Islam and Education

Table of Contents

In Islam, education is among the most important duties. The very first revelation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was:

📖Qur’an 96:1-5
“Recite in the name of your Lord who created, Created man from a clinging substance.
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous, Who taught by the pen, Taught man that which he knew not.”

This verse highlights that the first revelation emphasized reading, writing, and learning as essential for human growth and understanding. The pen symbolizes knowledge, education, and the ability to preserve and share information.

Islam begins with knowledge – but knowledge that benefits, uplifts, and protects faith.

📖Mishkat al-Masabih 3138
Abu Sa’id and Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who has a son born to him should give him a good name and a good education and marry him when he reaches puberty. If he does not marry him when he reaches puberty and He commits sin, its guilt rests only upon his father.

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 2547 Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari:
The Prophet ﷺ said, He who has a slave-girl and teaches her good manners and improves her education and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward; and any slave who observes Allah’s right and his master’s right will get a double reward.”

This hadith shows that even during the time when slavery existed, Islam emphasized the importance of educating and treating slaves kindly. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged teaching slave girls good manners and knowledge, then freeing them and treating them with dignity, including marriage. This reflects Islam’s goal to uplift and improve the condition of slaves, recognizing their full humanity, even within the social realities of that era.

The Qur’an and Hadith itself commands us to learn, to think, and to use reason. Islam allows learning all good things – whether from Islamic sources, current sciences, or even the scriptures of other religions – as long as they do not contradict or weaken our faith. The purpose of learning is to understand truth, strengthen morality, and serve humanity.

How Muslim Countries Adopted Modern Education

After World War II, many Muslim nations blindly adopted the Western schooling model. Schools and colleges multiplied. This was not necessarily bad if it truly benefited people and made them better – but over time, it became clear that this modern education system is deeply flawed, Instead of producing moral, faithful, and wise people, it produces workers for industry and consumers for markets. It is built to fit the needs of Western society, not Muslim societies.

Why Modern Education is Harmful for Muslims

Built on a false foundation
Modern schooling was designed during the colonial period to create obedient workers, not independent thinkers. It was never meant to build strong moral societies.
Overloads children with useless material
90% of children are forced into it by parents just because “other fools are doing it.” Parents compete over marks and degrees: “My child will be a doctor, my child will be an engineer.” Out of 100 children, only 2-3 succeed in those careers – the rest waste their youth memorizing irrelevant content.
Distracts from religion
By the age of 12-13, children in modern schools are often more interested in romance, gossip, and mobile entertainment than Qur’an and Sunnah. They may know formulas and theories but cannot explain basic Islamic principles.
Destroys community unity
In Islam, education is tied to the masjid, family, and community. Modern schools isolate children for hours every day, cutting them off from religious influence.
Plants foreign values
Secularism, nationalism, feminism, and liberal ideologies are often promoted in textbooks. Children start admiring lifestyles forbidden in Islam.
Produces moral corruption
Modern schools become breeding grounds for zina, immodesty, bullying, and even crime. Many cases of rape, harassment, and violence have roots in habits formed during school years.

Why This System is Worse for Girls

In Islam, a woman’s honour and protection are central. Modern education for girls in mixed environments often exposes them to:

Immodest dress codes and behaviour
Fashion competition and peer pressure encourage immodesty.
Interaction with non-mahram men
Free mixing in classrooms, group projects, and events becomes normalized, while, It is not necessary to study separately until they are 15 or 16 years old. Within that age, they will learn better if they study Islamic subjects and if the education system is properly reformed.
Loss of humility and family values
Girls are taught to measure worth by career success and wealth rather than piety and good character.
Un-Islamic value systems based on education level
Society starts valuing girls according to degrees and jobs instead of their faith, manners, and morality – creating a standard against Islamic principles.
Delayed marriage and moral danger
By the time many finish long education paths, they are in their late 20s, having faced years of exposure to fitnah.
Societal judgment on women’s worth by education and wealth
I have a daughter, you have daughters too – and during marriage proposals, people look at which girl is more educated, richer, or has a better career. These standards are un-Islamic and distort the true value Islam places on women.

The result: instead of becoming righteous wives and mothers who build strong homes, many are pushed into chasing careers at the expense of family, faith, and modesty.

The Islamic Alternative

Islam does not reject education – it demands it. But it demands beneficial knowledge. The Muslim world must replace this outdated colonial system with an Islamic model:

Qur’an and Hadith as the core
Every Muslim child should recite, understand, and live by the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah before graduating.
Science, math, and technology with Islamic ethics
Teach these subjects within a moral framework so they benefit humanity without harming faith.
Practical skills over useless theories
Computer programming, web development, agriculture, medicine – skills that help the community.
Separate education for boys and girls
Protect modesty and avoid free mixing, while, It is not necessary to study separately until they are 15 or 16 years old. Within that age, they will learn better if they study Islamic subjects and if the education system is properly reformed.
Shorter, focused learning
Avoid wasting 15-20 years in school. Cover essentials faster, leaving more time for marriage, family, and community service.

Worldwide Impact of Education Pressure on Mental Health and Death

1. Excessive Study Load Causes Mental Stress
Around the world, students face overwhelming academic demands — memorizing large volumes of information, preparing for high-stakes exams, and handling long hours of study. This leads to chronic stress, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness.

