Islamic Education

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged all Muslims to acquire knowledge and share it. He said:

"Acquire knowledge, for he who acquires it in the way of Allah performs an act of piety;
he who speaks of it, praises the Lord;
he who seeks it, adores Allah;
he who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms;
and he who imparts it to others, performs an act of devotion to Allah."
(Bukhari, Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also told us to "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave." Therefore, Muslims should see education as a year-round, life-long process. As parents, we have the responsibility to raise and educate our children properly, in matters of religion and daily living. As adult Muslims, we should constantly strive to expand on our knowledge. We can never be so arrogant to think that we have learned everything there is to know.

The December 1997 (Sha'aban 1416 H.) issue of Insight magazine (Australia) is dedicated to Islamic Education. It contains several excellent articles on its definition, range, and importance.

Several other sites on the web can assist us in our quest for knowledge.

Educational options for Muslim children

Islamic schools (which combine academic and religious studies) are considered by many to be the best of both worlds. The Muslim Students' Association of the U.S. and Canada keeps a list of hundreds of such schools in North America.

For a variety of reasons, many Muslims choose to home-school their children. The Muslim Home School Network and Resource (MHSNR) provides information, resources, and support for homeschoolers and those thinking about it.

For those in public schools, resources to teach about Islam are available as well. The Council on Islamic Education provides curriculum assistance, teacher notes and a handbook on teaching about Islam and Muslims in the public school classroom. AWAIR (Arab World and Islamic Resources) also provides curriculum materials (books, AV, teacher guides) that are appropriate for the public school setting.