To seek knowledge is a sacred duty, it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. The first word revealed in the Quran was “Iqra” READ! Seek knowledge! Educate yourselves! Be educated. The first and foremost condition for the vitality of a nation is the acquisition of knowledge. Given this Islam has encouraged people very much to acquire knowledge and science. It has made it obligatory for them. The Holy Prophet says: “Every Muslim, man and woman must acquire knowledge”.Allah says:

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

“Is (one) who [he] (is) devoutly obedient – (during) hours (of) the night, prostrating and standing, fearing the Hereafter and hoping (for the) Mercy (of) his Lord? Say, “Are equal those who know and those who (do) not know?” Only will take heed those of understanding.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:9)

The first and most crucial obligation on us is to acquire knowledge and secondly to practice and preach this knowledge. No man becomes truly a Muslim without knowing the meaning of Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth but knowledge. Unless we come to know the basic and necessary teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (S) how can we believe in him, have faith in him, act according to what he taught? We can’t be a Muslim, and at the same time live in a state of ignorance. Allah says:

يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

“He grants [the] wisdom (to) whom He wills, and whoever is granted [the] wisdom, then certainly he is granted good abundant. And none remembers except those (of) understanding.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:269)

A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and he easily can be deceived by Shaytaan. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic teachings and in our unawareness of what the Quran teaches and what guidance has been given by the Prophet (S). Allah has given us so much by making us a part of the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (S) so we must commit ourselves as followers of the Prophet (S). Allah says:

شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“(it is) Witnessed by Allah that [He], (there is) no god except Him, and (so do) the Angels, and owners (of) [the] knowledge – standing injustice. (There is) no god except Him the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:18)

But if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to see the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of Kufr, Shirk and immorality, which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be followed.

Allah Almighty glorifies says in the Holy Quran:

• “Created man from a clot. And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, Who teacheth by the pen, Teacheth man that which he knew not.” (Quran 96: 2-5)
• “And of men and beasts and cattle, in like manner, divers hues? The erudite among His bondmen fear Allah alone. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Forgiving.” (Quran 35:28)
• “Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe.” (Quran 16:79)
• “Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and we made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe?” (Quran 21:30)
• “He giveth wisdom unto whom He will, and he unto whom wisdom is given, he truly hath received abundant good. But none remember except men of understanding.” (Quran 2: 269)

Education is the way we as Muslims get closer to Allah Almighty. In Islam, the role of education is very important. Reading is a concept of learning to explore science. The knowledge possessed by a person even though he is merely a slave. Allah says:

وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

“We have built the heaven with might, and it is Who make the vast extent (thereof).” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat [51:47)

The other knowledge written in the Quran is about Allah Almighty Who created the heavens and the earth. This verse also explained how Allah SWT creates day and night. This day and night rotation also shows that the earth is round.

The role of education in the life of a Muslim is very large:

1. Education is the main source of guidance
2. Education is obligatory for every Muslim
3. Education is the way to get closer
4. Knowledge of life and hereafter
5. Knowledge related to paradise
6. Right direction of knowledge
7. The Power of Allah Almighty
8. Believing in the knowledge
9. Believer and its knowledge
10. The virtue of education
11. Knowledgeable people
12. Knowledge’s charity
13. Education role in life
14. Knowledge of flying birds
15. The unbeneficial knowledge
16. Give knowledge is a charity
17. Everybody can learn knowledge
18. Education as a tool for attaining faith
19. The knowledge that written in the Quran
20. Another sign of the Power of Allah Almighty
21. Knowledge better than performing Sunnah prayer
22. Knowledge of Who created the heavens and earth
23. Knowledge teaches us how to respect and behave

“Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with the education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world.”

Education is also described in the Quran as a tool for attaining faith, the faith of a Muslim. To achieve that, we as Muslims should continue to seek more about that knowledge. Allah says:

فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

“Then exalted be Allah, the True King! And hasten not (O Muhammad) with the Qur’an ere its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:114 )

Islam is our greatest gift. We have to be thankful for this gift. We have to render to Allah His due. We must become true Muslims. If our knowledge is little, then we will constantly run the risk of losing that magnificent gift, which we have received unless we remain vigilant in our fight against ignorance. Allah says:

خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ يُكَوِّرُ اللَّيْلَ عَلَى النَّهَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّهَارَ عَلَى اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى أَلَا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ

“He created the heavens and the earth in [the] truth. He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night. And He subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a term specified. Unquestionably, He (is) the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:5)

May Allah (SWT) give us the strength to behave and act just as He likes us to do and be pleased with us, and that should be the purpose of our lives. Rabbi Sidney ilma (O Lord, increase us in knowledge). Aameen.