Education is important for both men and women. Islam also gives importance to education. Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.” — Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2646. Today I will discuss the power of education for as the voice of women all around the world as the voice power of Asian women as the power of Muslim women. Hence the undeniable truth is that as women, have some disadvantage.
So as male citizens or government we need to think about how can we change this? How can we shatter these perceptions so when our daughters grow up, they are truly given equal opportunities and are treated with the equal respect and dignity that they deserve? Well, the more educated you are, the more keys you hold to open the doors of opportunity that would otherwise remain locked or closed. We have to work extra hard to take those higher positions, and our education needs to create such a solid foundation Education is the most powerful tool.
Education enhances our personality. It gives knowledge to us. for us that no one can ever tell us we are reaching too high. young girls feel they have to make a choice between what kind of girl they want to be – the Malala or the Kylie Jenner. This ideology of women being either pretty or intelligent is not anything new. It is crucial that we do not discourage our girls from being able to love and embrace their femininity and also be feminists. The two are not mutually exclusive – it does not have to be a choice. Getting an education will empower these girls to disregard anyone who demeans or devalues them.
As a woman, being educated means that my voice becomes amplified a little bit stronger. We will undoubtedly meet people in our lives who will say we can’t and will say we shouldn’t. They are wrong. Where would we have been if we didn’t have Rosa Parks, Mary Wallstuncraft, these inspirational women who fought prejudice to pursue their passions? By getting a good education, we can control our own destiny, as education takes us out of the traditional bracket of being a mother, wife, and caregiver, and opens up a world of possibilities that weren’t there before. Asian women know there are many social and cultural expectations that we face as Asian women that discourage us from becoming too educated or too independent. In many households, we are brought up knowing that our ultimate goal in life is to get married, and these ideologies put less importance on the education of our women.
So many girls, despite being bright, talented, and full of potential, grow up searching for a rich, successful husband who can support and provide for them. But why don’t we teach our girls how to look after themselves? What happens if they don’t find that husband, if that husband leaves or if that husband needs support? A lack of education and therefore financial independence. This is the reason why so many Asian women are forced to stay in abusive marriages because they have no way out, no way to support themselves. With education comes freedom and liberation it is one less way that you can be controlled. It’s totally depended on a girl what she wants to be a housewife, but that’s exactly what it should be a choice.
Education gives women that choice. Being a woman of color means it’s a double battle to prove yourself more than another, but an education ensures that you break down the wall and create a more even society, where we consider people not from a racial perspective but the perspective of what they have to offer. Our qualifications can speak against any prejudice and dispel any myths associated with our race and they speak louder than we ever could. Your education represents you and says you’re hard-working, you’re intelligent, you’re ambitious.
Your education drowns out that voice of ignorance and silences all the critics who said it wasn’t possible. It is unfortunate that we are living in a world where Muslim women are under more scrutiny than ever before. We have become stigmatized as women who are not permitted to have opinions or a voice. But where did this even come from? In the early days of Islam, the prophet’s wife, Hazrat Khadija, was his social superior she was his boss. A wealthy tradeswoman, the richest woman in Mecca at the time, she employed several males to manage her large business, including her husband. She was the perfect example of what Muslim women were encouraged to be educated, hugely successful, and highly independent.
Hazrat Aisha the youngest wife of the prophet was a scholar who exerted influence over men and women and provided them with inspiration and leadership. She can be seen as the hallmark of female education in Islam. as Muslim women, we should strive to continue this legacy and rewrite the narrative that is currently being written for us. Our religion does not encourage us to be weak and passive but instead urges us to be knowledgeable and powerful. Without an education, we will not be able to challenge and defend ourselves against the stereotypes and pitfalls that we encounter on a daily basis.
Education is the greatest form of modern-day alchemy, transforming the lives of ordinary women from all walks of life into something quite extraordinary. Education simultaneously improves the quality of life both of individuals and the wider society. A liberal education frees people from the prison of their class, race, time, place, background, family, and even their nation. In turn, a lack of education leads to ignorance, divisive views, and lack of social cohesion. It leads to racism, misogyny, and other forms of prejudice.