The Importance Of Education For Muslims
The Importance Of Education For Muslims
As
we know, madrasahs are one of Islamic societies' oldest
education-teaching
institutions. Before madrasahs, education and teaching
activities in
the Islamic world were carried out in places of such varying
names and
characters as masjids, mosques, scholars' homes, palaces and
bookshops.
Since mosques and masjids in particular were used for
instruction in
the essentials of religion, they were also employed for
education and
teaching purposes.
According to Islamic history, following the first revelation
to our
Prophet (saas), the first Muslims who converted to Islam
secretly
assembled in the house of al-Arqam, one of the companions of
the Prophet,
where they were instructed and taught by our Prophet (saas).
It is
said that this is how the school and madrasah were born in
Islam.
The Dar-al-Arqam (House of Arqam), known as the first
madrasah in
Islam, is still preserved in memory of those days. With the
founding
of the Islamic State in Medina by our Prophet (saas)
following the
Hegira, the Masjid Nabawi constructed there became a centre
of Islamic
education and teaching. Muslims would gather there, study
the Qur'an
and Islam and improve themselves. The gradual increase in
need caused
our Prophet (saas) to found other education centres in
different parts
of the city. Madrasah education continued in the same way
during the
period of the four caliphs.
Not only religious knowledge was taught in the madrasahs;
sciences
of the time, such as astronomy, mathematics, geometry and
medicine
were also given an important place. Later still, courses in
Western
languages, Persian, history, geography, astronomy,
mechanics, trigonometry,
chemistry, painting, physical training, hygiene, social
sciences,
philosophy, economics and finance were added to the
curriculum. These
institutions continued to be known as "medreses" during
the time of the Turks.
The Nizamiyah madrasahs opened by Sultan
Alparslan's
vizier Nizam al-Mulk during the Great Seljuk Empire and
named after
him are very well known. Following this new line adopted by
the Seljuk
Empire, there was a rush to open madrasahs just about
everywhere in
the Islamic world.
In the 13th and 14th centuries, centres such as Cairo,
Damascus, Basra
and Bukhara, and particularly the Transoxania region, became
the most
important powers in the development of Ottoman institutions
of learning
under the influence of the madrasahs they possessed. Their
instruction
was very definitely one of the major factors in the success
of the
Ottoman Empire, one of the greatest empires in the world and
which
survived for six centuries.
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A Muslim needs to know the Qur'an in order to correctly
understand
and interpret the world, human beings, natural events and
everything
in the universe. Knowing for what purpose Allah created the
universe,
human beings and all other living things is of the greatest
importance
from the point of view of appreciating Him properly.
Engaging in activities
based solely on artificial knowledge, without a knowledge of
the Qur'an
and without considering the hidden aspects of events, cannot
lead
to productive results. In the Qur'an, Allah summons humanity
to investigate
and reflect upon the heavens, the earth, mountains, stars,
plants,
seeds, animals, the alternation of the night and the day,
the creation
of man, the rain and many other created things. Examining
these, man
comes to recognize the artistry of Allah's creation in the
world around
him, and ultimately, to know our Creator, Who created the
entire universe
and everything in it from nothing.
"Science" offers a method by which the universe, and all
the beings therein, may be examined to discover the artistry
in Allah's
creation, thereby communicating it to mankind. Religion,
therefore,
encourages science, adopting it as a tool by which to study
the subtleties
of Allah's creation.
Religion not only encourages scientific study, but also
permits that,
supported by the truths revealed through religion,
scientific research
be conclusive and expeditious. The reason being, that
religion is
the only source to provide accurate and definitive answers
as to how
life and the universe came into being. As such, if initiated
upon
a proper foundation, research will reveal the truths
regarding the
origin of the universe and the organization of life, in the
shortest
time, and with minimum effort and energy. Science can only
achieve
true results if it adopts the aim of studying the infinite
might of
Allah and the proofs of creation in the universe, and if it
pursues
its activities solely in that light. Only if science is
properly directed,
if it is kept on a correct course in other words, can it
become a
vehicle whereby mankind achieves useful information and
progress.
As stated by Albert Einstein, considered one of the greatest
scientists
of the 20th century, "science without religion is lame",
which is to say, that science, unguided by religion, cannot
proceed
correctly, but rather, wastes much time in achieving certain
results,
and worse, is often inconclusive.
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| Religious instruction imparted from an early age will enable that individual to have a strong character and to have pleasing moral values and a healthy way of looking at the world. |
In the event that the purpose behind the
creation
of man, the transitory nature of this world, the fact that
what matters
is the life of the hereafter, death, the certain existence
of destiny
and the hereafter, the fact that every individual will have
to account
for his deeds, and the existence of heaven and hell are all
fully
known, then this will shape the individual's way of looking
at events,
his way of living and his reactions to the events he
encounters. If
these truths are not known, then even if a person receives
the very
best education in the very best schools and/or participates
in academic
studies at the very highest level, that education will still
not be
enough. That is because the important thing is for the
individual
to have a lifestyle and moral values which are pleasing to
Allah.
This world is very transitory and is created as a place of
testing.
The individual is tested here, and will receive a recompense
in the
hereafter based on the moral values and behaviour he
displayed in
the life of this world. This is an unavoidable fact for all
people.
For that reason, as well as receiving a modern scientific
education
the individual should also be immersed in religious matters.
That
is because someone who has adopted the moral values of the
Qur'an
and comprehended the religion will use this knowledge and
technology
he has learnt in the manner most pleasing to Allah, and thus
for the
benefit of mankind.
No matter what an individual's profession, status or
education may
be, he will still need religious instruction. Indeed,
religious instruction
imparted from an early age will enable that individual to
have a strong
character and to have pleasing moral values and a healthy
way of looking
at the world. Muslims must therefore attach the greatest
importance
to education in all respects. Allah reveals the importance
of knowledge
in a holy verse:
Only those of His servants with knowledge have fear of Allah. Allah is Almighty, Ever-Forgiving. (Qur'an, 35:28)
