Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
7. The Importance of Education in Islam
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In another hadith the Prophet of Islam observed, those who
learn virtues and teach it to others are the best among humankind
(Al-Bayhaqi).
Not more than 150 people all over Arabia knew how to read
and write. They made the maximum use of their ability to
memorise, preserving all their literary heritage in their memory.
There is no trace of any systematic or organised activity of learning
or teaching in the society. But soon after the revelation of the
Quran, the trend of receiving education set in, and everyone who
accepted Islam learnt the Quran from the Prophet, and after
learning it himself taught to other converts. In this way the homes
of the early Muslims—Abu Bakr Siddiq, Al-Arqam bin Al-Arqam,
Fatimah bint Khattab—turned into centres of learning. Moreover,
from the very outset, the Prophet appointed scribes who were
assigned to write down the Quranic portions as soon as they were
revealed. This motivated others as well to learn writing so that they
might make their own copies of the holy textbook. It is to be noted
that even under life-threatening circumstances, when the Prophet
had had the first and second pledge at Al-Aqabah, three years
before the migration, he appointed twelve people who were most
learned amongst them as teachers of the Quran. These teachers
were so sincere and enthusiastic that within a short period of three
years they spread the knowledge of the Quran to almost each and
every home of the tribes of Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj. Hence when
the Prophet arrived at Madinah in the 13th year of his
Prophethood, he found all the young and old people of these tribes
well versed in the teachings of the Quran.
