Women and Education
Delivered at the Family Day held on 6th August 2006 at Darus Salaam, London
by Habiba Anwar
The Light (UK), October 2006 Issue (pp. 3–4)
Note by the Editor: This talk was presented at our Family Day gathering in Darus Salaam, London, on 6th August, by one of our young, enthusiastic members in the presence of Hazrat Ameer Prof. Dr Abdul Karim Saeed.
I recently came across a short article that I would like to share. It is titled: Women in Islam and Education. Usually when I read articles regarding women in an Islamic context, they tend to be written from a very staunch feminist perspective, some almost verging on the anti-male! But I particularly enjoyed this article because it focuses on a woman’s obligations as well as her rights. And since we are celebrating a ‘family day’ at this August’s [2006] monthly meeting, I thought it would be appropriate to share it with you, since women hold some of the most important roles in a family. I have also added a few things to it. It starts with the following hadith:
“To seek knowledge is a sacred duty on every Muslim, male and female.”
If anyone goes on his way in search of knowledge, God will thereby make easy for him the way to paradise. The first and most crucial obligation on you as an individual is to acquire knowledge. Correct knowledge must come before correct action. It is impossible to be a Muslim, to live according to the requirements of Islam and at the same time live in a state of ignorance. Knowledge is connected in Islam with worship. The acquiring of knowledge is worship. Reading the Quran and pondering upon it is worship. Travelling to gain knowledge is worship. The practice of knowledge is connected with ethics and morality; with promoting virtue and combating vice; with enjoining right and forbidding wrong. Knowledge pursued and practiced with modesty and humility leads to beauty, dignity, freedom and justice.
As Muslim women, we should strive to become learners. Our education must not stop with a mere certificate. One of the greatest gifts of Islam has been the gift of literacy. The first revelation of the Holy Quran began with the word “read”. I quote to you chapter 96, verse 1:
اِقۡرَاۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّکَ
“Read in the name of your Lord…” [The Holy Quran, 96:1]
As women, we must be aware that we are the most influential and emotionally charged beings in society. We are daughters, we are sisters, we are wives and we are mothers. Women can be the main architects in fabricating our society. But we women are sometimes not even fully aware of our potential. History has told us that in the early days, girl children used to be buried alive. Today of course it is a different reality. The roles of women are numerous, and this is something we should be actively taking advantage of.
In the farewell sermon of the Holy Prophet [Muhammad (pbuh)], may Allah’s blessings be upon him, he said:
“O people! your wives have certain rights over you and you have certain rights over them. Treat them well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.”
A woman has the right to develop her talents and to work within the limits of Islam. Islam views a husband and wife as complementary to each other, neither dominating the other. Each has his or her own individual rights and duties. Yet they exist harmoniously to create stable families in society. Women need to be educating themselves with the present situation. Do not live in a warped time zone. Time is moving. It is changing. Whilst we should not compromise the basic tenets of Islam, we need to grow. We are living in a technologically advanced era. We are living in a global village. Almost every home today has a telephone, internet access, TV, radio, access to newspapers and magazines, etc. All of these are means of education. This is not the time to say “we know enough!” We must be constantly empowering ourselves. We should always be prepared to accept a challenge.
Education is the only true ladder to true success. When everything else fails in life, your education stays. Together with our faith, we can change the course of fate. A stable home is one in which the mother is stable. Under trying circumstances, she can always devise ways and means to circumvent disastrous times. Her family members see her as exemplary. How can we move on when we stagnate ourselves, when we incarcerate ourselves? Education is a woman’s liberation. None of this implies that we need to compete with men; nor do we have to resort to putting ourselves on display or adorning ourselves to attract the opposite sex. Unfortunately, many disagree with this. However, an educated woman can assist so many others by being a good example. She can be a guiding light, motivating, inspiring and assisting others to forge their way into a successful straight path. Education helps us to distinguish between right or wrong.
If we continue to live a life of ignorance, seclusion and darkness, we will only paint a one-sided picture. We need to move out, to move on! We should not be like chattels or property belonging to someone else. We should love ourselves, have confidence and build self esteem. Too often women are branded as “less” than men and we perpetuate that feeling. But in Islam, there is absolutely no difference between men and women as far as their relationship with Allah is concerned. Both are promised the same reward for good conduct and the same punishment for evil conduct. The Holy Prophet Muhammad said:
“Women are the twin halves of men.”
The Holy Quran also emphasises the essential unity of men and women in chapter 2, verse 187:
ہُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّکُمۡ وَ اَنۡتُمۡ لِبَاسٌ لَّہُنَّ ؕ
“Your wives are (like) a garment for you and you are (like) a garment for them.” [The Holy Quran, 2:187]
In conclusion, we must realise that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers who raised its children. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman bearing children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent. Sisters in Islam, be lifelong learners.