ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Madrasahs in Pakistan [untill: 2005] 1- Madrasah Education: A Historical Evolution Introduction The acquisition and imparting of knowledge is central to Islam. The first revelation in sura in Alaq stressed reading and writing in the following words: Read: In the name of thy Lord who createth, createth man from a clot. Read: And thy Lord is the most bounteous, Who teacheth by the pen. Teacheth man that which he knows not.

According to the Holy Qur’an the human being is exalted over all other creatures of God because of his knowledge. The superiority of Adam (A.S.)[^16] over the angels was on the very basis of his knowledge of nature. The Qur’an abhors ignorance and illiteracy and calls knowledge as the light and blessing of God.

The Qur’an frequently stresses the acquisition of knowledge to overcome and exploit natural resources that have great potential for the welfare of human beings and the need for exploration and exploitation. Besides the Holy Qur’an, the Prophet of God (PBUH) has also emphasized the acquisition of knowledge. A large number of hadiths are found that highlight the importance of the acquisition and imparting of knowledge.

Muhammad (PBUH) declared that the seeking of knowledge is the duty of every Muslim man and women. Muhammad (PBUH) is said to have declared: “The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of a martyr”. In another tradition the seeker of knowledge is regarded as the one who strives in the path of God. Insisting on the need of acquisition of knowledge for all Muslims, the Prophet is reported to have said: “Valueless is the Muslim who is not a teacher or a student”.

These and many other traditions reveal that the acquisition and imparting of knowledge is a sacred duty for all Muslims. In Islamic tradition acquisition of knowledge is not regarded as an end in itself. Rather, its aim is to understand the will of God and lead one’s life according to it. So it is clear that the Islamic concept of knowledge aims at self-actualization.

A self-actualizing person is one who becomes all that he is capable of being.[^17] According to Maslow[^18] , self actualization means the full use of human talent and capabilities. It means actualizing all of God’s bounties to the person. The individual has to put in a lot of effort to use these bounties in the right way and at the right time so that it will lead to self-fortification.