The Importance Of Education In Islam
Education has been greatly emphasized by Islam. Islam talks a lot on the different aspects of education and its importance.
The only difference between humans and animals is education. Without education a person is neither able to realize his/her true creator nor he is able to understand norms and values of living.
In order to know the importance of education when we study Quran, we come to know that life has started with the knowledge. The first human who was sent down to earth by the Almighty Allah, has also come with the knowledge. As in Quran Allah says,
And He taught ’Adam the names, all of them; then presented them before the angels, and said, “Tell me their names, if you are right.”
This taught Adam, the knowledge of names because of knowledge human got superiority upon angels and blessed by this. Along with the birth of human Allah puts some innate abilities to every human, so that they may find ways of their survival.
In Surah Al Nahal verse 78 Allah all mighty says:
Allah has brought you forth from your mothers’ wombs when you knew nothing, and He made for you ears, eyes and hearts, so that you may be grateful. (78)
One of the most important evidences of the significance of education is the first ayah which Allah has sent down. The first ayah revealed to Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) was also related to knowledge.
Read with the name of your Lord who created (every thing), (1) He created man from a clot of blood. (2) Read, and your Lord is the most gracious, (3) Who imparted knowledge by means of the pen. (4) He taught man what he did not know. (5)
All the prophets who were sent down, they all came up with the knowledge given by Allah so they may better guide the human. Because with knowledge a person couldn’t understand religion.
In Surah Al tauba ayah 97 Allah all might says:
The Bedouins are often more strict in disbelief and hypocrisy, and are most likely to be ignorant of the limits of what Allah has sent down to His Messenger. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (97)
This proves that an educated person can be a good citizen too. Whereas an uneducated person can’t make a sense out of it and is not aware of the true values of life.
With the knowledge a human has, if he teaches something to an animal then that hunting will become halaal. in Surah Al Maida ayah 4, Allah all mighty says
They ask you as to what has been made lawful for them. Say, “Made lawful for you are good things, and (hunting through) birds and beasts of prey that you train, teaching them out of what Allah has taught you. So, eat of what they hold for you, 9 and recite the name of Allah upon it.” Fear Allah. Surely, Allah is swift at reckoning. (4)
If the knowledge can make an animal halaal then can’t that knowledge teach a difference between good and bad to a person?
It will be strange if a person can enlighten the animal with knowledge but remains himself unaware of the education. This ayah teaches us to take ourselves out of the darkness.
