Islamic Studies · Lesson 10

Knowledge in Islam, centres of learning and Muslim scholars

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 20 Contributions of Islam to education: aims and importance of knowledge (Q.96:1-5, 39:9); centres (Bayt al-Hikmah, al-Azhar, Nizamiyyah, Sankore, al-Qarawiyyin); scholars (Ibn Sina, ar-Razi, al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Khaldun, Ibn Battuta, al-Maghili, Ahmad Baba, Dan Fodio, Bello)

WAEC: Islamic education and scholars

NECO: Islamic education and scholars

What you will learn

Explain the importance of knowledge in Islam using the Qur’an and authentic hadith.
Distinguish authentic hadith on knowledge from weak or unfounded sayings.
State the aims and features of Islamic education.
Describe the traditional and modern systems of Islamic education in Nigeria.
Describe the major centres of Islamic learning.
Discuss the lives and contributions of major Muslim scholars, including West African scholars.
Evaluate the contributions of Islam to education and civilisation.

Key points

Knowledge: Q.96:1–5, 39:9, 20:114, 58:11, 35:28.
Authentic: Bukhari 5027, Muslim 2699; Ibn Majah 224 (first sentence only); weak: Tirmidhi 2687; no chain: “cradle to the grave”.
Aims: worship, character, understanding, service, intellect, heritage, Hereafter.
Nigeria: allo, ilmi, ijazah, almajiri reform, Islamiyya, integrated schools.
Bayt al-Hikmah: Baghdad, al-Ma’mun, translation, al-Khwarizmi, 1258.
Al-Azhar 970/972 (Fatimids); al-Qarawiyyin c. 859; Nizamiyyah 1067; Sankore.
Ar-Razi and Ibn Sina: medicine.
Al-Ghazali (Ihya’, Tahafut) and Ibn Rushd (Tahafut at-Tahafut, Bidayah).
Ibn Khaldun (Muqaddimah, ‘asabiyyah); Ibn Battuta (Rihlah).
Al-Maghili, Ahmad Baba, Dan Fodio, ‘Abdullahi, Bello, Nana Asma’u.

Start here: The place of knowledge (‘ilm) in Islam

Islam began with a command to read. The first revelation in the Cave of Hira (ir1) was:

Suratul-‘Alaq (Q.96:1–5)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ﴿1﴾

Iqra’ bi-smi rabbika lladhī khalaq (1)
“Recite in the name of your Lord who created -”

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ﴿2﴾

Khalaqa l-insāna min ‘alaq (2)
“Created man from a clinging substance.”

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ﴿3﴾

Iqra’ wa-rabbuka l-akram (3)
“Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -”

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ﴿4﴾

Alladhī ‘allama bi-l-qalam (4)
“Who taught by the pen -”

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿5﴾

‘Allama l-insāna mā lam ya‘lam (5)
“Taught man that which he knew not.”

Arabic: Tanzil Uthmani text. English: Saheeh International. Transliteration: simplified Cara's Tips scheme; learn pronunciation from a teacher.

These verses link reading with the name of Allah, call Him “the Most Generous”, and mention the pen as His gift by which humans learn what they did not know. Other verses raise the rank of the learned:

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.” (Q.39:9)
“So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur’an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."” (Q.20:114)
“O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (Q.58:11)
“And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.” (Q.35:28)

Lessons: knowledge is worship when sought for Allah; the learned and the ignorant are not equal; Muslims should keep asking Allah for more knowledge; true knowledge produces khashyah (reverent fear) of Allah, not pride. In Islam there is no wall between “religious” and “useful” knowledge: medicine, agriculture, mathematics and engineering that benefit people are praised, and scholars classify some of them as fard kifayah (a communal obligation that the community must provide).

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Practice questions

1. The first verses revealed, Q.96:1–5, show the importance of

reading and knowledge
fasting
trade
warfare

Show answer

A: reading and knowledge
“Read… who taught by the pen.”

2. “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it” is in

Sunan Ibn Majah 224
Tirmidhi 2687
the Muwatta’
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027

Show answer

D: Sahih al-Bukhari 5027
Graded sahih.

3. “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave” is

in Sahih Muslim
in the Qur’an
not a hadith (no known chain)
in Sahih al-Bukhari

Show answer

C: not a hadith (no known chain)
Cara's Tips flags it as a common misattribution.

4. Bayt al-Hikmah (the House of Wisdom) was in

Timbuktu
Baghdad
Cairo
Cordoba

Show answer

B: Baghdad
Under Harun ar-Rashid and al-Ma’mun.

5. Al-Azhar in Cairo was begun in

970
1065
1258
859

Show answer

A: 970
Opened 972.

Key words

‘Ilm: Knowledge.
‘Alim / ‘ulama’: Scholar / scholars.
Tarbiyah: Upbringing; education of the whole person.
Ta’dib: Teaching good manners and discipline.
Fard kifayah: Communal obligation.
Allo: Wooden writing slate.
Hafiz: One who has memorised the whole Qur’an.
Ijazah: Licence from a teacher to transmit a book.
Almajiri: Pupil who travels to study (from al-muhajir).
Madrasah: College or school.
Waqf: Charitable endowment.
Bayt al-Hikmah: House of Wisdom, Baghdad.

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