The core of the desired education is bringing up scholars

Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says: "See you not that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black. * And likewise of men and Ad-Dawâbb [moving (living) creatures, beasts], and cattle, are of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving." [Surat Fatir: 27 - 28].

Those two Ayahs express static divine laws which people cannot change, for real knowledge does not affect on earth perfectly except if the goal is fearing Allah.

People who do not ponder over the creation of Allah and His Universe which is open for search and observance; the heedless of Allah's Laws regarding water and production of fruits; and those who pay no attention to the purpose of sending down water and producing fruits, the color of soil and mountains, and the difference of people, animals in natures, languages, and habits; cannot recognize Allah because they ignore His Signs. Only scholars recognize that fact, and there is no use in knowledge and scholars if the output does not lead to fearing Allah.

So, observing the universe is one of the basic pillars of building spiritual and cognitive core of a person, as it is a living confirmation to the revelation which narrates unseen matters, stresses divine observance, and exhorts people to act according to His Shari`ah and Methodology, take lessons from previous nations, imitate Messengers, and hold firm with the Straight Path to create a bright future by spreading knowledge and justice in the world, and preparing a prosperous future that is pleasant to the Most Merciful in the Hereafter.

So, the one who ignores the universal laws and ignores reading the witnessed signs while he is fixing his eyes everyday on some of its dimensions, how could he understand the written book (the Qur'an) in every part?

Therefore, today we are in dire need of bringing up a new generation of knowledgeable scholars who understand the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. To do so, we need to spend much and observe patience, for the percentage of illiteracy in our countries is fearful and the levels of ignorance of religion are high.

These two Ayahs are interpreted by some Prophetic Hadiths expressing that there is no fear of Allah by the absence of knowledge and when knowledge is lost, that is the true torment.

We shall mention some of these Hadiths:

* Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths with the wordings of Muslim on the authority of `Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr who said: It was narrated that `Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr said: "`A'ishah said to me: 'O son of my sister, I have heard that `Abdullah ibn `Amr will pass by us en route to Hajj. Go to him and ask him, for he acquired a great deal of knowledge from the Prophet (peace be upon him)."' He said: "I met him, and asked him about things that he remembered about the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)." `Urwah said: "Among the things that he mentioned was that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah will not snatch knowledge away from the people. Rather He will take away the scholars, and knowledge will be taken away with them, and there will be left among the people ignorant leaders who will issue Fatawa to them without knowledge; they will go astray and lead others astray."' `Urwah said: "When I narrated that to `A'ishah, she could not believe it and found it strange. She said: 'Did he tell you that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say that?"'  `Urwa said: "Among the things that he mentioned was that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah will not snatch knowledge away from the people. Rather He will take away the scholars, and knowledge will be taken away with them, and there will be left among the people ignorant leaders who will issue Fatawa to them without knowledge; they will go astray and lead others astray.'" `Urwah said: Then I narrated that to `A'ishah, she could not believe it and found it strange. She said: 'Did he tell you that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say that?"' `Urwah said: "The following year, she said to me: 'Ibn `Amr has come; go and meet him and talk to him until you ask him about the Hadith that he told you concerning knowledge.'" He said: "So, I met him and asked him, and he told it to me as he had told me the first time." `Urwah said: "When I told her that, she said: 'I do not think but he has told the truth. I think that he has neither added anything nor taken anything way.'"

* Imam Ad-Darimy reported on the authority of Salim ibn Abu Al Ja`d who said: Abu Ad-Darda' said: Learn before knowledge is taken away, for taking away knowledge is by taking away scholars, and a scholar and a learner are equal in reward.

* Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal reported in his Musnad on the authority of Abu Umamah Al Bahily who said: When it was the day of the Farewell Hajj, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said when he was making Al Fadl ibn `Abbas riding behind him on a black camel. He said: O people, benefit from knowledge before it is taken away. Allah (Glory be to Him) had revealed: "O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if you ask about them while the Quran is being revealed, they will be made plain to you. Allah has forgiven that, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 101]. He (the narrator) said: We hated to ask him (the Prophet) frequently, so we avoided that when Allah revealed the previous Ayah. He (the narrator) said: We came to a bedouin and bribed him with a piece of cloth. He (the narrator) said: He wore it as a turban until I saw part of it coming out over his right eyebrow. He (the narrator) said: Then we said to him: Ask the Prophet (peace be upon him). He (the narrator) said: He said to him: O Messenger of Allah, how would knowledge be raised while we have the copies of the Qur'an with us which we studied and taught to our wives, offspring, and slaves? He (the narrator) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his head while his face has turned into red out of anger. He (the narrator) said: He (the Messenger) said: May your mother lose you! Look at the Jews and Christians who have their sacred books without being attached to any letter of what their Prophets brought. Verily, the loss of knowledge is by the loss of scholars (thrice)."

If the matter is as such, increase has become correlated by the presence of scholars and the advancement of the Muslim nation is conditioned by bringing up brilliant and knowledgeable scholars in different sciences. That what happened when the nation indulged into its cultural heedlessness which military colonization and economic and cultural organizations seized the entire world.

What we have mentioned of the texts of the Qur'an and the Sunnah indicate that remaining, development and prosperity and enjoying the favors of Allah, His Mercy and His Aid take place when scholars exist.

Therefore, mature nations considered bringing up scholars at the top of their priorities and paid great tender and investment to this issue.

So, bringing up the people of knowledge to protect the creation and religion requires a sacred duty from the Muslim nation, and its individuals are sinful in the sight of Allah if they become heedless or negligent.

There is no excuse for governments and educational institutions to ignore it or do not pay attention, but as Muslims, we are responsible for our children, surrounding, and our negligence in allocating part of our money and time to scholars and jurists. So, their existence is a comprehensive mercy to all of us to do this sacred duty.