Few would deny that education
is one of the most important cornerstones of all human societies. Education is
one of the important pillars upon which the edifice of Islam is raised. The very
fact that the first revelation upon the Holy Prophet (pbuh) contained the
commandment about ‘reading’ speaks volumes of the emphasis Islam lays on
education. All interpreters of the Holy Qur’an have consensus on this that the
first five verses of sura al-Alaq form thae beginning of the sending of
revelation:
(O Beloved!) Read (commencing) with the Name of ALLAH, Who has created
(everything). He created man from a hanging mass (clinging) like a leech (in the
mother’s womb). Read and your Lord is Most Generous, Who taught man (reading and
writing) by the pen, Who (besides that) taught man (all that) which he did not
know.” (al-‘Alaq, 96: 1-5)
It was also explained that Islamic concept of Education is very vast and when
Islam talks of acquisition of knowledge, it embraces all branches of knowledge,
both religious and secular, in its fold, which are productive for the mankind
and without any difference between male and female.
No disagreement is found on acquisition of Education being binding and
obligatory. The importance and excellence of knowledge has been highlighted both
directly and indirectly at about five hundred places in the Holy Qur’an.
Describing the duties of the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), ALLAH
Almighty says: “Likewise, We have sent to you (Our) Messenger from among
yourselves who recites to you Our Revelations and purifies and sanctifies (your
hearts and ill-commanding selves) and teaches you the Book and inculcates in you
logic and wisdom and enlightens you (on the mysteries of spiritual gnosis and
divine truth) which you did not know.” (al-Baqara, 2: 151)
A number of Prophetic traditions ( Hadiths) also talk directly about education
being obligatory and binding in character. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Acquisition of knowledge is biding on all Muslims (both men and women without
any discrimination)”. (Sunan Ibn Maja)
Holy prophet said at another place: “ALLAH Almighty makes the path to paradise
easier for him who walks on it for getting Eduaction.” (Sahih Muslim)
It’s reported that Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: If anyone travels on a road in
search of knowledge, ALLAH will cause him to travel on one of the roads of
Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who
seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in
the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the
learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is
full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and
the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who
takes it takes an abundant portion. (Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Knowledge (Kitab
Al-Ilm), Book 25, Number 3634)"
Therefore when it becomes clear now that the Holy Qur’an has made acquisition of
Education obligatory for women in the same way as in case of men, the study of
the life of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) also shows that he himself made special
arrangements for the education and training of women.
Abu Sa‘id Khudri reports that women said to the Holy Prophet (pbuh): ‘men have
gone ahead of us (in terms of acquisition of knowledge). Therefore, appoint a
special day for our benefit as well.’ The Holy Prophet (pbuh) fixed one day for
them. He (pbuh) would meet them on that day, advise them and educate them about
commandments of ALLAH Almighty. (Sahih Bukhari)
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari: "The Prophet said, 'He who has a slave-girl and
teaches her good manners and improves her education and then manumits and
marries her, will get a double reward; and any slave who observes ALLAH's right
and his master's right will get a double reward.' ( Sahih Bukhari)"
In the above Noble Verse and Sayings, we clearly see that knowledge and
education are a must on both Muslim men and women. Those who know are better
than those who do not know. Those who are rich in knowledge are the most who
fear ALLAH Almighty, through glorifying Him, appreciating Him and Respecting His
Mighty Power, for they would have more knowledge about Him than those who don't
know. Therefore banning the women education under the guise of veil is against
Islam and the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunna do not allow it at all.
Islam did not differentiate between men and women with regard to obligatory
aspect of education its compulsory for both male and female.