Issue No: 139
19th October 2012
2nd Dhulhijja 1433 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
Campaign against female education: Is this Islam?
Malala Yousafzai, a school girl aged 14 from the town of Mingora in the Swat district of Pakistan, was flown to the UK on Monday for specialist treatment. Malala, was shot in the head and neck on 9th October 2012, in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. Malala is known for her education and women's rights activism in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban has enforced a complete ban on girls from attending school.
This Pakistani militant group campaign against female education is being done as part of what is believes to be enforcement of the Sharia – laws of Islam.
But the question arises: is this what is Islam?
'IQRA' the command to read:
"Read, in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot. Read, for your Lord is most Honorable, who teaches (to write) by means of the pen, teaches man what they know not," (Sura Al-'Alaq: 96:1-5)
The centrality of reading in Islam is emphasized by the fact that, the above verse, which is the first revelation of the Holy Quran to the Noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w. commenced with the verb : Iqra – Read. This underscores the significance attached to learning, gaining education.
Numerous traditions from the noble Prophet and Ahlul Bayt a.s. have been reported on the obligation of seeking knowledge.
- "Seeking of knowledge is obligatory on all muslims, male and female."
- "Seek knowledge even if you have to travel to China, for seeking knowledge is obligatory on all muslims."
In addition to emphasis on seeking knowledge as seen in above quotes traditions there are other plentiful traditions that speak of the excellence and reward for the one seeking knowledge.
What is critical to note is that the prescriptions of seeking knowledge in the Noble Quran and the traditions texts of Islam have definitely not confined this obligation to the domain of only a particular gender; the male gender. Rather it is one that is being addressed to a homogenous group, the group that is consisting of all muslim believers.
It is an undeniable fact that the believers are drawn from both the female and male genders.
The big question therefore:
Is this what is being enforced as teachings of Islam, is Islam?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat