An Overview of Educational Backwardness of Muslims

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 17 June 2023 Why Are Muslims Lagging Behind In Education? Main Points: 1. Muslims lack education due to various reasons. 2. Education is highly valued in the Islamic faith. 3. Madrasas must improve education and take into account contemporary needs to remain relevant among Muslims. 4. Islamic experts should issue a fatwa mandating that everyone study science and technical education, leading to a big change in the future. ------- The people for whom reading was the first command in the Quran now seem to have the lowest literacy rate. This is given the shockingly low graduation rate. From a religious standpoint, Muslims shouldn't have lagged behind in education because, per a hadith, "Getting an education is obligatory upon every male and female." The early Muslims excelled in the sphere of education the most under such orders. However, the Modern Muslims are unable to support the upward trend in education. Who is responsible for that? There are numerous compelling reasons for that. But nobody is willing to take responsibility—not even parents, national leaders, or the government. But it's also important to bring up an intriguing and unexpected issue in order to understand why Muslims are lagging behind in education. Nowhere else in the world will you find a system that provides free shelter, food, and education like the one that Muslims provide. Yes, there is a network of Madrasas in every place, and only Muslims are served by this system. This is such a system which has not been recognized by the major organizations of the world and has not been considered as authentic. However, even little organisations have been acknowledged by significant international organisations. They were recognised for their achievements with awards and honours. The top prize in the world was given out for managing orphans, teaching girls, and assisting them in becoming economically independent. We have established male Madrasas, which also serve as orphanages, in addition to female Madrasas, which educate a significant number of Muslim females. But the issue is that, as of yet, neither a national nor an international body, nor the government, has acknowledged the services that these Madrasas offer. This is another reason why those who attend Madrasas are discouraged. There is also the concern that we have not made an effort to demonstrate the benefits that these Madrasas are providing in terms of raising the nation's literacy rate. In the era of advertising, it is also crucial to advertise your work in order to raise awareness of its importance. Along with these inquiries, a significant one is whether these Madrasas have neglected to improve education at their own level and to take into account contemporary needs. Madrasas are becoming less significant among Muslims themselves. Is it not a result of our carelessness? Since the percentage of education among Muslims is currently declining, it is necessary to address a number of these questions. By bringing up Madrasas, I'm not just pointing the finger at them; rather, I'm attempting to emphasise their significance and the fact that there is no system or significant network in the world that supports education for the sole purpose of receiving spiritual rewards [Sawaab] and viewing it as a national service. Of course, millions of letters should be used to describe the services provided by Madrasas in India. However, it is also imperative to take into account the errors that have been made. Numerous reasons contribute to the low rate of education among Muslims. The way Muslims think is one of them. Most people dispute what kind of instruction should be provided to children when talking about their education. Do you prefer modern education or religious instruction? In this contentious region, the majority of them are unable to settle one of them. Why does education require such a division? Learning is learning. You must always be knowledgeable about Islam if you want to be a Muslim. They should also receive modern education, nevertheless, at the same time. Additionally, decisions regarding the children's continued education must be made in light of their mental aptitude and mental attitude. This aspect needs to be considered. It is astonishing and depressing to learn that no efforts have ever been made to advance education in India since the Middle Ages, not even while the country was ruled by Muslims, and that there has never been a system in place to do so. As a result, Muslims have always trailed behind in the educational system of this nation. After the kingdom was divided, or rather, starting in 1857, there was a period of strange conflict. Despite the fact that traditional education was practised in this area, there was no organised regulation. The Muslims opposed the British after they arrived, but they did not make any real efforts to advance their educational stance. After the country was divided, the time of anarchy was not yet ended; a never-ending succession of prejudices began, some of which are still there now. However, this democratic system of the country has granted every citizen the right to make progress in education. It is regrettable that despite opening numerous Madrasas, we haven't succeeded in establishing schools in our communities where we can provide fundamental Islamic education alongside modern arts and sciences. Education is a fundamental requirement since ignorance is the root of all evils and knowledge is the root of all perfections. In the Islamic faith, seeking knowledge is highly valued. About 500 different times in the Holy Qur'an, references to the value and significance of education are made, either directly or indirectly. Muslims are urged by the Quran to pursue education because it will help them recognise God Almighty. To do this, Muslims must pursue both religious education and modern education in order to be able to recognise the truth of the planets and the signs of God Almighty. The majority of Islamic academics advocate reading Islamic literature. This is excellent, but they should also motivate them to pursue science and technical education. If an 8-year-old child could memorise the entire Quran, he or she would be able to pass any IIT or medical examination with ease. If Islamic experts issued a fatwa mandating that everyone study science alongside Islamic literature, a big change may be seen in a few years. ------- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. 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