Islam places high emphasis on acquiring knowledge and getting educated, a person with knowledge is held in high esteem.

There are numerous Quranic verses which direct a person towards getting knowledge and education.

  1. Read! in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists).Created man from a clot of blood. Read! And your Lord is the Most Gracious. Who has taught (imparted knowledge) by the pen. He taught the man that, which he knew not. 96: 1-5

This verse has special significance here as this was the very first revelation from Allah (SWT) to our beloved Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and the very first command is Read!

  1. Say, “Can those who know and those who do not know become equal?”  Last Part 39:9
  2. He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever is given wisdom is certainly given lot of good.  Only the people of understanding observe the advice. 2:269
  3. Only those of His slaves fear Allah, who are knowledgeable. Surely Allah is Mighty and Forgiving. 35:28
  4. Likewise we have sent to you (Our ) Messengers from among yourselves who recites to you Our Revelations and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you what you did not know.2:151

Then there are numbers of verses which call upon a person use his intelligence and ponder upon, this act of pondering is both an invitation to gain knowledge and it is also a result of gaining knowledge. Thus Muslims are called upon to gain knowledge with high emphasize.

  1. Who remember Allah standing and sitting, and (lying) on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heaven and the earth (and say) “Our Lord, You have not created all these in vain. We proclaim Your purity. So save us from the punishment of the Fire.” 3:191
  2. Then, is it that they did not ponder over the Word (of Allah), or there has come to them something that did not come to their forefathers? 23:68
  3. Did they not reflect in their own selves?  Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them but with a just cause and for appointed time. Yet many of the people are disbelievers in meeting with their Lord. 30:8
  4. Allah is the One who has subjugated for you the sea, so that the ships may sail in it with His command and so that you may seek His grace, and so that you offer gratitude. He has subjugated for you whatever there is in the heavens and whatever there is in the earth, all on His own. Surely in this there are signs for the people who reflect. 45:12-13.

The superiority one gains as a possessor of knowledge is clearly illustrated in the following verses:

And Hh He taught Adam the names, all of them; then presented them (things) before the angels, and said, “Tell me their names, if you are right.” They said, “Glory to you! We have no knowledge except what You have given us. Surely, You alone are All Knowing, All-Wise.” 2: 30-32

Then there is small dua with beautiful wordings, “Rabbi Zidni Ilman”, My Lord increase me in Knowledge. 20:114 is sufficient to tell us about the importance of knowledge and education in Islam.

There are numerous Ahadith which encourages us to get knowledge, without going in details about them we want to emphasize one point here, since Islam places lot of emphasis on knowledge and education, we as community members should try our best to improve the level of education in our community.