Islam, a religion that emphasizes justice and equality between men and women, has always supported the education and acquisition of knowledge for women. Contrary to the narrow-minded views currently prevailing in certain regions, the history of Islam is filled with examples showing that women were not only encouraged to learn but also played a key role in educating and nurturing generations.
Tarz Press - This perspective is supported not only by Quranic verses and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad but also by the endorsements of Sunni and Shia scholars. International laws and human rights also emphasize the right to education for women, condemning any restrictive policies against them.
Education in the Quran and Prophetic Tradition
In the Quran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet), knowledge is described as light, while ignorance is darkness. The pursuit of knowledge in Islam is not confined to men but is a moral and religious obligation for all Muslims, both men and women.
Quranic Verses:
- Surah Zumar, Verse 9: "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?"
- Surah Mujadila, Verse 11: "Allah will raise those who believe among you and those who have been given knowledge, by degrees."
- Surah Al Imran, Verse 7: "But those firm in knowledge say, 'We believe in it; all is from our Lord.'"
These verses demonstrate that the Quran considers knowledge essential for all Muslims and encourages the pursuit of education.
Prophetic Hadiths:
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim, male and female." This Hadith clearly emphasizes the necessity of education for every Muslim, regardless of gender. It is also reported that the Prophet encouraged the women of Medina to attend educational sessions and recognized Aisha (RA) as a teacher and a scholarly authority.
Women's Education During the Prophet's Time
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) paid special attention to the education of women to uplift the community's overall knowledge level. Historian Al-Baladhuri mentions that during the early Islamic period in Mecca, only seventeen people were literate, including a Qurayshi woman named Shifa, who was known as one of the learned women. The Prophet asked her to teach his wife Hafsa, highlighting the importance of women's education and their role as educators in Islamic society.
Religious Teachings on Women’s Education
The Prophet (PBUH) dedicated time specifically for teaching women. When the women requested a day for learning, he agreed and taught them religious matters. His wives were also recognized as scholarly resources for the community, and their homes became centers for learning.
Prominent Female Scholars
Women like Umm Salama, Umm Aslam, and Umm Jamil were well-known for their knowledge and scholarship. These women were respected as sources of religious and scholarly knowledge and were involved in the collection and transmission of Hadith.
Views of Islamic Scholars on Women's Education
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS):
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS), the sixth Imam of Shia Islam, explicitly emphasized the importance of acquiring knowledge. He said, "Knowledge is a light that Allah places in the heart of whomever He wills." (Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 39). This saying reflects the significance of knowledge for all believers, male and female alike.
Imam Abu Hanifa:
Imam Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi school of thought, also stressed the importance of education for women. One of his famous fatwas states that knowledge and its acquisition are essential for every Muslim, male or female. He paid special attention to women's education in religious and jurisprudential matters, emphasizing that education should not be gender-specific.
National and International Laws
According to international laws, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, education is a fundamental human right that should be available to all individuals without gender discrimination. Afghanistan's constitution, before the Taliban's takeover, also guaranteed education as a fundamental right for all citizens, regardless of gender. Depriving women of education is a blatant violation of their rights and a regression to the dark ages of ignorance.
Critique of Taliban's Educational Policies: Violations of Human Rights and Hindrance to Social Progress
The Taliban's policy of banning women's education is one of the most dangerous measures taken by the group. It not only undermines women's status in society but also has a negative impact on Afghan society as a whole. Here are some key points against this policy:
1. Contrary to Islamic Teachings: The Taliban's policy contradicts the teachings of the Quran, which obligates all Muslims to seek knowledge.
2. Against the Prophetic Tradition: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) especially emphasized the education of women, and this policy contradicts his teachings.
3. Violation of Jurisprudential Principles: Major Islamic scholars, including Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS) and Imam Abu Hanifa, have made education obligatory for all, regardless of gender. The Taliban's policy is contrary to their fatwas.
4. Contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Education is recognized as a basic human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Taliban's policy of depriving women of education violates this right.
5. Harmful to Economic and Social Development: Depriving women of education denies society the benefits of half of its human resources, leading to economic and social stagnation.
6. Promotes Gender Inequality: This policy strengthens gender inequality and reduces job and social opportunities for women.
7. Increases Poverty and Deprivation: Preventing women from pursuing education reduces job opportunities and increases poverty among women and their families.
8. Weakens Family Foundations: Educated women play a key role in raising future generations and improving family health, and this policy weakens family structures.
9. Stifles Innovation and Progress: Women's education contributes to innovation and creativity. Preventing it leads to intellectual and cultural stagnation.
10. Increases Migration and Brain Drain: Many families and women will leave the country to escape these restrictions, resulting in a loss of intellectual and human capital.
11. Destroys Hope and Motivation: This policy destroys the hopes and aspirations of the younger generation of girls and prevents them from achieving their dreams.
12. Violates Afghanistan's International Commitments: Afghanistan is committed to respecting international human rights and global treaties that guarantee the right to education for all, regardless of gender. The Taliban's policy contradicts these international commitments.
These points clearly show that the Taliban's policy of banning women's education is not only indefensible from a religious and legal standpoint but also has widespread negative effects on Afghan society.
Conclusion
The Taliban's educational policies, which lead to the deprivation of women from education, are fundamentally at odds with Islamic principles, international laws, and human rights. Islam, particularly from the perspectives of the Quran and the Prophetic tradition, emphasizes the importance and necessity of education for all Muslims, regardless of gender. The sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the views of prominent scholars like Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS) and Imam Abu Hanifa affirm the necessity of education for women and consider any restrictions in this regard a violation of Islamic principles.
From an international law perspective, various conventions like CEDAW and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognize education as a fundamental human right that must be available to all individuals without gender discrimination. The Taliban's policies, by violating these basic rights, clearly contradict Afghanistan's international commitments.
Depriving women of education is not only detrimental to the Islamic community but also directly harms Afghan society. This policy, by reinforcing gender inequality, reducing job opportunities, and increasing poverty, undermines the country's economic and social development. Moreover, the lack of women's education will lead to a decline in innovation and cultural progress and cause migration and brain drain, resulting in the loss of the country's human resources.
In conclusion, the Taliban's anti-education policies, given their widespread negative consequences, must be firmly critiqued and reviewed. International efforts to ensure the right to education for Afghan women and girls must continue. Only by changing these restrictive policies and adhering to Islamic and human principles can justice and progress be achieved in Afghan society.
