The Prophet (PBUH) is said to have appointed a teacher for Hafsa ...

The Prophet (PBUH) is said to have appointed a teacher for Hafsa , one of his wives, to learn the art of writing.[^22] Similarly, Ayesha, another wife of the Prophet (PBUH), memorized a large number of hadiths and the s ahaba (companions of the Prophet) sought her help in resolving religious matters after the demise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Education during the Time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs During the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs[^23] education was given due attention.

The learned among the sahaba were facilitated to promote education among the Muslims. During the time of Abu Bakr (632-634A.D.) Hazrat Ayesha, Hazrat Zaid bin Tabeth, Hazrat Abu Hurara and Abdulla bin Umar were among the great scholars who imparted education to the people. Hazrat Umar (634-644A.D) encouraged learning and allocated funds from the state treasury for the promotion of education.

He also deputed learned men to the newly conquered territories to promote education among the local people. He issued special instructions to his governors for the promotion of education among the people. He used to say that it was the responsibility of the Islamic state to make all subjects literate[^24] . Hazrat Usman (644-656 A.D) also gave due attention towards the promotion of knowledge.

The Holy Qur’an was edited in a single Arabic script during the caliphate of Hazrat Usman, which prevented dissensions among the different tribes of Arabs. He also patronized centers of learning that had been established by Hazrat Umar. Ali, the fourth caliph (656-661A.D), was himself a great scholar and remained chief qazi during the rule of the previous caliphs.

Although great political disturbances did not allow him to make systematic efforts for the promotion of education, he framed the principles of Arabic grammar to facilitate non-Arabs to learn the Arabic language.[^25] The Birth of fiqh and the Emergence of the ulema as a Professional Class During the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) his interpretation of the Qur’an was final. But after the demise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and pious caliphs this duty was assumed by imams [^26] .

These imams made ijtihad and interpreted the Qur’an and s unnah according to their own understanding, each imam having his own followers. Thus, different schools of thought called mazahib came into being. The followers of each mazhab made efforts to propagate their thoughts, which highly contributed to Muslim education.