Islam is the religion of peace, and it is one of the most sacred and trustworthy religions, which has given us guidance in every aspect of life. Islam has given us education with knowledge that has no limits. The success of a nation is dictated by its residents; a good national level of education leads to economic growth throughout the country. Allah says:
وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا
“And (do) not give the foolish your wealth which Allah made for you a means of support (but) provide (for) them with it and clothe them and speak to them words (of) kindness.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:5)
Education is the knowledge of putting one’s potential to maximum use. Without education, no one can find the proper right path in this world. Education makes a man a right thinker. Without education, no one can think properly in an appropriate context. It tells man how to think and how to make decisions. Education provokes to receive information from the external world. Allah says:
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلْأَلْبَــــٰـــبِ
“Can those who have the knowledge and those who do not be alike? So only the wise do receive the admonition.” (Surah Al-Zumar, 39:9.)
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), came at a time when the Arab society, like so many patriarchal societies at that time, was rife with abhorrent practices against girls. He preached Islam, liberating women and girls in every walk of life, education is a prime aspect. Allah says:
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ
“Descend the Angels and the Spirit therein, by (the) permission (of) their Lord, for every affair.” (Surat Al-Qadr 97:4)
In Islam, knowledge, its acquisition and application is a fundamental requirement for all Muslims to enable them to believe, think, and act according to the principles of the religion. Greater understanding and tolerance comes from education, as people learn about other cultures and embrace the differences. Allah says:
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
“And know that your wealth and your children (are) a trial. And that Allah – with Him (is) a reward great.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:28)
This is a sad reflection upon Muslims and the societies that we have built since knowledge is one of the important pillars upon which the edifice of Islam has been raised. The very fact that the first revelation upon the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) contained the commandment to ‘read’ speaks volumes of the emphasis Islam lays on education.
Education and knowledge are important for all Muslims:
- Education is the channel through strengthening their faith and Imaan
- Education trains yourself to be spiritual, intellectual, and rational
- Education is the key to balancing the growth of the personality
- Education work to earn their own living, making informed
- Education is confined and also relates to moral aspects
- Education helps in acquiring the necessary knowledge
- Education is the path that connects your personality
- Education helps you to grow faith within yourself
- Education can improve your levels of happiness
- Education helps you to feel more confident
- Education is the essence of knowledge
- Education can certainly help to boost up
- Education is the mode of spreading the faith
- Education empowered throughout your daily life
- Education set themselves more challenging goals
- Education opens our eyes to new ways of working
- Education in Islam means acquiring divine knowledge
- Education deals with the issue in a calm and collected way
- Education determination to do their best to ensure success
- Education decisions in order to reduce dependency on others
Within Islam, there is no disagreement found in the acquisition of knowledge being binding and obligatory. The importance and excellence of knowledge have been highlighted both directly and indirectly in over five hundred places in the Holy Qur’an. Indeed one of the essential duties and responsibilities of Prophethood was the dissemination of knowledge and wisdom to all. Allah says:
وَآخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“And others among them who have not yet joined them; and He (is) the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Surah Al-Jumu`ah 62:3)
A basic principle of Islamic Shariah states that when a commandment is revealed, even if the masculine form of a word is used the female gender is also included in this commandment. If this principle is rejected then the basic pillars of Islam such as prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and alms-due will become null and void for women. Allah says:
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَاقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْئًا كَبِيرًا
“And (do) not kill your children (for) fear (of) poverty. We (We) provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is a sin great.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:31)
So though God and the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) use the masculine form of the sentence to describe most of the commandments, women are also bound to act and follow those rules and regulations. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَــــٰۤـــؤُاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
“So only those of His servants who have knowledge (of these realities with a vision and outlook) fear Him. Surely, Allah is Almighty, Most Forgiving.” (Surah Fatir, 35:28.)
None of these verses specifies that only ‘wise men’ receive admonition or that only ‘male servants’ who have knowledge fear Him. If a reference to the importance of knowledge has not been restricted within the purview of men by God, why do we persevere in creating them ourselves? A number of Prophetic traditions also talk directly about knowledge being obligatory and binding in character.
طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
“The acquisition of knowledge is binding on all Muslims (both men and women without any discrimination).” (Ibn Maja in al-Sunan, 1:81:224)
Islam and Education for Women
Education is one important edifice on which religion Islam has raised. The religion of peace has flourished back in the 7th century because of knowledge. Allah has asked His worshippers to seek knowledge regardless of gender. There was a time of Jahiliya when women were the oppressed entity and were buried alive but Islam rejects that facade of ignorance by elevating the rituals bound to women and honoured them with unprecedented rights. Allah says:
وَلَن تَرْضَىٰ عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَىٰ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
“And never will be pleased with you the Jews and [not] the Christians until you follow their religion. Say, “Indeed, (the) Guidance (of) Allah, it (is) the Guidance.” And if you follow their desires after what has come to you of the knowledge, not for you from Allah any protector and not any helper.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:120)
The reflective book of the Holy Quran is so rich in content and meaning that if the history of human thought continues forever, this book is not likely to be read to its end. Every day it conveys a new message to humanity. Every morning, it gives us new thoughtful ideas and bound us in the boundaries of ethics.
Excerpts from Modern World
Muslim society even negates all the stereotypes that have chained with religion Islam being against women’s education. The Taliban dominated society i.e. Afghanistan has a women captain pilot who has defused the pigeonholes. The Muslim dominating society has half the population comprised of women and all are in the top fields be engineering. Allah says:
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
“And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He displayed them to the angels, then He said, “Inform of (the) names (of) these if you are truthful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:31)
Islamic Education is one of the best systems of education, which makes an ethical groomed person with all the qualities, which he/she should have as a human being. The Western world has created the wrong image of Islam in the world. They don’t know that our teachings are directly given to us from Allah, who is the creator of this world, through our Prophets. Allah says:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Take from their wealth a charity, purifying them and cause them to increase by it, and bless [upon] them. Indeed, your blessings (are a) reassurance for them. And Allah (is) All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (Surah At-Taubah 9:103)
Muslims all over the world are thirsty of acquiring quality education. They know their boundaries and never try to cross them. It is the West, which has created a hype that the Muslims are not on a path of getting a proper education. They think that our education teaches us fighting, about weapons, etc., which is so false. This is true that there are certain elements, which force an individual to be on the wrong path, because as we will mould a child, they will be like that, but it doesn’t mean that our religion teaches improperly to us.
