Islamic Education

INTRODUCTION The Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, was born in 570 CE in the city of Mecca in Arabia. The first revelation descended upon him in 610 CE while he was in the Cave of Hira. The first word of that revelation was Iqra (Read). It is narrated that the angel Gabriel came to the Prophet and said, Iqra (Read). The Prophet responded, Ma ana biqari (I am not able to read) (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 3). Gabriel repeated Iqra a second time, and the Prophet again said, Ma ana biqari. Gabriel said it a third time, after which the Prophet recited the words of Chapter 96, Surah Al-‘Alaq, the verses that Gabriel had brought as the first revelation. Reflect on this initial incident of revelation. The Prophet of Islam was undeniably unlettered. Despite this, why did God’s angel insist repeatedly, saying, Iqra (Read)? This indicates that even if you do not know how to read, you should strive to read; even if you do not know how to write, you should endeavour to write. In this sense, Islamic culture can be described as synonymous with Iqra culture. This was an extremely revolutionary teaching that was granted to the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, and indirectly to his followers, at the very beginning of his prophethood. As a result, the pursuit of knowledge became a permanent aspect of his followers’ activities. The practice of reading and writing grew so extensively that a time came when Muslims became the teachers of all other nations. When the Muslims ventured out of Arabia and spread to various parts of the world, they made reading and teaching their special mission everywhere they went.