The First Step to Knowledge
A famous saying is: "The first step to knowledge is respect." A person who does not know how to show respect has not yet set foot on the first step of knowledge. Education is the name of acquainting a person with the true stature of humanity.
The Role of Education in Building Society
Education teaches individuals how to live together, the etiquette of communication, and defines the boundaries of rights and duties for establishing a peaceful society. It is through education that a person is guided in every sphere of life, from personal character to culture, civilization, politics, and society.
The Three Pillars of Knowledge
There are countless branches of knowledge and arts, but fundamentally, they can be divided into three principal categories.
- Knowledge of the Self: This refers to understanding oneself and includes fields like medicine, philosophy, and psychology.
- Knowledge of the Universe: This encompasses all branches of science.
- History of Humankind: Understanding the collective past of humanity.
The importance of all three fields of knowledge is undeniable, but acquiring self-knowledge is particularly essential. It provides guidance about one's own being, shaping good character and high moral values in society.
Understanding True and Good Knowledge
True and good knowledge manifests itself in virtuous actions and always works for the betterment of humanity. Any knowledge that does not teach love and compassion for others cannot be called true knowledge.
The Test of Real Knowledge
Real knowledge is that which is acquired through the senses. To test whether the acquired knowledge is truthful, it must be put into practice. If the outcome matches its claims, then the knowledge is true; otherwise, it is false. In other words, the authenticity of knowledge can be tested through a programmatic test.
Education Reflects the Standard of Society
It is an established fact that only those actions aligned with the laws of nature produce correct results. For this reason, humans do not create truths or laws; instead, they discover the truths and laws already existing in the universe. This is why no external revolution is possible without an internal transformation.
The Importance of Universal Education
The character, mutual relations, businesses, and financial dealings of the people living in any region or country reflect the standard of their education. A person who prioritizes the needs of others over their own reaches the heights of knowledge. Education teaches humans the value of respecting humanity.
When it comes to education, two critical aspects are worth considering. By focusing on these, not only can many internal issues of various countries be resolved, but they can also yield positive results globally.
The Need for Equal Educational Standards
Equal Educational Standards
Every individual desires that their children receive a quality education and strives to make this dream a reality. We do so to ensure that our children can live peaceful lives. However, in developing countries, wealthy people often dominate the race for education, leaving the children of the poor to beg on the streets. Eventually, these uneducated children grow up to commit various crimes, destroying the peace of society. Even after providing higher education to our children, we cannot achieve peace, as societal harmony can only prevail when the entire community is educated.
Thus, it is our duty to educate the children wandering in our streets, neighborhoods, and localities. Providing education to everyone is the responsibility of both the state and society. If the state shows any negligence in this regard, society must step up to assist. Unfortunately, our current mindset prioritizes individual progress over fulfilling essential societal responsibilities.
The state and society are responsible for ensuring that educational opportunities are equal for men and women, rich and poor alike, to promote justice, honesty, and selfless service in the community.
Equal Education for All
The standard of education should also be equal for everyone. Disparities in educational quality create divisions among individuals educated under different systems, leading to a fragmented nation split into various groups. This divide becomes a source of racial discrimination and mutual animosity.
Compared to developed nations, developing countries face a greater number of challenges regarding education. However, the standard of education is determined not by a country's development but by its philosophy of life and national priorities. Consequently, even economically prosperous countries may have individuals with poor moral values.
Barriers to Education and Their Impact
When discussing barriers to education, resources and trends are worth mentioning. However, physical punishment inflicted by teachers is another significant factor that deprives many children of education. Teachers who lack the skills to educate effectively often resort to punishing children physically. This not only adversely impacts the child’s personality but also causes many to drop out of school out of fear, leaving them deprived of education.
There is no doubt that the value and dignity of human intellect is very high, but still the limitations of intellect cannot be denied. When intellect investigates cosmic matters, it does the right thing, but in human matters, every human intellect will only speak of its own benefit.
Intellect has no interest in anything other than the welfare of others.
The Limitations of Intellect Without Revelation
Just as the human eye has a limit to its vision and requires external support, i.e. a telescope, to see into distant space, in the same way, human intellect also has a limit beyond which it cannot go. But if intellect is seen in the light of revelation, then this same intellect works for the welfare of all mankind, moving away from personal welfare. And This is the true purpose and responsibility of human intellect.
The problems related to human life and their solutions can only be addressed through acquiring education. True education is granted to humanity through divine revelation. The Holy Quran, being the final and complete book of divine revelation, encompasses the laws of life and solutions to all issues within its teachings.
Our Responsibility Towards Future Generations
It is our duty to make our future generations aware of the necessity and importance of education. We must also play our part in removing the obstacles that hinder the path of acquiring education so that the establishment of peace in society can be ensured and the promotion of human dignity is upheld.