Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Topic
“Concept of Education in Islam”
DATED: 24-DEC-2009
Table of Contents
Abstract
Education is the birth right of every Muslim and Muslimah. Islam puts
considerable emphasis on its followers to acquire knowledge. Investment in
education is the best investment one can make, because it eventually leads to
intellectual property. Intellectual property is the intangible property, which no one
can steal or destroy. This is the property on which no Government can levy a tax. It
was as a result of application of knowledge that Muslims were the superpower of
the world for twelve centuries.
In the Holy Quran the word al-Ilm, knowledge, and its derivatives
are used more than 780 times.
In the Islamic traditions, too, there are many words of praise for
knowledge and the learned. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) at many places also
told us the importance of education and also ordered us to acquire knowledge.
He (PBUH) said:
Therefore, the main objective of man should be seeking proximity to God and
attaining His consent; and his activities should be focused in this direction.
Anything that brings about this proximity or guides in that direction is
praiseworthy. Thus knowledge is useful only if it is an instrument for obtaining
knowledge of God, and His pleasure and proximity; otherwise knowledge itself is
an inscrutable veil (Hijab-e-Akbar), whether it is linked with the sciences of
nature or the sciences of the Shariah.
BACKGROUND
Before Islam had made the acquisition of education compulsory for every
Muslim (man and women) people were illiterate and there doings would reflect
there illiteracy because they didn’t know about their Creator and were also un-
aware of their purpose of creation.
Then Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) came and the acquisition of ilm as
compulsory and made it an obligation for every man and women so they would
have enough knowledge to distinguish between good and bad deeds and may also
find out the real purpose of the creation of man and that they might be able to
achieve their goal.
By the ninth century, Islamic medical practice had advanced from talisman
and theology to hospitals with wards, doctors who had to pass tests, and the use of
technical terminology. Then Baghdad General Hospital incorporated innovations
which sound amazingly modern. The fountains cooled the air near the wards of
those afflicted with fever; the insane were treated with gentleness; and at night the
pain of the restless was soothed by soft music and storytelling. The prince and
pauper received identical attention; the destitute upon discharge received five gold
pieces to sustain them during convalescence. While Paris and London were places
of mud streets and hovels, Baghdad, Cairo and Cardboard had hospitals open to
both male and female patients; staffed by attendants of both sexes. These medical
centers contained libraries pharmacies, the system of interns, externs, and nurses.
There were mobile clinics to reach the totally disabled, the disadvantaged and those
in remote areas. There were regulations to maintain quality control on drugs.
Pharmacists became licensed professionals and were pledged to follow the
physician's prescriptions. Legal measures were taken to prevent doctors from
owning or holding stock. in a pharmacy. The extent to which Islamic medicine
advanced in the fields of medical education, hospitals, bacteriology, medicine,
anesthesia, surgery, pharmacy, ophthalmology, psychotherapy and psychosomatic
diseases.
Every Muslim man's and every Muslim woman's prayer should be:
Introduction
We bear witness that our Nabi Muhammad (PBUH) is the true Messenger of
Allah, who emphasized our need to gain true knowledge of life to live a life in
complete submission to Allah (SWT).
O Allah, shower Thy choicest blessings on him, his friends and relatives --
all those, who, sought to improve their understanding of Islam so that they might
teach their progeny and keep the Deen alive among the Ummah. Allah (SWT)
enjoins us in the Holy Qur'an. The first few verses that were revealed to our Holy
Prophet (PBUH) mention the importance of reading, pen, and teaching for human
beings:
“Read: in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from something
which clings. Read and your Lord is the most generous. Who taught with pen.
Taught man what he knew not…”
(Surah Al-Alaq)
When we hear this First Revelation, the first words revealed by Allah
(SWT)..... Iqraa! Read! We marvel at the greatness of Allah's Divine Wisdom. Of
the infinite number of messages Allah could have given to Mankind (for we have so
many needs and so many weaknesses), Allah Who knows all Man's secrets, and his
most intimate needs, chose learning, gaining knowledge or seeking and providing
education as the First Message to mankind. It was revealed in the time of the
Jaahiliyah and money or power in the hands of the Jaahil would be self-
destructive. Hence Allah did not say in His First Message: "Go out and get rich!" or
"Go out and destroy the enemies of Islam!" They could not handle power, or for
that matter their own desires. Thus Allah (SWT) remind us
“And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book;
the whole of it is from our Lord:" and none will grasp the Message except men
of understanding”
(Q.III: 7)
Types of Education
There are only 2 types of knowledge according to the division made in islam
which are given below.
