Educating girls vital for advancement of humanity
EDUCATION and training of girls is vital to the advancement of nations. Without the qualities, talents and skills of both women and men, full socio-economic development of the planet is impossible.
Despite visible improvements in the last few decades to ensure equal education and other rights for the girls, various forms of discrimination against them still persist. According to 2015 UNICEF statistics, 58 million children of primary school age and 63 million adolescents continue to be denied their right to education and majority of these are girls.
Education of girls is not only a human right. It is also in the best interests of society. In one of its statements, the Bahá’í International Community asserts, “Creating empowering environments at home and in society is essential to giving girls the knowledge and tools they need to contribute fully to the advancement of civilisation”.
It is the Bahá’í view that education should be provided to every child, and equally to boys and girls. The capacity of a girl is the same as a boy and she can achieve similar results as a boy if she is educated and exposed to the same opportunities. According to the Bahá’í Scriptures, “... men and women are equal in the sight of God … there is no distinction to be made between them. The only difference between them now is due to lack of education and training. If a woman is given equal opportunity of education, distinction and estimate of inferiority will disappear”.
The advancement of civilisation now requires the full participation of everyone, including women. For this to happen, girls, as well as boys, must be valued by their families and by society and given equal opportunities in all fields of human endeavour.
The Universal House of Justice, the governing council of the Bahá’í international community states, “The cause of universal education … deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens. … The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving first priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society. In keeping with the requirements of the times, consideration should also be given to teaching the concept of world citizenship as part of the standard education of every child”.
Not only must girl-children receive adequate food, health care, and education, they must also be given every opportunity to develop their capacities. Girls will not only render service to humanity as mothers and first educators of the next generation, but, as women, they will make special contributions to the creation of a just world order. Mothers can be the primary agents for empowering individuals to transform society. They can instill in their children the self-esteem and respect for others, essential for the advancement of humanity.
Our challenge today is how to create the conditions in which girls can develop to their full potential. The creation of such conditions will involve not only deliberate attempts to change in various structures of society, but, equally important in the transformation of individuals - men and women, boys and girls.
From the Bahá’í perspective, the essence of any program of social change is the understanding that the individual has a spiritual or moral dimension. This shapes their understanding of their life’s purpose, their responsibilities towards the family, the community and the world. The development of individuals’ moral and spiritual capabilities, as well as changes in their social structures, are necessary for eliminating discrimination against girls.
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or fteckie@ yahoo.com Website: www.bahai.org THE more one ponders over the apparent and hidden favours from The Almighty upon him, the more he will realise that his Lord has granted him abundant blessings and protected him from a number of evils; this will certainly remove anxiety and bring contentment.
Thus, one must take heed of the advice of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) when he said, “Look to those who are lower than you (i.e., those who possess less than you) and do not look to those higher than you; this will make you appreciate the bounties of Allah upon you.”
Such people get the support and assistance of Allah Almighty which makes fear vanish, as Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’aan, “Be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.” [Ch 8 : v 46]
The virtuous and the sinful; the believer and the disbeliever are the same when it comes to conditioning oneself to becoming brave, which is the natural ability to calm oneself during moments of terror.
However, due to the believer’s strong faith, perseverance and reliance on Allah The Almighty, he emerges stronger than others in difficult situations and this reduces his fear and anxiety.
However, the one who is devoid of strong faith will be the opposite; he becomes anxious, nervous, confused and full of fear; indeed his anxiety and paranoia team up against him. If this type of person does not possess the worldly means to tackle his fear and affliction, then he will collapse because he does not possess the faith which would enable him to persevere during tough times.
Another example of this is when certain frightening or disturbing events occur, such as emergencies or accidents.
One finds that a person with sound faith is calm, steadfast, and able to cope with the situation and handle the hardship he is going through; such a person has conditioned himself to receiving such afflictions and this makes his heart stronger and more steadfast, which gives him tranquillity.
These examples show the great difference between a person who has strong belief and acts accordingly, and another who is not at this level of faith. Due to the strong belief of the true believer and his contentment with whatever Allah Almighty has decreed, if he is afflicted with sickness, poverty or any other affliction, he is tranquil and content and has no desire for anything which has not been decreed for him. Instead, he looks at those less fortunate than him rather than those who are more fortunate and by doing so he is consoled and becomes happier, even more than one who is discontent despite possessing all the riches of this world.
Many people receive affliction with fear, discontent, sorrow and despair; their life becomes miserable, they panic and become short tempered. Such people fail to think about the reward that they should be hoping for, nor do they exercise patience that would bring about contentment and thus make life easier for them.
There can be several reasons for this state of mind - amongst them is the fear of losing the things one desires and cherishes or the greed to acquire more of the same, because man will never reach a point where he is fully satisfied by the material things in life.
Different people can have completely different reactions when something good or bad befalls them, and their reactions depend on the strength of their belief and the extent of their righteous actions.
One person may receive goodness with gratitude and evil with perseverance, which brings him peace of mind and happiness, causing his grief, anxiety and misery to disappear. Thus, this becomes a cause of positivity in his life.
The second person receives goodness with arrogance and transgression; his manners degenerate and become evil; he receives this goodness and utilises it in an unthinking manner; it does not give him any peace of mind and his mind is always restless and agitated.
On the other hand when faced with loss and difficulty, due to his arrogant nature, he begins to damn and curse others and thinks that they are plotting his downfall.
The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said, “How wonderful is the matter of the believer! All of his matters are good and this is the case for nobody except a believer.
If he is blessed with prosperity he thanks (Allah Almighty) and that is good for him; and if he is afflicted with adversity he is patient and perseveres and that is also good for him.” For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact: Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars Publications Department P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003
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