Dear all readers,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allahs Peace, Mercy and Blessings
be upon all of you).

The purpose of this article is to reflect on the importance of education in processes of

development from Islamic perspectives.

To seek knowledge is a sacred duty; it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. IQRA
BIISMI RABBIKA ALLAZI KHALQ. Read! In the name of your Lord who created (all the
exists). Surah AlAlaq 96:1

The first word revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) from Allah SWT was
Iqra which means to Read! To seek knowledge! Educate yourselves! Be Educated. As our
Prophet (PBUH) said TALAB UL ILMU FARIZATUN ALA KULLI MUSLIM. Acquiring
knowledge is obligatory on every muslim, the Knowledge of Truth and Wisdom.

Education and Development

Development is more than economic growth; it encompasses economic, social, cultural and
political dimensions. Development focuses on improving the well-being of individuals on the
basis of their participation and the fair distribution of benefits resulting from their active
participation. Education has a multidimensional impact on communities, and it is widely
recognized as one of the building blocks for sustainable development, and furthermore education
is instrumental in promoting equal opportunities and higher income levels amongst the entire
population. Economic growth does not necessarily imply the reduction in economic inequality.

Education has been greatly emphasized in Islam. As I initiated my article by quoting a verse of
The Glorious Quran IQRA BISMI RABBIKAL LAZI KHALQ which was revealed to
Prophet Muhammad (BPUH) indicates the importance of education in Islam; the verse started
with the word IQRA, it is a command that means Read in Arabic, and that implies the concept
of learning, exploring and seeking enlightenment. This demonstrates that reading
(knowledge) is the way to approach the Creator of all that exists. Verse 96:1-5 IQRA BIISMI
RABBIKA ALLAZI KHALAQ KHALAQA ALINSANA MIN AALAQIN IQRA
WARABBUKA ALAKRAMU ALLAZI AALLAMA BIALQALAMI AALLAMA
ALINSANA MA LAM YAALAM; which states Read! In the name of your Lord who has
created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has
taught man that which he knew not.

The importance of education has been emphasized repeatedly in the Quran, which is the
ultimate source of guidance for Muslims. Verse 20:114 says, My Lord! Increase me in
knowledge. This verse indicates that 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 Quran treats knowledge as a means to reaching Iman (faith) for all
Muslims, males and females, to becoming true believers. This is demonstrated in the following
verses: (Verse 2:269) Allah grants wisdom to whom He pleases and to whom wisdom is granted
indeed he receives an overflowing benefit. (Verse 35:28) Those truly fear God, among His
servants, who have knowledge: for God is exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving. (Verse 39:9) Are
those who know equal to those who do not know? Only they will remember [who are] people of
understanding.

The Hadith of Prophet (PBUH) also emphasizes the value of knowledge. As the following
Hadith narrated by Abu Hurrairah notes: (Sahih Muslim: Book 12, Hadith 4005) When a man
dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people
benefit), or a pious son, who prays for him (the deceased).

Therefore, in the Quran and Hadith, the importance of education is explicit; in Islam seeking
education is obligatory, and that knowledge is considered to be the path towards greater
closeness to Allah.

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.

The Glorious Quran itself teaches about various religious as well as formal teachings of the
world, such as:Surat An-Nahl (Verse 16:66) talks about the production of milk and pulmonary
blood circulation:
[And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their
bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.]
Surat Al-Anbya (Verse 21:30) talks about the theory of Big Bang (the creation of Universe):
[Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity,
and we separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?]
Surat Az-Zumar (Verse 39:5) talks about alteration of Day and Night:
[He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day,
and the Day overlap the Night.]
Surat Adh-Dhariyat (Verse 51:47) talks about expansion of universe:
[With power and skill did we construct the Firmament: For it is We Who create the vastness of
Space.]

Surat An-Nahl (Verse 16:79) talks about Flight of Birds:

[Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except
Allah . Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.]

And in the same manner there are several scientific facts mentioned in The Glorious Quran
about Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany, Geology, and Hydrology etc.

In Islam, the duty of seeking knowledge and learning is obligatory for every Muslim. Islam
affirms the right to education for all without gender discrimination. For example, in The Glorious
Quran Verse 39:9 the Quran addresses all people and indicates that people will be judged by
their knowledge and understanding.

Furthermore the principles of charity in Islam offer a way through which Muslims can support
education programs that will empower the disadvantaged section of society. Waqf, apart from
zakat and sadaqah, is one way that Muslims engage in ongoing charity. Waqf can be in the form
of paying for or declaring a building or land as a communal space, with schools and training
centers falling within this category.

Islam has a holistic view of human development, which views education and knowledge as
central. Islam encourages the acquisition of knowledge and its use for the benefit of humanity.
Furthermore, the principles of justice, equality and equity are important in Islam; by extension
this entails acquiring knowledge, wisdom and skills to carry out ones duties. While knowledge
is needed to fulfill religious and spiritual responsibilities, it is also highly important for achieving
social and economic development, for wellbeing of the community, and for ensuring social
harmony, freedom and human rights.

I am very much thankful to Millat Imdad Society who is performing its duty to encourage the
enlightenment of knowledge proactively by organizing various programs, vocational quizzes,
and putting their efforts to stand and establish a degree college for the free higher education to
society One step towards Preferment! (Ek Qadam Tarakki Ki Or!)

May Allah accept their strives, struggles, and efforts in a noble cause. Amen!

Important facts:Ibn Al-Nafis an Arab physician was the first to describe the pulmonary
circulation of Blood, Al Idrusi was the first person, who drew the first World map in
1154,1234. Are called as Arabic Numerals,The Pythagoras theorem was first discovered by Al
Tusi,Mohammad Ahmad and Hasan Shakir measured the surface area of the Earth when people
thought the World was flat,Jabir Ibn Hayyan was the first who discovered Alcohol,Ai Ibn Sina
was called the Aristotle of the East (a mathematician, a philosopher).
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Muhammad Danish Khan | www.dwsci.co.in