• Beneficial (religious)
• Non-Beneficial
Beneficial knowledge means knowledge which is related to both worlds the present
world as well as the hereafter. One should move towards attaining such kind of
education because it will help us also on the Day of Judgment.
Non beneficial education means worldly education which is attained to earn money
or we can say to earn a living in the world but such kind of education would not be
preferred.
1. Obligatory Knowledge
On every Muslim; so that he can live Islamically. He should know the basics
of:
o Beliefs عقائد
o Worships عبادات
o Dealings معاملت
o Prohibitions which lead to punishments عقوبات
o Etiquettes of life آداب معاشرت
o Purification of heart قلب
2. Fard Kifayah
In every locality, there has to be a group which knows these areas otherwise
the whole society will be a sinner.
Importance of Education
Allah says:
ُ ّ والل
ه ْ ُ جك
َ م َ خَرْ َن أ
ْ م
ِ نِ طو ُ ُم بْ ُ هات ِكَ م
ُ
ّ ن لأ َ مو ُ َ علْ َ شْيئا ً ت
َ ل َ ع
َ ج
َ و ْ ُ ل َك
َ م
َ ْ َ وال
عَ مْ س
ّ صاَرالَ ْ والب َ ةَ َفئ ِد ْ ُ عل ّك
َ م َ َن ل َ شك ُُرو ْ َت
• Here the faculties mean the use of hearing (collecting), seeing (observation)
and thinking (deriving results).
• Which ever group excels in using it becomes the leader, especially when
Muslims do not follow Islam.
Action
“And He taught Adam, the names of all things; then He placed them before the
angels and said: “Tell me the names of these if you are right”.
They said: “Glory to Thee: of knowledge we have none save Thou hast taught
us, in truth it is Thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom”.
(Surah Al Heifer)
The angels and Satan failed in the test of knowledge. Hence the vicegerency was
assigned to Adam. Knowledge made him superior to all creatures. The first word
of the revelation deals with the importance of knowledge. The importance of
knowledge is manifest at different places in the Quran. The Quran says that we
send the Prophets to teach people wisdom. It further says that only the people of
knowledge fear God.
“But the best of provisions is right conduct so fear me, O ye that are wise”
(Surah Al Heifer)
The Arabic word “Olilalbab” (The men of mind), has been used in the
Quran maintaining that the verses of the Quran are for the men who cogitate. The
animals share humans in sex and stomach. They do not share the humans in
intellect. The humans are superior to the animals because of the mind. If we negate
the element of rationality from human they are nothing more than cattle and
chattel. The Quran again says:
. Hence we see that the Quran is a Book of wisdom and exhorts to pick up the
glistening pearls of wisdom. Besides the Qur’anic emphasis on education we find
many sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on this subject.
“A drop of sweat of the brow of a thinker is better than the thousand blood drops
of the martyr”
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) once issued the orders of release of those prisoners
of war who could teach the Muslim children.
Hazrat Ali, in his book entitled “Nehjul Balaga” emphatically stressed on the
significance of knowledge saying that the one who cognizes his Self, cognizes his
Lord. In a poem Hazrat Ali has beautifully portrayed the significance of knowledge
saying:
Islam believes in the mastery of matter and mind. In Surah Al-Jathiya the
Quran says:
“For you (God) subjected all that is in the heavens and on the earth, all from
Him. Behold! In that are signs for people who reflect”
(Verse no 13)
The message of God makes us to ponder over the natural objects. It is a scientific
enquiry and research, which are made obligatory. The Greek philosophers gave
importance to abstractions. Their method of inquiry was deductive. The Muslims
introduced the Inductive method, which is analytical and scientific. Dr. Maurice
Bucaille in a book entitled, “The Bible, The Quran and Science” proves that
Islam is a scientific religion emphasizing on the need of scientific inquiry.
