Boko Haram - the danger of knowledge based segregation

Segregation is separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to differences in faith, lifestyles, cultural practices and may also include knowledge based segregation. Knowledge based segregation has been around from the beginning of civilization.

When it comes to Islamic standards, some parents willingly separate themselves and their children from what students are learning in school. Assuredly some would argue that the secular knowledge brought by the non Muslim were not part of the teachings of Islam.

Others would argue that a pious Muslim should dedicate themselves to the teachings of Islam only. Nonetheless, many old and new arguments have unfortunately continued to circulate at the grassroots which are commonly used to discourage or prohibit lay Muslims from accepting the conventional education.

In Nigeria for example, the word ‘boko’ in Hausa language is popularly used to refer to the secular educational system. By adding the Arabic word 'haram' onto the word 'boko', it literally means 'boko haram' or 'secular education is islamically prohibited'.

Boko Haram is an Islamic extremist group based in northeastern Nigeria. Since the current insurgency started in 2009, it has killed 20,000 people and displaced 2.3 million from their homes and was ranked as the world's deadliest terror group by the Global Terrorism Index in 2015.

Boko Haram successfully resisted the intrusion of secular culture and education for a long time, thus limiting the locals from learning and understanding global knowledge. This has led to educational backwardness of Northern Nigerians, particularly the Muslims.

In an era where conventional education is indispensable for individual and communal development, this extremist group rejected and prohibited it. This has also attributed to a potential cause for extremist behaviours, where those that have adopted conventional and secular education are seen as nonconformist or heretics.

In reality, knowledge based segregation is never a part of Islamic teaching. Knowledge ('ilm) occupies a significant position within Islam, and Allah SWT is the source of all knowledge and communication skills and all praises should be credited to Him and Him alone.

The Quran clearly says; He “created man and taught him speech (to communicate with)” (Qur’an 55:3-4); “who taught by the pen, and taught mankind what he knew not” (Qur’an 96:4-5); and “To every community we have sent down laws and ways” (Qur’an 5:48).

Thus, all knowledge is part of the accumulated human heritage from previous civilizations and cultures such as Greek, Indian, Roman, Islamic and no one can take credit or claim ownership of it all; as every invention is built on earlier knowledge received from others and ultimately from Allah SWT.

Learning is the essence to life, otherwise we are doomed to repeat all of our past mistakes. As long as we are learning, we will be able to proceed in our life in new levels. However, the minute that we choose not to learn, then we'll have to live with the consequences of our decisions. Those who refuse to learn are literally choosing not to better or improve themselves, they chose to fail in life...

It was narrated that Anas bin Mâlik ra said: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said “Seeking knowledge is a duty (wajib) upon every Muslim (Sunan Ibn e Majah, hadith no 224, classified as sahih by al-Albani)

In another narration by Abu Hurairah ra said: “The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise." (Sunan Ibn Majah, hadith no 225, classified as sahih by al-Albani)

If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.


Wallahu'alam

footnote:
ref: Responses to 35 Common Religious Arguments against Conventional “Western” Education by Syeikh Nurudeen Lemu.