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I- Importance of Education
II- Education in the Early Islamic
State
III- Need for worldly education
along with religious education
The
importance of education in the life of the individuals and nations
can hardly be over-emphasised.
Education is religiously as well as
temporally very essential as it equips the individuals with the
capacity to work and trains them in the art of citizenship. The
democratic system of government makes the people sovereign and
ultimate masters of their destiny. An uneducated individual can
neither understand politics nor can he become vigilant and aware
about his as well as national interests. Education is, therefore,
imperative to enable the citizens to exercise their political
rights intelligently and perform their civic duties
satisfactorily.
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I-
Importance of Education
Islam
grants paramount importance to education and learning. Let us see
what the revealed book of Islam, the Qur’an, and Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) say about education.
What the Qur’an says
1.
AL-Qur’an, the religious scripture of
Islam, gives so much importance to education that the very first
verses of this holy book which were revealed to Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) instructed the Prophet to ‘read’. The 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:Al-‘Alaq:1-5)
Thus,
the Holy Qur’an, if its revelation is put in chronological order,
starts with the commandment ‘to read’. In these verses, the Qur’an
uses three words ‘read’, ‘teach’ and ‘pen’ which shows the
priority given to reading, teaching and pen (being the instrument
of writing).
2.
The importance
of the writing and
the pen (symbol of writing) is so much that at one place in the
Qur’an (68:1-2), the Almighty Allah swears by the pen and at
another place He commands the believers to reduce their contracts,
agreements and their business deals into writing. The relevant
verse of the Qur’an reads:
O ye
who believe! When ye contract a debt for a fixed term, record it
in writing. Let a scribe record it in writing between you in
(terms of) equity. No scribe should refuse to write as Allah hath
taught him, so let him write, and let him who incurreth the debt
dictate, and let him observe his duty to Allah his lord, and
diminish naught thereof…. (2:282)
3.
The prayer 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 the increase in
knowledge.
Allah commanded his messenger to pray to Him in these words:
“…..My Lord! Increase me in knowledge” (Al-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 children
in the Muslim homes start chanting this prayer from the day they
enter a school.
4.
The Qur’an tells us that 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 2:31-33). So Allah commanded the Angels
to prostrate before Adam.
5.
Allah blessed the Prophets with
wisdom and knowledge and raised them in different communities in
different ages with the mission to guide the people and teach them
knowledge
and books of Allah
(Al-Qur’an 4:54, 4:113, 12:22, 21:74, 27:15, 62:2). It
reflects on the paramount position of honour which has been
attached to wisdom and knowledge. According to Prophet Muhammad,
learning is the heritage of the Prophets and the Prophets left for
heritage no silver or gold coins, but they left learning.
6.
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.
7.
Wisdom and knowledge is a great
treasure, and everlasting wealth and enormous blessing. In
many
of its verses, the great book of Allah, the Qur’an, mentions
virtues, good characteristics, points of distinction and merits of
the men of learning. The wise and the learned persons are not only
admired for their educational achievements but are also the
recipients of great rewards and blessings from Allah in this world
and in the Hereafter. Some of these verses of the Qur’an are:
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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. (2:Al-Baqarah:269)
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Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know
equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will
pay heed. (39:Az-Zumar:9)
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And when it is said, Come up higher! Go up higher;
Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have
knowledge, to high ranks. Allah is informed of what ye do.