There are four gates of knowledge, Perception, Intellect, Intuition and
Revelation. Perception deals with five senses and enhances material research. It
provides us information on the matter and the properties of matter. Scientists use
this method. Philosophers, Logicians and Jurists use intellect to solve the problems.
The mystics and poets are endowed with the boon of intuition. The Prophets have
been given the special and chosen duty of reformation through the gift of
revelation. Islam ordains to use all these methods for the benefit of humankind.
The antonym of “ Ilm” (knowledge) is “ Jehl” (ignorance). The Quran at a place
says that turn your back to the ignorant. It means that we should not strike our head
with the stony walls of illiteracy and ignorance rather we should educate the
uneducated lot. An eminent Muslim political thinker Al-Mauwardi in his book
entitled “The leadership and Politics” writes that four characteristics are essential
for a Muslim ruler or leader, Knowledge, Piety, Justice and Administration.
Eminent British philosopher Bertrand Russell in his book entitled “Education and
Social Order” writes that tolerance is the first step towards learning. The real
knowledge makes us tolerant, civilized and rational. In Islamic jurisprudence no
one can become Faqih (Jurist) without sound intellectual background. Whether
someone is a scientist, a ruler, a leader or a jurist, knowledge is the basic
requirement for these positions. Islamic conception of education teaches us to be
the master of matter and mind to serve the human kind
Significance in Islam
“ن ِ ّ ه ال
َ ذي ُ ّ ع الل َ جاٍتآ ي َْر
ْ ف َ م دََر ِ ْ ن ُأوُتوا ال
َ ْ عل ِ ّ وال
َ ذي ْ ُ من ْك
َ م ِ مُنوا
َ ”
“.و
َ ه
ُ و ّ ُ ء ب ِك
َ ل ٍ ي َ م
ْ ش ٌ عِلي
َ ”
َ َ حان
“ك َ ْ سب َ ْ عل
ُ مل ِ ما إ ِل ّ ل ََنا ْ ّ عل
َ مت ََنا َ ّ عِليمن ْت َأ َ إ ِن
َ ك َ ْ مال
ُ كي َ ْ ”ال
ِ ح
The rise of Muslims to the zenith of civilization in a period of four decades was
based on Al-lslam's emphasis on learning. This is obvious when one takes a look at
the Qur'an and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (s) which are filled with
references to learning, education, observation, and the use of reason.
"Are those who have knowledge and those who have no knowledge alike? Only
the men of understanding are mindful. "
(Quran, 39:9)
"And whoso bringeth the truth and believeth therein such are the dutiful."
(Quran, 39:33)
• "The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr."
• "The best form of worship is the pursuit of knowledge
• "God has revealed to me, 'Whoever walks in the pursuit of knowledge I
facilitate for him the way to heaven.'
• Scholars should endeavor to spread knowledge and provide education to
people who have been deprived of it. For, where knowledge is hidden it
disappears."
• Someone asked the Prophet (SAS): "Who is the biggest scholar?" He
replied: "He who is constantly trying to learn from others, for a scholar is
ever hungry for more knowledge."
• "Seek for knowledge and. wisdom, or whatever the 'vessel from which it
flows, you will never be the loser."
• "Thinking deep for one hour (with sincerity) is better than 70 years of
(mechanical) worship."
• "Worship, without knowledge, has no goodness in it and knowledge
without understanding has no goodness in it. And the recitation of the
Qur'an, which is riot thoughtful has no goodness in it."
• "To listen to the words of the learned and to instill unto others the lessons
of science is better than religious exercises
History of Muslims
The Islamic Empire for more than 1,000 years remained the most advanced and
civilized nation in the world. .This is because Al-Islam stressed the importance and
respect of learning, forbade destruction, developed in Muslims the respect for
authority, discipline, and tolerance for other religions. The teachings of Qur'an and
Sunnah drove many Muslims to their accomplishments in science and medicine.
