By Ishola Balogun
Bismillahi Rahamani Raheem.  Wasalatu wasalam ala seyidina Muhammad, wa ala alihi, wa ashabihi, wasselim.

The first word revealed of the Qur’an was “Iqra” READ! Seek knowledge! Educate yourselves! Be educated. It is an undeniable fact that education is the most important thing in life.   The framework of Islamic thought represents a comprehensive view of life and the hereafter.

A Muslim is, therefore, required to acquire both religious and worldly knowledge, otherwise known as western education.  The early Muslims understood from the teachings of Islam that useful knowledge is necessary for the benefit the individual and humanity. In fact,the Prophet of Islam mandated us to go any length to acquire it.

Education is a right for all individuals and the required moral duty of every capable Muslim.  All able, intelligent and skilled individuals in an Islamic society are required to educate themselves not only in the basics of their religion but in necessary worldly affairs.

Let us look at it this way- even in a total Islamic society, the need for doctors, nurses, and other field of medicine is necessary; so, it becomes obligatory for some people to go into the fields to fulfill the needs of society.

Prophet Muhammad said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.”(Narrated by Ibn Majah) He also said, “For one who treads a path to knowledge, Allah will make easy the path to Paradise.”[Narrated by Muslim] And the Qur’an contains numerous references to knowledge and its importance, such as:

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day are signs for those of understanding.”[3:190]

“Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’”[39:9]

“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge by degrees.”[58:11]

Islam actively encourages scientific endeavors and the study of God’s signs in nature. It also welcomes beneficial technological advances and allows people to enjoy the fruits of human ingenuity. Qur’anic verses encourage study and contemplation of the universe that surrounds us and is particularly concerned with those sciences that give human beings the ability to benefit from the world around them.  While encouraging investigation, the Qur’an contains references to a variety of subjects which have been shown to be scientifically accurate. Allah says:

“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.”[41:53]

So, any Muslim who knows his faith would found it extremely ludicrous, laughable when anybody says he is opposed to education.  As a result, it is very wrong to assume or to proclaim that Islam is opposed to any modern inventions that are beneficial to mankind.

In fact they may be used in the name of God and for the cause of God.  Television, internet and other modern invention that are necessary for mankind may be corruptible; it is up to the user to decide on how to use them without being corruptible.

A Muslim also is duty bound to make good use of all the means at his disposal while being prohibited from causing harm to himself or others  As much as we applaud the invention of the internet, it is not enough to condemn it because it may be corruptible and used as means of perpetrating evil, but what is important is that since it has comparative advantage that is beneficial to mankind, we can only chose between what will be beneficial to the mind and what will be destructive to you.

So, it is with all other modern inventions.  Everyday we walk the streets, we choose between what is good and bad. We cant say because the society is corruptible then we wont live. In fact that is part of the role we have to play to make it better.

Islam advocates the incorporation of knowledge within a just and balanced value system where anything beneficial for one’s spiritual and worldly improvement is encouraged and advocated. The Prophet emphatically said: “To seek knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.”

It is the right of every child that his or her parents provide for his or her education. If they do not, then they are answerable to Allah for neglecting this important duty. Their son or daughter may question them on the Day of Judgment for that failure.

The establishment of Almagiri school is a right step in our quest to stop various kinds of insurgencies.  One can’t imagine the positive values the new generation of educated almagiris will add to the society.  Right now we can begin to do ijtihad on this issue, especially in the norther part of this country to make education compulsory for the younger ones.

Islamic Scholars can come together with a view to see how they will acquire sound education in line with the religious education for a better tomorrow.  Anyone with only western education without religious education is no less than a one eyed being while a Muslim with with both religious and western education is not only a two eyed person but a superior being over one who knows less about what he knows.  The honor and nobility of man lies in his level of knowledge.