(58:Al-Mujadilah:11)
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What the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
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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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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. And the root of religion is
abstinence. (Baihaqi)
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Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
Search knowledge though it be in China. (Baihaqi)
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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 up to 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 for 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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Abu Omamah al Baheli reported: Two persons were
mentioned to the Messenger of Allah, one of the two was a pious
worshipper and the other a learned man. Then the Messenger of
Allah said: “The superiority of the learned man over the pious
worshipper is like my superiority over the meanest of you. Then
the Holy Prophet said: Verily Allah, His angels and the dwellers
of the heavens and the earth and even an ant in its hole and even
a fish certainly send blessings upon a preacher of good to the
people.” (Tirmizi)
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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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Anas-b-Malek reported that the messenger of Allah
said: Do you know who is best in generosity? They replied: Allah
and His Apostle know best. He said: Allah is best in generosity,
then I am the most generous of the children of Adam, and the most
generous man among them after me will be a man who will acquire
learning and broadcast it. He will come on the Resurrection Day as
a ruler alone (or he said: as one people). (Baihaqi)
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He to whom death comes while he is in search of
knowledge to revive Islam thereby, between him and the Prophets
there shall be but one degree (of excellence) in the Garden. (Ad-Darimi)
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Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
said: When a man dies, his works also stop except three: Acts of
charity which are continued; knowledge by which all take benefit,
and a righteous issue who prays for him. (Muslim, Abu Daud,
Tirmizi)
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Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
said: verily what reaches the believer of his works and of his
actions after his death is the knowledge which he acquired and
spread abroad……or a book which he has given to inherit. (Baihaqi)
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No present or a gift given by the parents to a
child is superior to good education. (Tirmizi)
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Jabir-bin-Samurah reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: That a man gives good education to his child is better
for him than that he gives a large measure of corn in alms. (Tirmizi)
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“All the things of the earth and the heavens pray
for the deliverance of the learned.” (Abu Daud, Tirmizi)
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“Muslim theologians are the successors of
Prophets.” (Abu Daud, Tirmizi)
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“Faith is naked, its dress is piety, its adornment
is modesty and its fruit is knowledge.” (Hakim)
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“The death of a tribe is easier in comparison to
the death of a learned”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
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“Nearer to Prophethood are the learned and the
crusaders - the learned, because they conveyed the message which
the prophets brought and the crusaders, because they fought with
their swords for the sake of religious law of the prophets.” (Abu
Naeem)
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“On the Day of Resurrection, the ink of the learned
will be weighed with the blood of martyr.” (Ibn Abdulbar)
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Abu Hurairah reported: And he who so walks in the
path seeking knowledge therein, God will make easy to him the
path of Paradise. (Muslim, Ibn Majah)
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“Allah revealed Ibrahim (peace be upon him) that He
is Omniscient and loves every learned one.” (Ibn Abdulbar)
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“Intercession of three persons will be accepted on
the Day of Resurrection — The Prophets, the learned ones and the
martyrs.” (Ibn Majah)
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“The preference of Muslim learned over the Muslim
devotee is seventy times more.” (Ibn Aadi)
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“There is a difference of 100 degrees in the
learned one and the devotee. The distance of one degree is such
that a swift horse can cover it in seventy years.”
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“The person who obtains knowledge to teach others,
he will be rewarded virtues equal to seventy ever-truthful
persons.” (Welmi Masnadal Firdaus)
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“Knowledge is treasure, its keys are questions.
Continue to ask about knowledge because by asking one question
four persons are rewarded — petitioner, learned, listener and who
loves them.” (Abu Naeem)
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“Attendance in the assembly of a learned is better
than praying thousand Rakats, visiting of thousand patients, and
participating thousand funeral processions. The Companions of the
Holy Prophet asked the Prophet if it was better than recitation of
Holy Qur’an. He replied. Was the Holy Qur’an beneficial without
knowledge.” (Ibnul Jozi)
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“It is better to learn any chapter of knowledge
than to pray 100 Rakats of prayer.” (Ibn Abdulbar, Ibn Majah)
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“On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will order
worshippers and crusaders to enter into Paradise. The learned
persons will request that they have worshipped and endeavoured
through the knowledge. God will tell them that you are like angels
for me. You intercess. Your intercession will be accepted. Then,
they will intercess and will enter into Heaven.” (Abu Abbas
Zahbi)
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“It is narrated by Abdullah bin Umar that one day
the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out and saw two gatherings.
In one gathering, people were invoking blessings and were
attentive towards it. In the other gathering, people were
teaching. The Prophet said that these people were praying. If He
willed He might give and if He did not will He might not give. And
these people were teaching and God sent him (the prophet) also as
a teacher. Then, he turned towards them and sat with them.” – (Ibn
Majah)
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II- Education in the Early Islamic State
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 acquire 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. Beside 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.
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 even 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 Umar to educate the women of
Ansars. Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, also used to teach the women
as well as men.
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.
