Islam is the religion of all Prophets and Messengers. It highly appreciates education and scholars, which is why it fervently asks its followers to learn and acquire knowledge in a way that secures their happiness in both this world and the life to come. The following points highlight the cardinal importance of education from the Islamic perspective: -
1- Islam obliges its follower, males and females alike, to seek after knowledge. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim …”
2- Being fully aware of the great importance of education, Muslim women asked the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) to specify a particular day for educating them the matters of religion. (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
3- Highlighting the eagerness of the women of Al-Ansar (the Supporters), Mother of the Believer A‘isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: “The best women ever are those of Al-Ansar, for shyness does not prevent them from understanding their religion.”
4- Projecting the great favor of seekers after knowledge, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shows that whosoever seeks a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Paradise easy to him; the angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does; the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him; the superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness); and the learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge so he who acquires it has, in fact, acquired an abundant portion.
5- Highlighting the fact that education is the most precious treasure in life, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) states clearly that scholars are the heirs of Prophets and Messengers who left nothing behind but knowledge.
As clearly shown, Islam pays great attention to education, affirming meanwhile the fact that there is no difference whatsoever between men and women in this regard. At that point, we should highlight a very important point, that is, seeking knowledge is not restricted to the Sharia only, but rather includes all different branches of knowledge which are useful for man and realizes his happiness in both this world and the life to come.
In the Quran, Allah, the Almighty, says in the Chapter of Fatir, “And of men and beasts and cattle are various species of it likewise; those of His servants only who are possessed of knowledge fear Allah; surely Allah is Mighty, Forgiving.” (The Quran, 35:28) Some scholars believe that this verse refers to all different kinds of scholars in general, and those concerned with natural sciences in particular, because Allah, Glorified is He, has gathered between their mention and that of the mountains and the other celestial signs in the universe.
In addition, the Quran has many verses that call for pondering over the signs of the heaven, the earth, and what is between, so as to allow man to reach the sound conclusion on the creator of the universe- a conclusion which is away from bias or suspicions.