35 : TEN ESSENTIALS FOR EDUCATION OF MUSLIM WOMEN
Islam
makes imperative for the women to gain necessary
knowledge. There is multitude of good reasons
behind their compliance with this obligation.
(i) Women can stay out of sins as well as attract
blessings by observing the 'fard' deeds.
(ii) They need to know vital rules helpful for
performing obligatory deeds in general such as
prayers, fasting, zakah etc.
(iii) They are also in dire need to for knowing
the rules specific to their gender. For example,
they need to know prayer exemption days allowed
for menstruation, rules of modest clothing etc.
(iv) Education has power to enrich their morality
and judgmental power.
(v) They need to have education necessary for
doing a job that could supplement family income
particularly when husband's income is not enough.
(vi) They should be educated in order to be in
readiness for doing a job when that becomes an
obligation such as in case of husband's death
or unemployment.
(vii) Women's education can be a deterrent to
potential abuses from husband. Educated wife will
appear to her husband more like an asset than
liability and will therefore be more loveable
by him. Besides, education will make them less
vulnerable as the husband will foresee his wife
standing on her feet by means of a job in case
of divorce or mistreatment.
(viii) An educated mother can be the best primary
teacher for her children.
(ix) Education qualifies women to fill up much-needed
positions like child educator, nurse, female or
children's doctor etc.
(x) Education can give the talented women necessary
skills to contribute to creative or innovative
pursuits.