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Injunctions of the Qur'an
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Ahadith of the Holy Prophet
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Rights in the Light of Qur'an and Hadith
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Measures Taken by the Prophet to Educate Women
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Role of the Muslim Women in Education
I ‑ VERSES
OF THE QUR'AN
It is
obligatory on every Muslim male and female to get education, acquire
learning and search for knowledge. The woman has got, therefore, equal
rights with the man, if not more, to acquire education and learning.
Following verses of the Qur'an are ordinarily quoted to impress upon the
believers; men and women, the importance of knowledge and to motivate
them to get education.
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And He
taught Adam the nature of all things; then He placed them before the
angels, and said: "Tell Me the nature of these if ye are right." They
said: "Glory to Thee: of knowledge we have none, save what Thou hast
taught us: in truth it is Thou Who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom."
He said: "O Adam! tell them their natures." When he had told them, Allah
said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of. heavens and earth,
and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?" (2:31‑33)
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He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted
receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message
but men of understanding. (2:269)
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O ye who
believe! when ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future
obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing. Let a
scribe write down faithfully as between the parties... (2:282)
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There is no
god but He: that is the witness of Allah. His angels, and those endued
with knowledge standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the
Exalted in Power, The Wise. (3:18)
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Nor should
the Believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every
expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in
religion, and admonish the people when they return to them,‑ that thus
they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil) (9:122)
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High. above
all is Allah, the King, the Truth ! be not in haste with the Qur'an
before its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! advance
me in knowledge." (20:114)
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And recite
what is rehearsed to you in your homes, of the Signs of Allah and His
Wisdom: for Allah understands the fine mysteries and is well‑acquainted
(with them). (33:34)
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O ye who
believe! when ye are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out
and) make room:(Ample) room will Allah provide for you. And when ye are
told to rise up, rise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of
you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) knowledge: and Allah
is well‑acquainted with all ye do:(58:11)
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Nun, by the
pen and by the (record) which (men) write, thou art not, by the grace
of thy Lord, mad or possessed. (68:1‑2)
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Proclaim! (or read) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created
‑‑created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! and
thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the Pen,
‑taught man that which he knew not. (56:1‑5)
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II ‑
AHADITH OF THE PROPHET
The
Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) about the
importance of knowledge and need of education for the men and woman are
cited below:‑
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Anas
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Search for knowledge is
compulsory upon every‑Muslim male and Muslim female. (Ibn Majah)
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Anas
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: whoso goes out in search of
knowledge, he is in the path of Allah till he returns. (Tirmizi)
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Anas
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Search knowledge though it be
in China. (Baihaqi)
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Sakhbarah‑al‑Azdi reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever
searches after knowledge, it will be expiation for his past sins.
(Tirmizi)
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Ayesha
reported: Superiority in education is better than superiority in divine
service. (Baihaqi)
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Ali
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Learning is treasure‑house
whose keys are queries. (Abu Nayeem)
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Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Messenger of Allah said: There is no envy
except for two: a man whom Allah has given wealth and whom he gave power
for spending it for cause of truth, and a man whom Allah has given
wisdom and who acts upto it and teaches it (to others). (Bukhari and
Muslim)
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Kasir‑b‑Qais
reported: certainly the superiority of a learned man over the pious
worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon at full moon‑lit
night over the rest of the stars; and verily the learned are the
heritage of the prophets, and the prophets left no heritage, no silver
or gold coins, but they left learning. So whoso acquires it, acquires a
sufficient fortune. (Ahmad, Tirmizi, Abu Daud)
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Ibn Abbas
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: To the devil, a learned
theologian is stronger than a thousand pious worshippers. (Tirmizi, Ibn
Majah)
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Abu Omamah al Bahili reported: Two persons were mentioned to the Messenger
of Allah, one of the two is a pious worshipper and the other a learned
man. The Messenger of Allah said: The superiority of the learned man
over the pious worshipper is like my superiority over the meanest of
you. (Tirmizi)
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The Apostle
of Allah said: Whoever brings up three girls, teaches them culture and
good manners, marries them and treats them well, for him is Paradise.
