The word ‘مَعۡرُوۡف’ in this sacred Ḥadīš is explained by the famous commentator, Ḥakīm-ul-Ummat, Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الْـمَنَّان: ‘مَعۡرُوۡف’ refers to any act which is not prohibited by Sharī’aĥ and ‘مَعۡصِيَت’ (sin) is anything prohibited by Sharī’aĥ.

(Mirāt-ul-Manājīḥ vol. 5, pp. 340)

A child’s first school is its mother’s lap

Question: What is the primary source of Islamic knowledge for Islamic sisters?

Answer: The acquisition of necessary knowledge is Farḍ for      every single Muslim man and woman. A blessed Ḥadīš states,    ‘طَلَبُ الۡعِلۡمِ فَرِيۡضَةٌ عَلٰي كُلِّ مُسۡلِمٍ’ Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim. (Sunan Ibn Mājaĥ, vol. 1, pp. 146, Ḥadīš 224)

So it is vital to make efforts to pursue knowledge. Children can also acquire knowledge through parents. A child’s first school is its ‘mother’s lap’. It is mandatory for parents to give their children proper Islamic education. Here are two blessed sayings of Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم about this:

1.          Teach your children three things: (1) Your Prophet’s love.      (2) The love of his family (رِضۡوَانُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَـالٰی عَـلَـیۡھِمۡ اَجۡـمَـعِیۡن). (3) Recitation of the Holy Quran. (Al-Jāmi’-uṣ-Ṣaghīr lis-Suyūṭī, pp. 25, Ḥadīš 311)

Treat your children well and teach them the manners of life. (Sunan Ibn Mājaĥ, vol. 4, pp. 189, Ḥadīš 3671)

Woman should gain knowledge from her husband

Question: How should a married woman acquire knowledge?