Why Present Muslims Are Lagging Behind in Education

Why Present Muslims Are Lagging Behind in Education infer that perhaps these people do not possess deep knowledge of the events from the Prophet’s life and are also unaware about the history of Islam. There is an incident which has come down in historical records from the time when Abu Bakr was caliph. On being elected as caliph, Abu Bakr had a very important task to perform. Before taking action, he assembled people in the Mosque of the Prophet and addressed them: “Advise me, O people!” Even after listening to Abu Bakr’s request, the Companions who had gathered together remained silent for long. (Hayatus Sahabah v. 1, p. 432) The word used in the tradition to describe the Companions’ response is atarqar, which means to bow one’s head in silence. Compare this with a group of Muslims who converge at a place in any part of the Muslim world today and are similarly requested to put forward their suggestions on the issue under discussion. Every member in the congregation would be eager to voice his opinion. The Companions of the Prophet, on the contrary, were least desirous of speaking. I often say that a person is competent to speak only when he knows how to remain silent. Why did the Companions choose to remain quiet when asked to speak? It was not because they were at a loss for words, or that they were too unintelligent to have an opinion, or that they had been deprived of