LAHORE: Scholars and clerics belonging to different schools of thought have said that education is mandatory for both men and women in Islam.
Sharia does not stop anyone from seeking knowledge, these views were expressed by them during the speech and essay competitions organised by the Pakistan Ulema Council, Lahore, at Jamia Masjid Khulfa-e-Rashideen Johar Town for the students and teachers of Madaras Al-Arabia. They said that Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] was sent to earth for educating mankind and eliminating ignorance. Therefore, those who oppose education are indeed violating the teachings of the Prophet [PBUH].
PUC Central Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said that conveying true Islamic teachings to the general public was only possible by making sure that scholars, clerics, preachers and prayer leaders had full knowledge of both Islamic teachings and worldly matters. Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] made education a religious obligation for both Muslim men and women, the scholars noted. This is the reason why a large part of Islam reached us through the wives of the Prophet [PBUH], Syeda Fatima Zahra [RA] and other female companions.
“Neglecting women’s education means neglecting an important segment of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH],” Ashrafi said, adding that in order to promote inter-faith and inter-sectarian harmony, the PUC would continue providing such opportunities to the students, teachers, clerics and preachers of Madaras Al-Arabia, to help them improve their knowledge of Islamic sharia and worldly matters. Maulana Mushtaq Ahmad, Maulana Abdul Qayum and Maulana Muhammad Aslam also addressed the gathering. Prizes were distributed to students getting first, second and third positions at the end of the essay competition.
