The Sunday Mail
Umari Stambuli
Knowledge (and education) is the starting point of every human activity. Allah Almighty created man and has provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, namely hearing, sight and comprehension.
The Almighty declares in the Holy Qur’aan: “And Allah Almighty brings you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He has granted you (the ability of ) hearing, sight, and hearts (comprehension) that you might give thanks (to Him).” (Ch 16:78)
Empowerment
Many a person only wishes to understand empowerment in terms of his or her own circumstances yet this is to be taken very broadly. The Oxford dictionary states the meaning of the word “em•pow•er” to mean:
(1) To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority, and
(2) To equip or supply with an ability; to enable; to give (someone) the authority or power to do something. Accordingly, in the broadest of senses, empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, educational, gender, or economic strength of individuals and/or communities.
Learning is a natural pleasure. This pleasure is inborn and instinctive. The pleasure of learning is one of the essential pleasures of the human race. Without learning, survival itself is threatened.
Hence true and real empowerment – which is meaningful and will contribute to all other forms of empowerment and significant development – can only be achieved through acquiring knowledge (gaining education).
Process begins at birth
The process of learning starts right after birth. It is true that babies who can barely talk investigate problems with all the zeal and excitement of explorers, make discoveries with the passion and absorption of dedicated scientists.
At the end of each successful investigation, one can see on the tiny face an expression of innocent and pure heartfelt pleasure.
The importance of seeking knowledge or education is a non-disputable matter. In fact education is the acquisition of the knowledge to be able to put one’s potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense till he or she gained knowledge (is educated). This importance of education is basically for two reasons. The first is that the training of a human mind is not complete without it – education makes man a right thinker, it teaches man how to think and how to make decisions.
The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world; to acquaint himself with past history (and derive lessons there from); receive all necessary information regarding the present (in order to act correctly) and to understand what best to do to prepare for the morrow (future).
Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world.
Knowledge is power
How many times in our lives have we heard this phrase? How many times have our parents, teachers, elders stated this same thing over and over again? This declaration by Sir Francis Bacon emphasises that when you have knowledge, you have authority. It alludes to the fact that there is something about acquiring knowledge that puts you in a better or advantageous position. The first words of Revelation (the Holy Qur’aan) were “Read!- Read in the name of your Lord who has created (all things).” (Ch 96:1)
(to be continued next week.)
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact: Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
PO Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare/ 614003/e-mail: [email protected].