By the tenth century their zeal and enthusiasms for learning resulted in all essential
Greek medical and scientific writings being translated into Arabic in Damascus,
Cairo, and Baghdad. Arabic became the international language of learning and
diplomacy. The center of scientific knowledge and activity shifted eastward, and
Baghdad emerged as the capitol of the scientific world. The Muslims became
scientific innovators with originality and productivity.
For example Islamic medicine is one of the most famous and best known facets of
Islamic civilization, and in which the Muslims most excelled. The Muslims were
the great torchbearers of international scientific research. Some of the best and
most eloquent praises of science ever written came from the pens of Muslim
scientists who considered their work to be acts of worship. The same motives led to
the establishment of Al-Azhar (800 AD) the first university in the world. They hit
the "source ball of knowledge” over the fence to Europe. In the words of
Campbell, "The European medical system is Arabian not only in origin but also in
its structure. The Arabs are the intellectual fore bearers of the Europeans."
Within a century after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the
Muslims not only conquered new lands, but also became scientific innovators with
originality and productivity. They hit the source ball of knowledge over the fence
to Europe. By the ninth century, Islamic medical practice had advanced from
talisman and theology to hospitals with wards, doctors who had to pass tests, and
the use of technical terminology. The then Baghdad General Hospital incorporated
innovations which sound amazingly modern. The fountains cooled the air near the
wards of those afflicted with fever; the insane were treated with gentleness; and at
night the pain of the restless was soothed by soft music and storytelling. The prince
and pauper received identical attention; the destitute upon discharge received five
gold pieces to sustain them during convalescence. While Paris and London were
places of mud streets and hovels, Baghdad, Cairo and Cardboard had hospitals
open to both male and female patients; staffed by attendants of both sexes. These
medical centers contained libraries pharmacies, the system of interns, externs, and
nurses. There were mobile clinics to reach the totally disabled, the disadvantaged
and those in remote areas. There were regulations to maintain quality control on
drugs. Pharmacists became licensed professionals and were pledged to follow the
physician's prescriptions. Legal measures were taken to prevent doctors from
owning or holding stock. in a pharmacy. The extent to which Islamic medicine
advanced in the fields of medical education, hospitals, bacteriology, medicine,
anesthesia, surgery, pharmacy, ophthalmology, psychotherapy and psychosomatic
diseases are presented briefly.
MEDICAL EDUCATION
In 636 A.D., the Persian City of Jundi-Shapur, which originally meant beautiful
garden, was conquered by the Muslims with its great university and hospital intact.
Later the Islamic medical schools developed on the Jundi-Shapur pattern. Medical
education was serious and systematic. Lectures and clinical sessions included in
teaching were based on the apprentice system. The advice given by Ali ibnul-
Abbas (Haly Abbas: -994 -A.D.) to medical students is as timely today as it was
then'. "And of those things which were incumbent on the student of this art
(medicine) are that he should constantly attend the hospitals and sick houses; pay
unremitting attention to the conditions and circumstances of their intimates, in
company with the most astute professors of medicine, and inquire frequently as to
the state of the patients and symptoms apparent in them, bearing in mind what he
has read about these variations, and what they indicate of good or evil."
Razi (Rhazes: 841-926 A.D.) advised the medical students while they were seeing
a patient to bear in mind the classic symptoms of a disease as given in text books
and compare them with what they found (6).
Prophet Muhammad(SAS) was able to unite the Arab tribes who had been torn by revenge,
rivalry, and internal fights, and produced a strong nation, that acquired and ruled simultaneously
the two known empires at that time, namely the Persian and Byzantine Empires. The Islamic
Empire extended from the Atlantic Ocean on the West to the borders of China on the East. Only
80 years after the death of their Prophet the Muslims crossed to
Europe to rule Spain for more than 700 years. The Muslims preserved the cultures of the
conquered lands.
The Islamic Empire for more than 1,000 years remained the most advanced and civilized nation
in the world. This is because Al-Islam stressed the importance and respect of learning, forbade
destruction, developed in Muslims the respect for authority, discipline, and tolerance for other
religions. The Muslims recognized excellence and hungered intellectually. The teachings of
Qur'an and Sunnah drove many Muslims to their accomplishments in sciences and medicine.
