The first word of the Quran to be revealed after
Bismillah to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was:
''Read''
Many verses of the Holy Quran also discuss the equality of men and women, such as Surah an-Nisa 4:1, which talks about how men and women are created from the same soul to mutually benefit each other instead of saying one was created for the other.
I know that many of you are just about ready to stop reading this post because you are not Muslim and do not believe in the Holy Quran. I implore you to keep reading, because I am not trying to impose my religious views on anyone, but, rather, I am trying to logically deduce a conclusion to clear up misunderstandings.
I could give many more examples from the Quran to back up my argument, but I think these will suffice. Islam promotes education very much; it is thought that the Prophet said for one to seek knowledge, even if he had to go to China. In the context of the 600s AD, going to China from Arabia was a huge endeavor. Furthermore, Islam treats men and women equally and there is no verse that says women are not allowed to obtain an education. Therefore, it can be concluded that Islam promotes education for women.
To the West, I have this to say. Do not blame a religion for acts committed by its followers. Such judgement can never be correct. Islam does not want women to remain uneducated. In fact, it values education as a fruit of enlightenment and understanding. In early Islamic history, there are various accounts of women obtaining an education. There are also many accounts of women leadership and activism, with the Prophet Muhammad's own wife, Aysha, as a prime example. Furthermore, recent examples of women leadership in Muslim countries, such as the late Ms. Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, further enforce the importance of the inclusion of women in various fields. Keep in mind: the USA, renowned for its freedom and equality, has yet to have a female president. So, think before you criticize.
To the East, I have this to say. Stop using Islam to support your unequal and backward thinking about women. Where does it say that women are supposed to remain uneducated? In fact, didn't Islam stop such treatment of women that occurred in Arabia in the pre-Islamic era? Uneducated mullahs need to stop enforcing a religion that they do not understand themselves. Please master your understanding on your beliefs before thinking you have any authority to tell others about your religion. Don't sour the reputation of Islam. Muslims are already misunderstood enough as it is. Help, don't hurt; prevent, don't cause.
Allah Hafiz [May God Keep You Under His Protection].
