FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Arabia set off such a wave of receiving and imparting education which can rightly be called a learning explosion. The revolution brought about by this learning explosion ushered in a new age of highly developed culture and civilization not only in Arabia but all over the world. This is a fact that has been acknowledged by historians. For instance, the Indian historian, T. Rama Rao, begins his biography of the Prophet of Islam with these words: When he appeared, Arabia was a desert—a nothing. Out of nothing of the desert a new world was fashioned by the mighty spirit of Muhammad. A new life, a new culture, a new civilization, a new kingdom, which extended from Morocco to India and influenced the thought and life of three continents—Asia, Africa and Europe. (Life of Muhammad) Merit of the Learned and the Learners The Quran and Hadith both hold men of knowledge preferable to the ignorant (39: 9). The books of Hadith have a whole lengthy chapter devoted to the importance of knowledge, and the rewards of teaching and learning. For instance, there is a saying of the Prophet that, one who treads a path in search of knowledge has his way paved to Paradise by God as a reward for this noble deed. (Bukhari, Muslim) According to another saying, angels in heavens, fish in the water and ants in their dwellings pray for the well-being of a seeker of knowledge. (Tirmidhi) In another Hadith, the Prophet of Islam observed, those who learn virtues and teach it to others are the best among humankind. (Al-Bayhaqi) At the time of the revelation, few people could read and write. They made the maximum use of their abilities to memorize their learnings, preserving their entire literary heritage in their memory. There was no trace of any systematic or organized activity of learning or teaching in Arab society of the time. But soon after the revelation of the Quran, the trend of education set in. Everyone who accepted Islam learnt the Quran from the Prophet, and after learning taught others who desired to learn. In this way, the The mission of the Prophet of Islam has been introduced in the Quran as an instructor of the Book and a teacher of wisdom.