Safia Iqbal

Shelved in Non-Muslim Education.
Stories of the World by Safia Iqbal. A Text book in Social Studies 6 books in series. Written and printed in India.
There are some good features about this series, but also enough problems that I do not recommend it as a student text. I do think parents and teachers may find some benefit. I’ve only reviewed Books 4,5, and 6.
The books are poorly edited, and the cheap publication means the black and white photos are usually blurry and dark.

Book 4
There is a nice introduction where the author explains that environmental studies and World History are now being taught together. Teachers are encouraged to go beyond rote memorization. “the facts and events are not narrated in a mechanical style but in an informal, logical, argumentative form, prompting the student to think and weigh facts for himself, thereby sharpening is ability to opine and think independently on healthy lines.”
There are 28 topics, divided into sections and the teacher is cautioned to not skip any and to teach them in order.
Astronomy is the first section. It has 1 lesson, which includes 23 terms to learn, including exosphere, ionosphere, isobars, and convectional rain. At the end it has four pages of exercises, all calling for the simplest of reading skills – fact recall.
Some of the terms are different from what is used in America. ‘Creek” for example is defined as “a narrow arm of the sea water in the land. It is shallow and much smaller than a gulf.” The photo shows a river.
Geography is the second section, with 7 lessons, including Atmosphere, Time Zones, Physical features, Europe, Arabia and 2 on India. Again there are many definitions and facts to be learned in each lesson.
History has 17 lessons, including Mayas, Phoenicians, Stonehenge, Africa – The Kush; Assyrians, Scythians, The Medes, The Saabas, Persia, Greece, Rome, fall of BaniIsrail, rise of Christianity; Mauryas and Guptas in India, Great Wall in China, Story of Writing, and poet (Iqbal).
Civicshas 3 lessons: Civic life, Public welfare work and social institutions, and important dates.

Book 5
Astronomy: 1 lesson: Our space world
Geography: 5 lessons: North America, Central America, South America, China
History: 16 lessons: Bani Ismail, Muhammad, Caliphs, Umayyads, Abbasids, Spain, Crusades, Turks, Mongols, India – 2 lessons, China, African Kingdoms, Aztecs, Incas, Ibn Battuta
Civic: Indian Constitution

Book 6
Astronomy : 1 lesson, our space world
Geography – 15 lessons including lithosphere, Africa, Australia, Asia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, their neighbors, Afghanistan, Iran, C.I.S. (Soviet republics)
History: 21 lessons including origin of life, 1st Renaissance 600 AD, World in 1400, Renaissance in Europe 1400,Exploration and Colonialism, slave trade, India Mughals, Africa diamond rush, 2 more on India, Pakistan, World War I and II, Middle East, History chart, social and religious moments; SheirkhSaadi, Maududi, Hasa al Banna, Zainab Al Ghazali
Civics: 5 lessons: Health and Hygiene; Mass media; Our Government; Fundamental Rights; Rights of Women and Children
Economics: 1 lesson Our Economy, timeline and important dates
A note at the bottom says that certain marked lessons are for Class 9 only. I’m not sure what that means – is this Book 6 supposed to take 4 years to complete?

General Comments:
1. Explanations and definitions are given in easy to understand language, but, for example, in the lesson the atmosphere in Book 4, there are 23 terms to learn
2. Although the introductions talk about ‘thinking questions”, there are none in any of the exercises. They are all fact recall, whose answers are easily found in the text.
3. The books do a good job of placing prophets in correct geographical and time situations. In talking about general concepts like hygiene Islamic positions are included in logical places.
4. Some of the civic lessons are general, and they give very good information. Some of the lessons focus more on India as one would expect for a book aimed at students in India.
So in general these are not appropriate books for western Muslims to use as textbooks, but they are excellent resources for teachers (although there are some small mistakes here and there).… (plus d'informations)