Many people are unaware of the fact that one of the most important rights granted to women by Islam is the right to education. There have been records of the presence of highly intellectual, extraordinary women from the golden age of Muslim civilizations. Various studies have discovered that Muslim women are less educated than women in most other religious groups in India. Muslim women’s educational attainment is a matter of concern for today’s Indian Muslim communities.
EDUCATION – THE FIRST AND LAST SOLUTION FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
“I measure the progress of community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
~ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Muslim women during the golden period of Islam were educated and actively participated in all fields of life. There were women who championed educational and cultural efforts like Fatima al-Fihri, others who excelled in mathematics such as Sutayta al-Mahamili, the medical field, administration and management, philosophy and the arts. Others played key political roles and ruled important territories in the Muslim Civilisation, some of those included Labana of Cordoba of 10th century (Spain), Sitt al-Mulk of 11th century (Egypt), Melike Mama Hatun of 12th century (Turkey), Razia (or Raziyya) Sultana of Delhi of 13th century (India) and many more. Islamic history has positive examples of women philosophers, scholars, teachers, scientists, educationists, warriors and rulers. This was made possible only because of ‘Education’. However, the situation of Muslim women in education in the modern world of today especially in India is indeed worrisome.
The condition of Muslim women’s education has failed to give satisfactory results. The education of Muslim girls is an important contributory factor in the progress of our Nation and must be given priority because it is their education that will influence the upliftment of the Muslim community which contains a significant role in India’s population. Women’s education is also necessary because any community depends upon the mother’s education which is the first institution of any child. Women bear greater responsibility for rearing, nurturing and the upbringing of a child, but still, our system does not pay much attention to their education. Neither are they able to educate their children, nor are they able to improve their status.
They are not having what they deserve, the main reason being the high rate of illiteracy among them.
The education of Muslim girls must be given priority because it is their education that will influence the improvement of the Muslim community which shares a significant mark in India’s community. Muslims are the largest minority group in India constituting 14.23% of the total population. They are seriously lagging behind in terms of most of the human development indicators.
According to the constitution, everyone should have the right to education. But pragmatic scenario shows that the participation of Muslim women in education is abysmally low. Muslim women always remained socially and economically backward in our country. But it’s also true that Muslim women have a strong desire and enthusiasm for education. The constitution of India grants the Right to Equality and Right to Freedom of Religion and Protection of Interests of Minorities in regard to educational rights. But with the changing time and situation, the education of Muslim women in India is getting better day by day, and that day is not so far where every single Muslim woman will be educated and shine in every way.
According to Islam, “A mother’s lap is the first school for the child.” The role of women cannot be denied in any society. Educated women can be better human beings, successful mothers and responsible citizens. Napoleon once said, “Give me educated mothers and I will give you educated nations.”
Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine. The story of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education is an inspiration for females around the world. After her horrendous experience and sheer bravery, she continues to advocate for this cause through the Malala Fund, aimed at working for a world where every girl can learn and lead.
We must continue to advocate this basic right to females, which is shocking because even if the world seems to advance over the years ,there are still pockets around the world that do not respect equality of gender and value for education to all. Society loses out when we cannot empower everyone equally.
I want to sum up that Indian Muslim women are far behind in achieving literacy status because of their poor economic conditions and superstition. Equality and empowerment of Muslim women are necessary to bring about an egalitarian human society. Education is a vital factor in the social transformation of a society and its economic amelioration. Investment in education is the best investment one can make because it eventually leads to intellectual property. It will benefit one in so many multiple ways, education has no boundaries. Education provides awareness for everything and so that we can tackle any situation and will come out of it with our individuality, education is the most powerful weapon which anybody can get.
I conclude my chain of thoughts with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “If you educated a man, you educated a person, but if you educated a woman you educated a nation.”
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Aienla A, Rinsit B Sareo, Meren Lemtur and Kvulo Lorin.
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