By the tenth century their zeal and enthusiasms for learning resulted in all essential Greek
medical and scientific writings being translated into Arabic in Damascus, Cairo, and Baghdad.
Arabic became the international language of learning and diplomacy. The center of scientific
knowledge and activity shifted eastward, and Baghdad emerged as the capitol of the scientific
world. The Muslims became scientific innovators with originality and productivity. The rise of
Muslims to the zenith of civilization lasted over a thousand years. During this millennium
Muslims contributed vastly to the enhancements of arts, science and cultural growth of mankind.
For example Islamic medicine is one of the most famous and best-known facets of Islamic
civilization, and in which the Muslims most excelled. The Muslims were the great torchbearers
of international scientific research. Some of the best and most eloquent praises of science ever
written came from the pens of Muslim scientists who considered their work to be acts of
worship. The same motives led to the establishment of Al-Azhar (800 AD) the first university in
the world. They hit the "source ball of knowledge" over the fence to Europe. In the words of
Campbell, "The European medical system is Arabian not only in origin but also in its structure.
The Arabs are the intellectual forbearers of the Europeans." In fact the Muslims are directly
responsible for the European Renaissance.
At the apex of its glory around the tenth century Cordoba, the Capital of Muslim Spain, had
pavements, street lighting, three hundred public baths, parks, palaces, one hundred thousand
houses and seventy libraries. There were close to half a million books in a single library whereas
the whole of France contained much less than this figure. The Muslim physicians performed
complicated eye surgery 600 years earlier than in Europe. The Muslim scientists used paper 200
years before Europe; they had paper mills, banks, and police stations and invented spherical
trigonometry (indispensable for space sciences) in the late 10th century, solved equations of the
third and fourth degree, binomials to the nth degree, and developed differential and integral
mathematics. They discovered the force of gravitation, blood circulation, laws of motion, and
even developed they theory of evolution and taught it in their universities. They measured the
circumferences of the earth and value for specific gravities correct to three decimal places almost
a thousand years ago. There is hardly a field of knowledge where Muslims did not research,
thinks, or investigate and explore or invent something exemplary.
the bottom. Muslims have been economically exploited and politically subjugated.
Economically, Muslims are poor; in education they are backward; and in science and technology
they are marginal. Even very small countries export arms, medicine and
technology to the Muslim countries. The average literacy rate is around 38 percent and in rural
areas in Muslim countries, the illiteracy rate among Muslim women is 93 to 97 percent. This is
contradictory to the message of the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad (SAS) as mentioned earlier.
The Muslims educated in the western world know about western books and western scholars but
they know very little about Muslims books and the intellectual achievements of the Muslims
(Fig. 1). The data presented in Table 1 show the Muslims to be at the bottom of the three
measures identified. Inspite of the comparable levels of development the mean rate for literacy
for the Muslims is 35 per cent lower than
that for the Third World, and 40 percent below the world's average. The data suggests that almost
two-thirds of the Muslims worldwide are illiterate. This low level of literacy, evidently, is
responsible for the grinding poverty, the backwardness, and the deplorable conditions under
which the vast majority of the Muslims live at present( 4). In Table 2 gives the literacy rates for
the most populous nations. Pakistan is the most advanced Muslim country in science and
technology among Muslim nations. However, the literacy rate for Pakistan, home to the second
largest Muslim ummah in the world, ranks the lowest among the most populous nations, is even
below the average for the Muslim nations. What is shocking is India the second most populous
nation in the world, has a significantly higher rate of literacy than Pakistan and Bangladesh. At
one time the three countries constituted a single country(British India) with a literacy rate of 12
percent on the eve of the partition in 1947.
Conclusion
References
• http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?
c=Article_C&cid=1153698300132&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam
%2FDIELayout
• http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/sheikhrafi-141284-islamic-
education-system-ppt-powerpoint/
• http://www.scribd.com/doc/11535744/The-Islamic-Education-System
• http://74.125.153.132/search?
q=cache:MU9Y3ulJW7cJ:prophetmuhammadforall.org/webfiles/downloads/eng
lish/education.pps+concept+of+education+in+islam&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk
&gl=pk
• http://www.quransearch.com/quran_search.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education