|
Education in Islam means to activate the potential of an individual and
to improve his mind and character in all spheres of life in order to
attain spiritual virtues.
Divine
virtues are manifested in the lives of the holy prophets especially the
Holy Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW). In this connection the
Qur'an says:
"Certainly
you have in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes
in Allah...." (33:21)
But, it
should not be forgotten that the purification of one's soul is a
prerequisite to education as the Holy Qur'an puts "purifies" before
"teaching" saying:
".... Who
recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them
the Book...." (62:2)
In this
regard the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), has
stressed, on various occasions, that the purification of one's soul
always comes before education.
The
objectives of education in Islam can be divide into four categories.
Education must be:
Education must
teach one to have faith in the Oneness of God, the Almighty, in Islam
and the Holy Qur'an and to act according to their teachings.
Education
should be based on one's physical, mental and intellectual knowledge of
himself. One should, also, be aware of his weak and strong points of his
character.
Education must
be based on a thorough knowledge of social, economic and political
dimensions of life and faith in the values thereof.
Education must
be based on the knowledge of divine laws governing the nature and the
fact that the world has an objective behind it.
The key
word in education, therefore, is knowledge. The first verses, which
revealed on the Holy Prophet (SAW) stress the value of knowledge. The
Holy book says:
"Read; In
the name of your Lord, Who created. He created man from a clot. Read and
your Lord is the Most Honorable, Who taught (to write) with the pen."
(96:1-4)
A close
look at the niceties of the Holy Qur'an reveals that after creation, the
second most important blessing of God onto man is knowledge. The Qur'an
says:
"He grants
wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is
given a great good and none but men of understanding mind." (2:269)
Elsewhere
the Qur'an says:
".... But
indeed We have given to Ibrahim's children the Book and the wisdom... "
(4:54)
And in another
chapter it says:
"O’ you who
believe! When it is said to you, Make room in (your) assemblies, then
make ample room, Allah will give you ample; and when it is said: Rise
up, then rise up. Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those
who are given knowledge, in high degrees...." (58:11).
By S.H.R. Ahmadshahy
|
