The Education of Women (3/3)

Now, just the third group is left. These people support and defend the education of women but have erred in determining or laying down a system for it. Some of their mistakes have already been incorporated when discussing the second group above. For example, teaching the women to read the alphabets only and thereafter leaving them to read the different booklets and magazines of their choice. Or, for example, not ensuring that they put into practice what they learn - different examples in this respect were also mentioned. We will now mention some other mistakes of theirs. For example, instead of teaching them Deeni knowledge, some of the women are taught History, Geography and English. Worse than this, they also teach them the Bible. This is due to just blind following of the Europeans. In other words, they feel that the worth and credibility of their syllabus is dependent on this. But they do not think that even if there was no difference between the two of us in regard to customs, habits, natural inclinations and peculiarities, the greatest distinction of religion still exists. That we follow the religion of Islam and they either follow no religion (which is the case with a majority of them), or they follow a religion opposed to our religion. Therefore, they will either have no religious education, or if they do have, it will be superficial, or it will be worldly education, or education of some other religion. In any case, this system of education of theirs has a specific basis. But if we had to choose their system of education, on what basis is it going to be? If the purpose of their education is different, as has just been mentioned, and our goal is different, as had been briefly explained when rectifying the mistakes of the first group, i.e. rectifying the beliefs, actions, transactions, social dealings, and morals; and this goal is dependent on Deeni knowledge - then it is obvious that for us to adopt their system of education is unsuitable or incompatible. However, if one also feels the need to earn a livelihood as well, then there will be no harm if one learns those sciences after having acquired Deeni knowledge. Those sciences refer to those things upon which one's livelihood is dependent, such as English, History, Geography, etc. Apart from these things, such a person will have no need to study the Bible.

It is obvious that the need to earn a livelihood is only experienced by men and not women, the reason being that the responsibility for supporting and providing for them is on the men. Secondly, Islam has emphasized purdah for women, and those specific ways whereby a livelihood could be earned are dependent on specific branches of knowledge. And these branches cannot be learnt while in purdah. Therefore, to teach them these things is fruitless and a waste of time. In fact, apart from being fruitless, it will also be harmful, as will be explained later. In any case, these sciences which are known as "modern education" are in no way proper for women. However, it would be good to have sufficient knowledge of certain worldly aspects such as writing, Mathematics, some sort of handicrafts, etc., so that if at any time there is no one to see to their needs, they could earn a living.

As for learning good manners, then whoever wishes, he could check and see for himself that no other system or education can teach good manners and character the way Deen can. Hence, take a person who has been totally influenced by Deeni knowledge and another person who has been totally influenced by modern civilization. Thereafter, compare their character, social dealings and transactions, and you will find that there is a world of difference between the two. However, if someone regards pretention and deception as culture, then his mistake will be that he has misunderstood the meaning of a particular concept. At this very moment, if some religious person comes to mind who has some short-coming in real character, then the reason for this will be that he did not take full benefit from Deeni knowledge. In other words, Deen has many aspects: beliefs, actions, mu'aamalaat (transactions), mu'aasharat (social relations), and self-purification. Some people regard only salaat and fasting as knowledge of the Deen and only people who fulfil these duties as religious people. This is a mistake in itself. To have sufficient knowledge of all the aspects of Deen mentioned above is called Deeni knowledge. And those who abide by the rules of all these aspects are called religious people. So that person, who was called a religious person but was found to be wanting in his character, is in reality not fulfilling all the aspects of the Deen. And the discussion is on that person who is influenced by all the aspects. Now the doubt has been cleared. The author has written a booklet entitled "The Rights of Knowledge" which clears similar doubts and is worth reading.

In short, culture and good manners cannot be learnt from any system of education the way it can be learnt from Deeni education. It is this very Deeni knowledge which brought about that character and good manners in our ancestors, and which was not only acknowledged by Europe but also adopted by it. However, we are totally unaware of the "wealth" that is in our homes and begging from others. How beautiful the words of Maulana Rumi are! He says: "There is a basket full of bread on your head, and yet you are going door to door searching for a crumb. You are standing in knee-deep water, and yet you are distressed out of hunger and thirst."

