A Cross-Sectional Study in Qatar and Sudan

Introduction There are limited studies on consumer behaviour toward counterfeit products and the determining factors that motivate willingness to purchase counterfeit items. Aim This study aimed to fill this literature gap through studying differences in individual ethical evaluations of counterfeit drug purchase and whether that ethical evaluation affected by difference in income. It is hypothesized that individuals with lower/higher income make a more/less permissive evaluation of ethical responsibility regarding counterfeit drug purchase. Materials and Methods To empirically test the research assumption, a comparison was made between people who live in the low-income country Sudan and people who live in the high-income country Qatar. The study employed a face-to-face structured interview survey methodology to collect data from 1,170 subjects and the Sudanese and Qatari samples were compared using independent t-test at alpha level of 0.05 employing SPSS version 22.0. Results Sudanese and Qatari individuals were significantly different on all items. Sudanese individuals scored below 3 for all Awareness of Societal Consequences (ASC) items indicating that they make more permissive evaluation of ethical responsibility regarding counterfeit drug purchase. Both groups shared a basic positive moral agreement regarding subjective norm indicating that influence of income is not evident. Conclusion Findings indicate that low-income individuals make more permissive evaluation of ethical responsibility regarding counterfeit drugs purchase when highlighting awareness of societal consequences used as a deterrent tool, while both low and high-income individuals share a basic positive moral agreement when subjective norm dimension is exploited to discourage unethical buying behaviour

Antibacterial Activity and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Four Medicinal Plants

       The present study was undertaken to investigate the antibacterial activity and to find the biologically active functional groups of four medicinal plants. The ethanolic extracts which were obtained by maceration were tested against in vitro five bacterial strains, using cup-plate agar diffusion method. Preliminary phytochemical screening techniques were also used to test for the presence and nature of the active constituents in these plant extracts.      Extracts of the plants; Adansonia digitata, Eucalyptus globulus and Trigonella foenum graecum showed a remarkable antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains. Meanwhile, the ethanolic extract of Ficus sycomorous exhibited a considerable antibacterial activity against Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of terpenes, tannins and saponins in all tested plant extracts, whereas alkaloids and cardiac glycosides were found in appreciable amounts in extracts Trigonella foenum graecum and Adansonia digitata respectively.       It can be concluded that the tested plants demonstrating broad spectra of activity which may help to discover new chemical classes of antibiotics that could serve as selective agents for the maintenance of health