◇ Importance of Education for Men and Women in Islam ◇

◇ Importance of Education for Men and Women in Islam ◇

بِسْـــــــــــــــــــــــمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْم
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.

The importance which the Allah gives to education and learning can be judged from the first few verses of the Qur’an which were revealed on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Allah's peace be upon him) instructed him to read.

Allah Almighty says in Holy Qur’an:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ، خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ، اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ ، الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ، عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
♡ "Read with the name of your Lord Who created,
Created man from a clot.
Read, and your Lord only is the Most Beneficent,
The One Who taught to write with the pen.
The One Who taught man all what he did not know."
[Al- Alaq: verses 1-5]

So the Holy Qur’an, 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.

2. Within Islam there is no disagreement found on acquisition of knowledge being binding and obligatory. The importance and excellence of knowledge has been highlighted both directly and indirectly in over five hundred places in the Holy Qur’an. Indeed one of the essential duties and responsibilities of Prophethood was the dissemination of knowledge and wisdom to all.
Allah Almighty says:
كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ
♡ "The way We have sent to you a Noble Messenger from among you, who recites to you Our verses and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and sound wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know."
[Quran 2:151]

Important Note: A basic principle of Islamic Shariah (Islamic Law) states that when a commandment is revealed, even if the masculine form of word is used the female gender is also included in this commandment. If this principle is rejected then the basic pillars of Islam such as prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and alms-due will become null and void for women. So though God Almighty and the Holy Prophet ﷺ (blessings and peace be upon him) use the masculine form of sentence to describe most of the commandments, women are also bound to act and follow those rules and regulations.

However if the doors of acquiring knowledge are closed for women or unjustified restrictions are imposed upon this acquisition, which religion will they act upon? How can they come to know the nature of the verses that have been revealed to them? How will they attain the wisdom and hikma that Allah Almighty wished them to know through the Holy Prophet ﷺ (blessings and peace be upon him)? How are they to teach the fundamentals of the faith to their children if they have no knowledge of it themselves?

The Holy Qur’an also states:

﴿قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ‌ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلْأَلْبَــــٰـــبِ﴾

♡ Say: ‘Can those who have knowledge and those who do not be alike?’ So only the wise do receive the admonition.
[al-Zumar, 39:9.]

﴿إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَــــٰۤـــؤُاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ﴾

♡ So only those of His servants who have knowledge (of these realities with a vision and outlook) fear Him. Surely, Allah is Almighty, Most Forgiving.
[Fatir, 35:28.]

None of these verses specify that only ‘wise men’ receive admonition or that only ‘male servants’ who have knowledge fear Him. If reference to the importance of knowledge has not been restricted within the purview of men by Almighty God, why do we persevere in creating them ourselves? A number of Prophetic traditions also talk directly about knowledge being obligatory and binding in character.

The Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) said:

«طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ».

♡ Acquisition of knowledge is binding on all Muslims (both men and women without any discrimination).
[Narrated by Ibn Maja in al-Sunan, 1:81 §224.]

He (blessings and peace be upon him) said at another place:

«مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ».

♡ "Allah Almighty makes the path to paradise easier for him who walks on it for getting knowledge."
[Narrated by Muslim in al-Sahih, 4:2074 §2699.]

It is apparent from the Holy Qur’an and hadiths that the acquisition of knowledge is obligatory for women in the same way as in the case of men.

The study of the life of the Holy Prophet ﷺ (blessings and peace be upon him) also shows that he himself made special arrangements for the education and training of women.

♡ Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reports that some women said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ (blessings and peace be upon him): 
‘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 ﷺ (blessings and peace be upon him) fixed one day for them. 
He ﷺ (blessings and peace be upon him) would meet them on that day, advise them and educate them about commandments of Allah Almighty.
[Narrated by al-Bukhari in al-Sahih, 1:50.]

‘A’isha al-Siddiqa, mother of the faithful, was a hadith-narrator, scholar, intellectual and jurist of great standing. She is believed to have reported 2,210 traditions. Abu Hurayra, ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Amr and Anas b. Malik (may Allah be well pleased with them) were the only ones from amongst male hadith-narrators who had narrated more traditions than she did.
She was not only expert in the Religious field, she had profound knowledge of medicine. Whenever the foreign delegates came to the Prophet and discussed, she used to memorize the remedies  She was well versed in the field of mathematics and many times the companions came to her to ask problems of ‘Mirath’ that is, ‘Inheritance’ and how much share could be divided and how much share should be given to the each individual. She has - she is said to have guided all the four Khalifas, including the companions.
According to AbuUmmaccording to Abu Moosa, who was a famous Jurist, he said that ‘Whenever we companions had lack of knowledge on a matter, we went to we went to  HazratAyaisha (May Allah be pleased with her), and definitely she had knowledge about it’.
She is said to have taught more than 88 scholars In short, she was a scholar of the scholars.
There are several examples, even of Safiya (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of the Prophet,
who was an expert on Fiqah, Islamic Jurisprudence. 
And according to Imam an Nouvi ‘She was the Most intellectual women of that time’.

3. Allah commanded His messenger عليه السلام to pray to Him in these words:
وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
♡ "My Lord, bestow me more knowledge."
[Ta-ha : verse 114]


4. Human being is the best of Allah's creation and it is because Allah has given him knowledge. Man's superiority was established over the Angels.
According to the Qur’an:
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ، قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ ، قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنْبِئْهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَنْبَأَهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ

♡ "And Allah the Supreme taught Adam all the names (of things), then presented them to the angels, saying, "Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful."
They said, "Purity is to You! We do not have any knowledge except what You have taught us! Indeed You only are the All Knowing, the Wise."
He said "O Adam! Inform them the names"; and when Adam had informed them their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know all the secrets of the heavens and the earth? And I know all what you disclose and all what you hide?"

