InternatIonaLLiteracy Day

2014

readin the name of your Lord and Cherisher, who created”

(The Quran:96:01)

IntroductIonKnowledge and literacy being a most important aspect of human life, Islamic Affairs & charitable Activities Department highlights the importance of knowledge and literacy to individuals, communities and societies on International Literacy Day, to promote education and literacy in the present world.

KnowLeDgea GIft from GodAmong the countless creations of Almighty god, human beings are the only creation whom the gift of knowledge is given. when god created Adam the first man, He provided him with knowledge and gave him the abilities to think, reflect, ponder and learn. Almighty god says in the Holy Quran: “He grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives indeed a benefit overflowing.” (02:269) prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed the scholars are heirs of the prophets, and the prophets do not leave an inheritance of Dirhams and Dinars but they left only knowledge. So he who acquires knowledge acquires a vast portion”(At-tirmidhi: 2682).

AcQuIrIngknowLedGe Is obLIGatoryAlmighty god has obligated on human beings to acquire knowledge and educate themselves and He has made the knowledge a source for them to recognize their creator and establish their lives according to His commands. Therefore, it is responsibility of every individual to spend his much time in acquiring knowledge to be a good servant of Almighty god and to be a good companion to his fellow human beings. Almighty god says in the Quran “Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful.”(39:09) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, God will make the path of the Paradise easy to him.” (At-Tirmidhi:2646)

goD senT ProPHeTsto teach peopLeone of the reasons for which god sent messengers and prophets is to teach and educate people as mentioned in the Holy Quran: “Even as We have sent among you an Apostle from among you who recites to you Our communications and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know.” (02:151) once Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saw two groups of people sitting inside the Masjid, one of them worshiping and the other ones learning, so he sat with those who were learning and said: “Indeed I have been sent as a teacher.” (Ibn Majah:229)

AcQuIre KnowLeDgefrom cradLe to GraveAcquiring knowledge has no age limit. everyone in his given age has to acquire knowledge. no one should ashamed of learning and no one should take retirement from it. History tells us that many of the prominent personalities have studied in their old age and brought light of knowledge to the world. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) even having the divine revelation, used to supplicate by saying “O God, benefit me with what you have taught me and teach me that which will benefit me and increase me in knowledge.”(At-Tirmidhi: 3599)

TeAcH oTHerswhat you knowTo establish the system of education, it is a responsibility of learnt people to teach what they have learnt. spreading knowledge earns rewards and hiding knowledge brings no benefits. one of the prophetic supplication says “Oh God! I seek your refuge from the knowledge which is not beneficial.” (Muslim:4899) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed God, His Angles and the inhabitants of heaven and the earth, even ants in their hills and fish in the water, pray for the person who teach others beneficial knowledge.”(At-Tirmidhi: 2685)

eDucATe your chILdrenProviding education to our children is our foremost responsibility. As we work day and night to provide food for our children, we should work hard in providing education to our children as well by sending them to proper schooling, assisting them in learning process and facilitating them to acquire higher education until they become the constructive citizens of the society. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The best gift that parents can provide to their children is education.”(At-Tirmidhi)

ProvIDefacILItIes ofeducatIon If you are well-off, provide facilities of education to others by sponsoring poor children to get proper education, by buying books to students who cannot afford, by building an institution or a school and consider all these acts as charitable activities for which you will be rewarded from god. The Holy Quran says: “Good is the reward for those who do good in this world.” (39:10) According to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) one of the three deeds which will help human being after his death is: “provided Knowledge that others may benefit from”. (Muslim: 3084)

AsK goD for knowLedGeAlmighty god is the source of knowledge and He is the provider of it. Being His creation and servants, we should therefore, seek help from Him and ask Him to make us among those who read, learn and educate themselves. our relationship with our creator helps us to know about Him, about His creations and about knowledge and information spread and hidden in this vast universe. god Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Read! And your Lord is Most Bountiful, He Who taught by the Pen, taught man that which he knew not. (96:3-5) in other verse, He ordered us to seek His guidance by saying: “O My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (20:113)

ToP 10 TIPsabout acquIrInG knowLedGe

remember that, if you

leave home in search of

knowledge, you are in

the path of god until you

return.

Buy books, present them

as gifts, visit libraries and

download selected books

available on the internet.

Try to get more and more

education and fulfill your

duty of giving highest

possible education to your

children.

The very first revelation of

the Holy Qur’an is about

the command to read.

You should, therefore,

understand the importance

of reading.

whatever be your age or job or position, by no means neglect reading and improving your knowledge and information.

study the books according to their subject matter. For instance, if you are studying the life and teaching of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), read books that make a factual and in-depth study of the subject.

give as much honour and esteem to your teachers and the scholars as you give to knowledge.

Avoid obscene and immoral books, surfing lewd websites and make sure that your children do not involve into it.

strive your utmost to

eradicate ignorance so

wide spread in the world

by promoting knowledge

through seminaries,

libraries, schools and

informed lectures.

Do not spoil your reward

with god by accumulating

knowledge for worldly

gains or for making a show

of it.

for more information e mail to: jkhateeb@iacad.gov.ae

Javeed Ahmed Khateebsenior Advisor

Islamic Affairs & charitable Activities Dept

reflect

ponderthink

Learn

teachshare

read

write

InternatIonaLLiteracy Day

2014