According to Rahyafte (the missionaries and converts website):Back in December 2022, the de-facto Taliban government in Kabul announced an indefinite ban on university education for women in Afghanistan.
The measure came months after the Taliban also shut down middle and high school for Afghan girls, restricted women from most employment, and even banned them from public parks and gyms, amid other controversial decisions that were met with global condemnation.
These measures are adopted as the Taliban had promised a moderate rule after re-taking power in August 2021.
The latest measure on college ban though was slammed by Muslim nations across the world as they are well aware of the importance that Islam attaches to seeking knowledge.
Islam’s view on attaining knowledge
Seeking knowledge has been at the core of Islam from the beginning as the first revealed verse to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is proof: “Read (Prophet Muhammad) in the Name of your Lord who created, created the human from a (blood) clot. Read! Your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen, taught the human what he did not know.” (Surah Al-Alaq, verses 1-5)
There are numerous other verses that stress the role of knowledge, such as verse 9 of Surah Az-Zumar which tries to encourage Muslims to learn more. “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
The Quran also says those seeking knowledge will have elevated positions: “Allah will raise up in ranks those who believed among you and those who have been given knowledge.” (Surah Al-Mujadila, verse 11)
One of the key demands of the Quran from believers is to think deeply about different aspects of creation. For sure, the knowledge that individuals learn in their lifetime is the necessary tool for this deep thinking.
Meanwhile, there are also numerous hadiths from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as well as Ahl al-Bayt (SA) on the topic. In a famous hadith, the holy Prophet says “Searching for knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim male and Muslim female.”
This promotion of knowledge in early Islam was what led to the rise of great thinkers in the coming years of Islamic civilization.
Back to Afghanistan
Despite their claims, the de-facto rulers in Kabul are moving against the tenets of the religion by banning girls and women from schools and universities.
Other than growing dissatisfaction inside the country, such measures will also undermine the Taliban’s efforts to be recognized by the international community.
The views expressed in this piece are auther’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of IQNA.
By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas
iqna