It is
useful to mention here that reading and writing was introduced in
Makkah a little before the emergence of Islam. According to
Baladhuri, there were about seventeen literate persons at the
beginning of Islam. Writing was a new art with the Arabs of Makkah
and had not yet made much advancement. A basic reform in the
script by way of dotting letters was introduced in the period of
the Prophet (PBUH). Soon after his migration to Madinah in the
year 622 A.D., the Prophet of Islam ordered reservation of a part
of his mosque (known as Mosque of the Prophet) for educational
purposes. The place was called al-Suffah which means platform or
dais. Education imparted in al-Suffah was of an elementary nature
comprising the teaching of al-Qur’an and also teaching the
students how to read and write. Al-Suffah functioned as a school
by day and a hostel by night for students who had no other place
to live in. Dr. Hamidullah calls it the first residential
university of Islam. According to him, residential facilities were
subsidized by the state as well as private citizens. The number of
students fluctuated but the number was considerable as we learn
that eighty resident scholars of this institute were once invited
to a dinner by Saad bin Ubadah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself as
well as his learned companions taught the students and gave
lectures on various aspects of Islam. Besides the school of al-Suffah,
other mosques in Madinah (which according to a report of Baladhuri
were nine in number during the prophetic period) were also used as
a school for educational purposes. According to Tabari, one of the
duties of Mu’adh bin Jabal, appointed as governor of Yemen by the
Prophet, was to provide suitable educational facilities to the
people in his Jurisdiction.
The
system of education established by the Prophet (PBUH) continued
under the right – guided caliphs in the Islamic state which had
expanded to cover three continents on account of conquests of many
countries like Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Iran, etc. Though
some changes did take place according to the needs of the time,
yet the mosque continued to be the centre while the Qur’an and
Sunnah continued to be the primary syllabus of education in the
early Islamic period.
“In
pursuance of the injunctions of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith on
education and reflection on natural phenomena, the Muslims of
early ages spread throughout the world for acquisition of
knowledge and made a tremendous progress in every branch of
learning. They were the first who founded regular institutions in
the form of schools; colleges and universities for the advancement
of learning and established big libraries. Commentators of the
Qur’an, traditionists, theologians, faqis, scientists,
astronomers, biographers, historians and medical men flourished in
great numbers, and left indelible marks on the pages of history.
Their voluminous books and interesting treatises now form the
chief treasures of modern civilization. The jurists like Imam Abu
Hanifa, Shafi, Malik, Ahmad and Abu Yusuf, the traditionists like
Imam Bukhari, Muslim and others, thinkers like Imam Ghazzali, the
philosophers and scientists like Avicenna, Averoes, Albeiruni and
others, the historians like Sayuti, Ibn Masudi, Ibn Batuta, and
others, the Sufi poets like Sa’di, Hafiz, Rumi and others, the
artistic poets like Mutanabbi and Umar Khayyam are a small
fraction of the galaxy of talented men that appeared under the
guidance of the Qur’an and Hadith; Abul Hasan invented the
telescope, Ibn Unus of Cairo invented pendulum and measurements of
time; Abu Musa Jaber invented Algebra; Al Kohi wrote on the
movement of planets; Ibn-an-Nabdi on optics and Abdul Wafa on
Trigonometry. In short, the Muslims founded a civilization on the
basis of the Qur’an and Hadith which is the marvel of the modern
world and left behind legacies of learning which are invaluable to
us, established fountains of knowledge and wisdom from which we
now drink with relish and gave us varied spiritual and
intellectual food which now forms our daily menu of research and
taste”.
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III- Need for Worldly Education Along With Religious Education
No
doubt, revelation is the real source of all knowledge and,
therefore, religious education comprising the teaching of the
Qur’an and Sunnah should have priority in an Islamic state, but to
deny the need of worldly education comprising natural sciences,
social sciences, humanities, arts and literature is not at all
justified. Islam aims at the welfare of its followers in this
world as well as in the next world. Al-Qur’an, the revealed book
of Islam, teaches its followers the famous prayer which reads “…..
Our Lord! Give unto us in the world that which is good and in the
Hereafter that which is good and guard us from the doom of Fire”.
(2:201). This prayer enables the believers to seek earnestly from
Allah what is good in this world and what is good in the
Hereafter. In other words it implies the acquisition of knowledge
of this material world as well as the acquisition of knowledge of
the spiritual world for achieving success in both the worlds. In
another verse (22:77), the Qur’an enjoins: “But seek the abode of
the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not
thy portion of (this) world…..”.
Since
the man has been taught by Islam to seek (and also to make efforts
to achieve) welfare and success in both the worlds, he obviously
needs such an education which helps him in this objective. Hence
is the need for Naqliya and Aqliya knowledge i.e. religious
knowledge as well as knowledge of science and technology with
other Aqliya disciplines. This need makes it imperative to
formulate an integrated system of education comprising religious
education and temporal education. It was perhaps this integrated
system of education which enabled the Muslims of middle ages to
acquire mastery over sciences along with a profound knowledge of
the Qur’an and Hadith.
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