(Abu Daud)
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Malik‑b‑Huwairith
reported that there were a few young men who stayed with the Prophet for
twenty days to know about matters of religion. When he felt that they
were anxious to go home, he said; Go to your families, stay with them
and tell them about religion and practise it. (Bukhari)
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Once a man
wanted to seek a woman in marriage. The Prophet asked: Have you got any
thing with you which we may give to her as dower! The man searched and
could not find anything. The Prophet asked: Have you got any portion of
the Qur'an with you? "Yes", said he," such and such verse." The Prophet
married him to the woman and directed him to teach those verses to her.
(Bukhari, Muslim)
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Abu
Musa A1‑Ash'ari reported that the Messenger of Allah said: ...A man with
whorl there is a slave girl, who teaches her manners and then makes her
manners good; who gives her education and imparts it well, and who then
emancipates her and afterwards takes her in marriage ‑ there are double
rewards for him. (Bukhari, Muslim)
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Hadrat
Umar wrote to the people of Kufah: Teach Surah Nur to your wives". (Tafsir
Qurtubi)
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III ‑
RIGHTS DISCUSSED IN LIGHT OF QUR'AN AND
HADITH
Since it is
obligatory on every Muslim male and female to acquire knowledge, the
woman has got as much right as the man has got for acquiring knowledge
and education. Hence the injunctions of the Qur'an and Sunnah are
equally applicable to men and women.
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1. The
importance which the Qur'an gives to education and learning can be
judged from this fact that the first few verses of the Qur'an which were
revealed on Prophet Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) instructed him
to read. AI‑Qur'an says: "Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth,
createth man from a clot. Read: And thy Lord is the most Bounteous, Who
teacheth by the pen, Teacheth man that which he knew not"‑(96: 1‑5). So
the Holy Qur'an, which is the revealed book of Islam, starts with the
word `read', if put in the chronological order. In the verses mentioned
above, the Qur'an uses three words `read', `teaches' and `pen', which
shows how much is the importance of reading, learning, writing and
teaching.
The Prophet
of Islam made it obligatory on every Muslim male and female to acquire
knowledge. According to another Tradition he exhorted his followers to
search knowledge though they have to go as far as China. In another
Hadith it is reported that the search for knowledge is an expiation for
one's sins.
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The prayers
of the Prophets and the righteous people have been mentioned in the
Qur'an. The prayer of the Prophet of Islam given in the Qur'an is about
increase in knowledge. Allah commanded His messenger to pray to Him in
these words:"...My Lord! Increase me in knowledge" (A1‑Qur'an 20:114).
This has been the. most popular prayer of the followers of Muhammad (may
Allah's peace be upon him) through centuries and even the kids in the
Muslim homes who can hardly speak start chanting this prayer from the
very childhood.
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Human being
is the best of Allah's creation and it is because Allah has given him
knowledge. It is on account of the learning and knowledge that man's
superiority was established over the Angels. Allah taught Adam all the
names, and then showed them to the Angels asking them to inform Him
about them which they could not, but Adam did (Al‑Qur'an 2:3133).
Wisdom or knowledge is a great treasure and everlasting wealth. He is
Allah Who gives wisdom to whom He likes. Unto whom wisdom is given, he
had indeed been blessed with a great treasure (Al‑Qur'an 2:269). The
Prophet of Islam calls the learning as a. treasure‑house and he declared
that superiority in education is better than superiority in divine
service.
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4. Islam
attaches so much importance to education that the Qur'an instructs the
believers that all of them should not go out for fighting, rather they
should leave some of them behind who should acquire sound knowledge of
religion and should teach the others when they return from fighting
(9:122) Jihad is obligatory on every adult male Muslim in case the
security of Islamic state is in danger. But even in such a state of
emergency and critical position, the importance of learning is not being
ignored. The believers are being commanded that all of them should not
go forth together for participation in Jihad. It would be better
if they leave some contingent behind who should devote themselves to
studies in religion and should acquire the capability to teach others.
The Prophet
of Islam released some of the prisoners who had been captured in the
Battle of Badr, without ransom on the condition that each of them should
teach at least ten Muslim children how to read and write. This shows how
the Prophet viewed the need of education and literacy for the Muslim
children.
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Most of
the commentators of the Qur'an are unanimously of the view that verse 34
of chapter 33 is addressed to the wives of Muhammad (may Allah's peace
be upon him). The wives of the Prophet are being instructed to learn
which is recited in their homes of the Qur'an and wisdom. In the sublime
company of the Prophet, whatever they learn by closely observing his
conduct and attentively listening to his discourses of wisdom, they
should impart it to the members of Muslim Ummah very faithfully and
without any omission or commission. The history of Islam tells us that
the wives of the Prophet did acquire sound learning of the Qur'an and
the Traditions in the company of Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him)
and they played indeed an admirable role in popularising the teachings
of the Qur'an and the Ahadith of the Prophet of Islam.