[Al-Baqarah: verses 31-33]

5. Wisdom or knowledge is a great treasure and everlasting wealth.

According to Qur’an:
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
♡ "Allah bestows wisdom on whomever He wills; and whoever receives wisdom has received abundant goodness; but none heed advice except men of understanding."
[Al-Baqarah: verse 269]

6. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 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 Muhammad ﷺ viewed the need of education and literacy for the Muslim children.

6. Most of the commentators of the Qur’an are unanimously of the view that Sura Al-Ahzab verse 34 is addressed to the wives of Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah's peace be upon him). 
وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا
♡ "And remember what is recited in your houses, from Allah’s verses and wisdom; indeed Allah knows the minutest things, is All Aware."


The wives of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are being instructed to learn which is recited in their homes of the Qur’an and wisdom (Hadiths). In the sublime company of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, 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 Muhammad ﷺ did acquire sound learning of the Qur’an and the Traditions in the company of Muhammad ﷺ (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 Muhammad ﷺ 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.
To study jurisprudence to suffice your basic religious needs is obligatory. Thus to study and acquire laws pertaining to Fasting, Salaah, cleanliness, impurities, is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female as all these acts of worship are obligatory. Same is the case with the merchants to acquire knowledge of mercantile laws, and for the employees to be aware fo the laws pertaining to employment.

7. Allah will give high ranks and rewards to those believers who have acquired knowledge and learning. 
Allah said in Surat Al-Mujadalah, Ayah 11

يَرْفَعِ اللهُ الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
♡ Which means:*"Allah raises the ranks of those among you who believe and those who were granted the knowledge."*

8. The importance of the writing and the pen.
Almighty Allah swears by the pen.

ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ، مَا أَنْتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
♡ Nuun - by oath of the pen and by oath of what is written by it.
You are not insane, by the munificence of your Lord.
[Quran 68:1-2]

9. Importance of Writing
In Qur’an Allah commands the believers to write down their contracts and agreements. (Al-Baqara : 282)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُمْ بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ ۚ وَلْيَكْتُبْ بَيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ ۚ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ فَإِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوْ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّنْ تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَنْ تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَاءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا ۚ وَلَا تَسْأَمُوا أَنْ تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَادَةِ وَأَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَرْتَابُوا ۖ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيْنَكُمْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكْتُبُوهَا ۗ وَأَشْهِدُوا إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُضَارَّ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ ۚ وَإِنْ تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
♡ [O People who Believe! If you make an agreement for debt for a specified time, write it down; and appoint a scribe to write it for you with accuracy; and the scribe must not refuse to write in the manner Allah has taught him, so he must write; and the liable person (debtor ) should dictate it to him and fear Allah, Who is his Lord, and not hide anything of the truth; but if the debtor is of poor reasoning, or weak, or unable to dictate, then his guardian must dictate with justice; and appoint two witnesses from your men; then if two men are not available, one man and two women from those you would prefer to be witnesses, so that if one of them forgets, the other can remind her; and the witnesses must not refuse when called upon to testify; do not feel burdened to write it, whether the transaction is small or big - write it for up to its term’s end; this is closer to justice before Allah and will be a strong evidence and more convenient to dispel doubts amongst yourselves - except when it is an instant trade in which exchange is carried out immediately, there is no sin on you if it is not written down; and take witnesses whenever you perform trade; and neither the scribe nor the witnesses be caused any harm (or they cause any harm); and if you do, it would be an offence on your part; and fear Allah; and Allah teaches you; and Allah knows everything.]

10. Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari: 
♡ *"The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 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.


The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, said:

فَضْلُ العالِمِ على العابدِ كفَضْلِي على أدناكُم
♡ Which means: "The merit of the true scholar over the true worshipper is like the difference in merit between my status and the status of the lowest Muslim."
(Al-Tirmidhi)

The difference in merit between the Prophet and the lowest Muslim is extremely great and likewise is the difference between the true scholar and the true worshipper--i.e. the scholar who satisfied the conditions of being a scholar, and the worshipper who satisfied the conditions and integrals of worshipping.

Moreover, Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, said: 
♡ "O Aba Dharr, if you go and learn one verse of the Qur'an it will be more rewardable for you than praying one hundred rak'ats of the optional prayers; and if you go and learn a chapter of the knowledge, it is more rewardable for you than praying one thousand rak'ats of the optional prayers."
(Ibn Majah)

♡ He ﷺ said that: "the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets and that the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention did not leave behind any money, rather their inheritance was knowledge, so whoever acquires it has gained a great share."
(al-Kafi, vol. 1 p. 42)


Hazrat Ali, (R.A) says: 
♡ “Two rak’ats of prayers offered by a scholar are better than seventy rak’ats of prayers offered by an ignorant person”.
(Biharul Anwar, vol.1, p.65)

Hazrat Imaam Shafa'ee (May Allah be pleased with him) says:
♡ "the acquisition of religious knowledge is greater than voluntary Salaah."
(Khazainul Irfaan)

Hazrat Ali (R.A), says:
♡ “O people! Remember that the excellence of your faith lies in acquiring knowledge and acting upon it. It is more essential for you to crave for knowledge than for riches”.
(Usulul Kafi, p.15)

May Allah bless us with knowledge and wisdom and may we act upon it and share with others. 
Ameen 

Thanks for reading
JazakAllah :)