Acquisition of Knowledge Compulsory For Both Male And Female In Islam – NASFAT

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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Acquisition of Knowledge Compulsory For Both Male And Female In Islam – NASFAT
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria
NASFAT Kaduna has called on our Muslim parents to take the education of the Girl child seriously as there is no distintion when it comes to acquiring of knowledge in Islam. 
This was stressed in a sermon delivered Friday 14, February, 2020 during the Jummat prayer at NASFAT mosque. 
The Mission Board led by the Chief Missioner of the Branch Imam Muhammad Marooph  Muhammad Raji
 delivered theJummat sermon titled, “Islamic Views on Science and importance of Educating the Girl Child”.  He had during the sermon emphasied the need to educate the Girl Child as contained in the Holy Quran.
The religion Islam has not made any distinction between male and female on  issue concerning the search for knowledge. He stressed.
Imam Ma’arooph emphasizing the importance the religion Islam attaches to the education of the Girl Child charged Muslim women to strive to better their lots.
“The 11th day of the month of February every year is the day set aside to commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. 
For us as Muslims, two issues stand out as benefits from this. 
First, is to remind ourselves of the relationship between Islam and science especially as espoused in the Qur’an. Secondly, to reiterate the importance our Religion, Islam attaches to the education of the Girl Child.
Explaining further, the Imam said,
“The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is implemented by UNESCO and UN Women, in collaboration with intergovernmental agencies and institutions, as well as civil society partners, that aim to promote women and girls in science. 
The purpose is to promote full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls.
Muslims agree that doing science is an act of religious merit, even a collective duty of the Muslim community, what is termed fard kifaayat.
The astrophysicist Nidhal Guessoum argues that the Quran has developed “the concept of knowledge” that encourages scientific discovery. He writes:
“The Qur’an draws attention to the danger of conjecturing without evidence (And follow not that of which you have not the (certain) knowledge of… 17:36) and in several different verses asks Muslims to require proofs (Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful 2:111), both in matters of theological belief and in natural science.”
Quran verses that deals with science. includes: Q2:22,2:164,13:3,20:53-54,79: and 30-33 .
Buttressing further, 
Muslim women he said have contributed greatly to science in the past. The following women he listed amongst those that have contributed to civilization.
 Fatima al-Fihri played a great role in the civilisation and culture in her community. She migrated with her father Mohamed al-Fihri from Qayrawan in Tunisia to Fez. 
She grew up with her sister in an educated family and learnt Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and Hadith.
Fatima inherited a considerable amount of money from her father which she used to build a mosque for her community. Established in the year 859, the Qarawiyin mosque had the oldest, and possibly the first university in the world. Students travelled there from all over the world to study astronomy, Islamic studies, languages, and sciences. 
Arabic numbers became known and used in Europe through this university.
This is just one important example of the role of women in the advancement of education and civilisation.
AL-IJLIYA AL-ASTRULABI, the making of astrolabes, a branch of applied science of great status, was practiced by many including one woman from Aleppo (Syria), Mariam* “Al-Astrolabiya” Al-Ijliya (Al-‘Ijliyah bint al-‘Ijli al-Asturlabi), who followed her father’s profession and was employed at the court of Sayf al-Dawlah (333 H/944 CE-357/967). One of the powerful Hamdanid rulers in northern Syria who guarded the frontier with the Byzantine empire in the tenth century CE.
SUTAYTA AL-MAHMALI: Sutayta was taught and guided by several scholars including her father.She died in the year 377H/987CE.
Sutayta did not specialise in just one subject but excelled in many fields such as Arabic literature, hadith, and jurisprudence as well as mathematics. 
It is said that she was an expert in hisab (arithmetics) and fara’idh (successoral calculations), both being practical branches of mathematics which were well developed in her time.
 It is said also that she invented solutions to equations which have been cited by other mathematicians, which denote aptitude in algebra.
Although these equations were few, they demonstrated that her skills in mathematics went beyond a simple aptitude to perform calculations.
ZAYNAB AL SHAHDA Zaynab was a famous female calligrapher renowned for her work in fiqh (Islamic law) and hadiths, in addition to her husn-I khatt. She was highly praised and positioned, and was appointed as teacher of Yaqut, the last Abbasid Caliph. 
She was also the calligrapher in the Musa Palace. She was a brilliant, well-established teacher and many people had the opportunity to study with her and to receive their ijaza from her. 
The fame of Zaynab was well established when she was named Siqat al-Dawla because of her association with al-Muktafibillah, the Abbasid Caliph. She spent her time studying science and literature.
QUEEN AMINA OF ZARIA: During Muslim civilisation, numerous women excelled in various fields in Subsaharan Africa. Among them was Queen Amina of Zaria (1588-1589). She was the eldest daughter of Bakwa Turunku, who founded the Zazzau Kingdom in 1536. Amina came to power between 1588 and 1589. 
Amina is generally remembered for her fierce military exploits. Of special quality is her brilliant military strategy and in particular engineering skills in erecting great walled camps during her various campaigns. She is generally credited with the building of the famous Zaria wall.
ANOUSHEH ANSARI is an Iranian-American engineer and co-founder and chairwoman of Prodea Systems. On September 18, 2006, a few days after her 40th birthday, she became the first Muslim woman in space.
It is therefore glaring that acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for both male and female Muslims as displayed by great Muslim women of the past. 
Some of the benefits of Girl-Child Education are enumerated below.
That Educated girls are more likely to earn higher wages and therefore contribute to family income.
Women’s education is associated with longer life expectancy, lower infant and maternal mortality, as well as increased chance of having healthier and well-nourished children.
Educated women are better informed about their rights, more likely to exercise them, and more likely to participate in the formal political system.
Children of educated mothers, especially daughters, are more likely to receive education. Mothers’ education is the single strongest determinant of schooling for their children.
In Africa, women with seven or more years of schooling marry five years later than women with no education.
Educated women also have higher economic opportunities and choices including access to sexual and reproductive health information and services.
Educated women are much more likely to use family planning services and have longer intervals between births, hence having the opportunity of giving better care to their children. Among married couples, the wife’s education has a much stronger effect on family life than the husband’s.
“We pray that Allah (SWT) will guide us and make the understanding of the deen easy for us. Amin.” The Imam concluded.
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