Importance of education in Islam

Zeeshan Ahmed
To seek knowledge is a sacred duty; it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. No religion and no ideology places as much emphasis on education and knowledge as much as Islam. Education has been greatly emphasized in Islam which is the ultimate source of guidance for Muslims. Whatever we know is limited as we need to keep asking Allah to increase our knowledge. Therefore, a Muslim should constantly be seeking more knowledge (ilm). The Qur’an treats knowledge as a means to reaching Iman (faith) for all Muslims, males and females. Knowledge can be broadly divided into two types, one is the knowledge of religion, and second is the knowledge required by community. It is the duty of every parent that we should educate our children with the proper knowledge of both the types. Such as in religious knowledge which comes at first is Tawheed (believing in one God), Offering Salah (the act of prayer), Reading Holy book, fasting etc; then the second type of knowledge is the knowledge required by the community. Such as knowledge which makes a person doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, a scientist, an agriculturist etc. This is too required to the betterment of community and to the betterment of society. But when we acquiring second type of knowledge we should make sure that knowledge should take you closer to almighty God, but not to make far from. Education is the knowledge of putting one’s potentials to maximum use. Without education, no one can find the proper right path in this world. 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. Today, the Muslims are acquiring good ideas, thoughts, knowledge, and skills, from all corners of the world. The world is moving very fast, and in this industrialize world, It is the duty of the teachers to give quality ethical integrated education to the Muslim students worldwide, because children are invaluable assets of future generations. Islam is the religion of reason and conscience. A person recognizes the truth proclaimed by religion through the use of his knowledge, wisdom. For this very reason it is important to acquire knowledge. “He is the Creator of the heavens and the Earth”. (Surah ash-shura: 11) Everyone who probes the inner workings of the universe, living and non-living things and considers and investigates what he sees around him will come to know Allah’s superior wisdom, knowledge, and eternal power.