Girls’ schooling and the ‘Quran’
Chris Henderson (“Talking with the Taliban,” February 19) is wrong to imply that girls are not being educated in Afghanistan under the Taliban because of “Koranic edict”. The Quran (preferred spelling for our holy book) makes no distinction between men and women in recommending the pursuit of education and acquisition of knowledge.
However, for centuries, some verses have been misrepresented by patriarchal and literal interpretation, by men seeking to promote cultural male supremacy. As always, the distinction needs to be made between culture and religion.
Furthermore, inadequate translation of Arabic words and phrases does not help. The Quran uses the word “insaan”, which means either a man or a woman, whereas most translations into English render it as “man”. Similarly, the phrase “olul albaab” includes men and women, but most translations say “men of understanding”.
Throughout Islamic history, many Muslim women were involved in the founding of educational institutions. Most notable was Fatima al-Fihri, who established Al Qarawiyyin in Morocco in 859 CE. It remains, according to Unesco and others, the world’s oldest extant university.
“Acquisition of knowledge is binding on all Muslims, male and female,” the prophet Muhammad said. So, to claim that the Quran has put girls and women in Afghanistan in their current position is untrue.
Wherever females are educated, it has been shown that they and the entire society benefit. Mazlinah binte Haji Mohamad Noor and David Blocksidge ( Wellington)
The feature on Afghanistan asked: “Where is the world?” Over recent decades, it was in Afghanistan, and in the end, the Taliban are firmly back in place. This despite the death, injury and enormous financial toll paid by “the world”.
No one reading Charlotte Bellis’ article could fail to be moved. However, I am disappointed the Listener chose to publish a report from an entitled woman who used (and was used by) the Taliban for propaganda purposes to serve her particular cause. That our Government swiftly and cravenly caved in to a self-serving “celebrity” to prevent “embarrassment” brings shame to it. Carol Brown (Aro Valley)