Indirectly
this injunction of the Holy Qur'an may also be taken to be applicable to
the Muslim women in general. The role of the mothers in training and
educating the future generations is well known and thus the Qur'an
impresses upon them to get education and thus educate in turn the future
of the Ummah.
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According to verse 1 I of chapter 58 of the Qur'an, Allah will give high
ranks and rewards to those believers who have acquired knowledge and
learning. The Qur'an (verse 18 of chapter 3) includes the learned
persons among the list of the witnesses who give evidence about the
Unity of God. Do you know who are the witnesses? They are Allah
(Himself), the angels and the men of learning! Can there be any higher
rank than this? Obviously, no. According to a Hadith, the rank of a
learned man is higher than that of a pious worshipper. According to
another Hadith, the man who goes out in search of knowledge is in the
path of Allah (Jihad) till he returns.
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The
importance of the writing and the pen (symbol of writing) is that at one
place in the Qur'an (68:1‑2), Almighty Allah swears by the pen and at
another place He commands
the
believers to reduce their contracts and agreements in writing.
(Al‑Qur'an 2:282)
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IV ‑
MEASURES TAKEN BY THE PROPHET TO EDUCATE WOMEN
Since the
human beings, male as well as females, are responsible and accountable
for their actions and deeds on the Day of Judgement, they are required
to have the knowledge of the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah
particularly the basic knowledge of the fundamentals of Islam like
Belief, Prayer, Zakat, Fasting; Hajj, etc. Besides that,
they are also obliged to know the Attributes of Allah, knowledge of
lawful and unlawful, right and wrong, their religious obligations, laws
promulgated by the Qur'an regarding marriage, dower, divorce,
inheritance, will, adultery, murder, theft etc. A woman is also required
to acquire such education and learning which is fundamental to her basic
area of activity, i.e., management of home, education, training and
bringing up of children. Education should prepare her to become good
wife, good mother and good housekeeper. She should be educated and
trained in those branches of learning which make her useful in her
primary sphere of work. She also should be made a good human being and a
useful citizen.
The Prophet
of Islam himself took keen interest in the training and education of the
Muslim community. He made suitable arrangements for the education of
Muslim men as well as women. He was so much concerned for the education
of the women that whenever he felt that the women could not hear him
because they were seated behind the men in the mosque, he would get
closer to them and repeated his instructions. It is reported in Sahih
Bukhari from Abu Said Khudri that some women came to the Prophet and
complained: `Men are always gathered in your presence, and we cannot
benefit. Therefore, appoint one day for us. So the Prophet fixed one day
for them, during which he would go to them, listened to their problems,
told solutions and gave them instructions regarding their religious,
social and family obligations. Sometimes, he would depute some learned
companion to educate the women on various issues. It is reported by Umme
Atiyyah: When the Prophet came to Madinah, he sent Hadrat Umar to
educate the women of Ansars. Hadrat Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, also
used to teach the women as well as men. According to a tradition,
reported in section II above, the Prophet said: whoever brings up three
girls, teaches them culture and good manners, marries them and treats
them well, for him is Paradise." Once a few young men stayed with the
Prophet for few days and learnt from him some teachings of religion.
When they departed, he advised them to teach their wives what they had
learnt. On another occasion, the Prophet married a woman with a man who
had got nothing to give his wife in dower, on the condition that he
would teach his wife two or three verses of the Holy Qur'an which he
knew, in payment of dower. According to another Hadith, the Prophet
advised the men to teach the last two verses of Surah Al‑Baqarah to
their wives.
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V ‑ ROLE OF
THE MUSLIM WOMEN IN EDUCATION
In the
early period of Islam, the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah's peace
be upon him) and other women companions played a great role in the
spread of learning and knowledge of the Qur'an and Sunnah. Encyclopaedia
of Seerah sums up the contribution of various Muslim women in different
fields of learning as under: "’A'ishah, Hafsah, Umm Salamah and Umm
Waraqah knew the whole of the Qur'an by heart. (Fath al‑Bari).