2. Lack of Mental Health Support in Schools
Many countries lack proper counseling and mental health services in educational institutions. Students struggling under pressure often suffer in silence, worsening their mental health.

3. Cultural and Parental Expectations
High parental and societal expectations for academic success increase fear of failure and self-worth issues in students globally.

4. Social Isolation and Burnout
Focus on studies with little time for relaxation, hobbies, or socialization results in burnout and depression.

5. Bullying and Competitive Environments
Competitive academic settings and bullying further worsen student mental health and can trigger suicidal thoughts.

Worldwide Statistics on Suicide and Mental Health Linked to Education

Global: WHO estimates over 700,000 people die by suicide each year. Among youth aged 15–29, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death. Academic pressure is a major contributor to mental health decline in this group.
India: Over 13,000 student suicides annually are linked directly to exam stress and educational pressures.
South Korea & Japan: High rates of youth suicide closely associated with intense academic competition, school bullying, and education-related stress.
United States: Suicide is a leading cause of death among teens; studies show academic stress as a significant factor.
China: Increasing student suicide rates are partly attributed to extreme educational competition and pressure.

Why This Happens

Heavy curriculum with excessive memorization
Unrealistic societal and parental expectations
Lack of emotional and psychological support
Overemphasis on grades and test results rather than understanding
Neglect of students’ emotional and physical well-being

Consequences

Increased depression and anxiety disorders among students worldwide
Rise in self-harm and suicide rates linked to education-related stress
Long-term mental health problems reducing quality of life and productivity

The statistic that “1 in 5 women experience sexual assault in college” is widely cited and originates from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This figure is based on data from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and is often referenced in discussions about campus sexual assault. You can find more detailed statistics and information on their official website: RAINN.

Additionally, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides comprehensive data on campus sexual violence. According to RAINN, among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. Among graduate and professional students, 9.7% of females and 2.5% of males experience similar assaults. These statistics underscore the prevalence of sexual violence in educational settings and highlight the importance of preventive measures and support systems. RAINN

Prevalence of Sexual Violence in Educational Settings In Pakistan

University-Level Incidents: A study published in ResearchGate analyzed sexual harassment and its psychological effects on students at the university level. The research identified factors contributing to the increasing rate of sexual harassment in educational institutions, including awareness, causes, and reporting mechanisms. ResearchGate
Child Sexual Abuse in Schools: A study in Rawalpindi and Islamabad found that 17% of a sample of 300 children reported experiencing sexual abuse. Wikipedia

Prevalence of Sexual Violence in Educational Institutions In India

Child Sexual Abuse Among College Students: A study conducted in South India found that 49.3% of college students reported experiences of child sexual abuse, with the majority of victims being girls under 12 years of age. PMC
Sexual Harassment Cases in Central Universities: Data from central universities between 2019 and 2023 indicate a significant number of sexual harassment cases reported by students, faculty, and non-faculty staff. Data.gov.in

Some selfish people benefit from the flawed modern education system and therefore do not care about the harm it causes others. They prioritize their own interests – such as wealth, status, or power – while ignoring the damage done to students and society. This includes moral corruption, loss of values, and serious crimes like harassment, violence, adultery, and even terrorism that can arise from frustration and neglect. When 80 – 90% of students fail to gain useful knowledge or skills, many feel hopeless and angry. This frustration can push some toward destructive behaviors – such as adultery, involvement in pornography, or even becoming rapists or terrorists – because they lose guidance, purpose, and a proper moral compass. The system’s failure creates a breeding ground for these social problems, By turning a blind eye, those who profit from this broken system are allowing suffering and crime to grow unchecked. Such neglect is a great injustice, as it harms individuals and the whole community. True leaders must prioritize the wellbeing of society over personal gain and work to build a system that nurtures productive, responsible, and ethical individuals.

Question for Leaders and Scholars

Are Muslim leaders and religious scholars influenced or affected by the devil to allow such a harmful education system to persist? It is hard to understand why they keep supporting a system that damages faith, corrupts morals, and harms families, Even if it is not possible to ban modern education altogether, it should at least be restricted to boys only. Girls, on the other hand, should study within an Islamic education system that includes Qur’an, Hadith, and beneficial subjects like science, math, computer programming, and technology – all taught within a strong Islamic ethical framework to protect their faith and character while preparing them for practical, halal careers, With this same system, girls can find good jobs, and society will not judge them by how much worldly education they have or which class they studied in. The focus must be on full Islamic knowledge and character only, It’s good for non-Muslims, yet what have millions of Indians gained by reading these books? It’s yet good for them and the West, not for Muslims. They cannot build an education system from religion, so it’s okay for them, but it must be replaced in Muslim countries. It’s not that education itself is bad, but there are too many fairytales, and kids forget useless books over time which are not required in Islam.

Additional Information

Islam is not against education, in fact, it commands us to seek knowledge. But if the education system doesn’t benefit us or our children, then why waste time, money, and effort? Why pay high salaries to teachers who just read from books without wisdom? Why build fancy schools and colleges if, after 80-90 years, we still end up with people who can’t think critically or benefit society? Islam wants useful knowledge – knowledge that improves life, builds character, and benefits the community. If the current system fails this, it’s better to reject the false promise and seriously rethink what kind of education we pursue, Don’t deceive yourself by blindly following a system that produces certificates but no real understanding or benefit. Islam calls for real knowledge and wisdom, not empty degrees.