Some people get their daughters educated at the hands of liberal and shameless women. Experience has shown that the company one keeps has a definite effect on one's character and emotions. This is more so when the person in whose company one is, is followed and respected. Obviously, who can be more worthy of following and respect than one's teacher? So in this case, that liberalism and shamelessness will also come into these girls. In my opinion, the best woman is the one in whom hayaa' (shame and self-restraint) is natural. This is the key to all good. When this is not found, then no good can be expected, nor can any evil be discounted. The rule, "when hayaa' goes away from you, then do whatever you wish", is general. But in my opinion, the generality in "whatever you wish" is applicable more to women than men. This is so because men still have aql (intellect) as a deterrent, while women have a shortfall of this as well. Therefore, they will not have anything to s them.

Similarly, if the female teachers are not like this, but the class mates and school mates are like this (i.e. liberal and shameless), then being close to them will also cause many harms.

After this discussion, the condition of two evils, which are presently widespread, may also have come to the fore. One is the construction of girl's schools, and like normal madrasahs, to allow girls of different communities, classes, and thoughts, to come there daily. Even if the teacher is a Muslim, even if they come in cars, and even if they come here and stay in secluded places; incidents have shown and experience has proven that here such causes are combined, that they have a detrimental effect on their morals. This company has proven to be destructive to their chastity. And if the teacher is also like this, then it is like having a double dose of a bitter pill.

The second evil is that if a girl mixes with a teacher of a mission school by going to her daily or weekly for tuition in something or some craft, then both her chastity and Iman will be in danger. It is extremely distressing that some people regard these evils as a means of honour and call these teachers into their very homes. In my opinion, let alone these great evils which a girl gets trapped in on account of being a child and blindly following someone; even if an elderly Muslim woman follows this teacher and gets into a conversation with her even once, then too it will be dangerous. Some of those harms which we had promised to enumerate are these which have just been mentioned. And some of them have been mentioned when discussing the opinions of the second group.

The best method for girls is the one that came down to us from generation to generation. That two or three girls get together according to their relations and then study. As far as possible, they should try and get a female teacher who does not charge any fees because experience has shown that this type of education is more blessed and more effective. But if there is no alternative, there is no harm in paying. Where no female teacher is available, then the menfolk of the house should undertake to teach them. This is in regard to the system of education. As for the syllabus, then as far as possible, they should be taught to read the Qur’an correctly. Thereafter, Deeni books which have been written in simple language and in which all aspects of the Deen have been dealt with completely (in my opinion, the ten parts of Bahishti Zewar are sufficient to fulfil this need). If the men of the house are imparting the education, then those matters that are "shameful" should be left out and taught through their wives. If this is not possible, then these matters should be marked off so that they can remember them and once they get more mature, they will automatically understand them. Alternatively, if her husband is an aalim, she could ask him, or her husband could inquire from an aalim on her behalf.

At the end of Bahishti Zewar, there is a list of some beneficial books, the reading and studying of which will be very beneficial for women. If all cannot be studied, then a necessary number should be studied and the balance be kept for reading. Together with education, practising on the knowledge should also be seen to. It should also be ensured that the desire to teach be inculcated in them so that they have some contact with knowledge throughout their lives. In this way, there will be a constant revival and yearning for ilm and amal (knowledge and practicing on it). They should also be urged that at no time should they be negligent in reading beneficial books. After completing their necessary syllabus, if it is found that they have the potential, they should be directed towards learning Arabic so that they are able to understand the Qur’an, Hadith, and Fiqh (jurisprudence) in the original language. In my opinion, those girls who read the translation of the Qur’an only, make many errors in understanding it. Therefore, for most of them this is not good.

All this was in regard to reading. As for writing, if there are indications that there is no shamelessness or boldness in her nature, there will be no harm in learning to write. In order to carry out household necessities, there is also a need to know how to write. But if one foresees harm, then instead of trying to learn unnecessary (not wajib) things, it would be better to save one's self from evils. In such circumstances, she should not be taught to write, nor should she learn by herself. This is the verdict of the wise on the issue of women learning to write.