Hind bint Asad, Umm Hisham bint Harithah, Ra'ita bint Hayyan and Umm
Sa'd bint Sa'd ibn Rabi' knew by heart part of the Qur'an. Umm Asad also
used to lecture on the Qur'an." (Usd al‑Gabah)
‘A'ishah
was well‑versed in commentary of the Qur'an (Ilm‑i Tafsir) and
had a great knowledge of the hadith. Among others, Umm ‘Atiyah,
Asma' bint Abi Bakr, Umm Hani, and Fatimah bint Qais were also great
narrators of hadith. (ibn Sa'd)
In
jurisprudence, ‘A'ishah had few equals and Umm Salamah also gave many
legal decisions. Among others, Safiyah, Hafsah, Umm Habibah, Juwairiyah,
Maimunah, Fatimah Zahra, Umm Sharik, Umm ‘Atiyah, Asma' bint Abi Bakr,
Haila bint Qanif, Khaulah bint Tuwait, Umm alDarda', ‘Atikah bint Zaid,
Sahlah bint Suhail, Fatimah bint Qais, Zainab bint Abi Salamah, Umm
Aiman and Umm Yusuf need special mention. (Ibn Qayyim: I'lam al‑Muwaqqi'in).
Apart from
the Islamic sciences, the women companions had a great knowledge of
other things. For example, Um‑n Salamah had complete knowledge of hidden
knowledge (Ilmi‑Asrar). In the subject of speech, Asma' bint
Sakan was famous and in interpretation, Asma bint Umis .vas well-known.
(Ibn Sa'd, Musnad acrd Isabah). In medicine and surgery, Rufadah
Aslamiyah, Umm Muta', Umm Kabshah, Hamnah bint Jahsh, Mu'adhah, Laila,
Umaimah, Umm Ziyad, Rubayyi' bint Muawwidh, Umm `Atiyah and Umm Sulaim
were quite well‑known. (Isabah).
In poetry,
Khansa, Su'da, Safiyah, ‘Atikah, Umamah, Muridiyah, Hind bint Harith,
Zainab bint ‘Awwam Urwi, 'Atikah bint Zaid, Hind bint Uthathah, Umme
Aiman, Qanila Abdurriyah, Kabshah bint Rafi, Maimunah Balmiyah, Na'am,
Ruqaiyah and Umm Ziyad are very famous. Khansa was unparalleled among
women in the art of poetry."
According
to Imam Ibn Qayyim, the companions of Allah's apostle whose legal
decisions are preserved are just over one hundred and thirty and these
included both men and women. In the first line of jurists who are seven,
the name of Ayesha is included along with Umar, Ali and Ibn Masud. In
the second group, name of Umme Salamah is included along with the male
companions like Abu Bakr and Uthman. In the third group the names of
women are Umme Atiyah, Hafsah, Umme Habibah, Safiyah, Asma bint Abu
Bakr, Umme Sharih Fatimah, Juwairiyah, Maimunah, Khaulah, etc.
It would
not be without interest to mention here the contribution of Ayesha the
wife of the Prophet. She had learnt the Qur'an by heart. She was one of
the great huffaz (one who learns a thing by heart) companions of Hadith.
The total number of Ahadith reported by her is 2210 and she is fourth
among the narrators of Hadith, the other being Abu Hurairah, Abdullah
bin Umar and Anas.
A companion
of the calibre of Abu Musa Ash'ari states." whenever we, the Companions
of Allah's Messenger, felt any difficulty with respect to any Hadith and
we enquired about it of Ayesha, we found that certainly she had
knowledge of it". (Tirmizi)
Encyclopaedia of Seerah quotes Hafiz Ibn Hajr who writes about Ayesha:
‘A'ishah
learned many things from the Prophet and lived for about fifty years
after him. People gained a great deal from her and reported many
commands and manners of the Prophet from her; so much so, it is said,
that about one fourth .of the commands were transmitted by her." (Fath
al‑Bari, Vol. 7, p. 82‑82).
At another
place, Hafiz ibn Hajr, after counting eighty eight persons who benefited
from `A'ishah in hadith, writes that apart from these, a large
number of people reported from her. And these included political figures
such as Amr ibn al'As, Abu Musa Ash'ari and Abdullah ibn Zubair;
jurists and muhaddith such as Abu Hurairah, Ibn Abbas and Ibn
Umar; eminent tabi'un such as Sa'id ibn Musayyab and Ibn Qais;
free men and slaves; and men as well as women. (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib,
Vol. 12, p. 433.)
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