Focus on education, Muslims advised

Malawi President Joyce Banda on Saturday challenged Muslim women in the country to fight for their educational rights as taught by Prophet Muhammad.

Banda was speaking in Malawi’s northern city of Mzuzu during the women’s Ijitimah, a three-day annual congregation where Muslims discuss matters concerning their faith.

“To a Muslim, education is a must [Faradhi] and not optional or Sunna. This is what the Prophet Muhammad was first commanded when he was at the Cave of Hiva in Mecca. He was commanded by the Angel Jibril-Gabriel to read Iqraa,” she said.

The President recalled that Muslim women have been at the forefront in acquiring and imparting knowledge, citing Prophet Muhammad’s wife Aisha.

“Learn Qur’an, Hadith, the citations of Prophet and Islam so that you can know how to make, select and get deeper understanding of Islam. Remember, you are not a Muslim if you are not educated. The Prophet said ‘learn from the cradle to the grave’,” said the President.

Banda said she is not a stranger to Islam as her great grandparents were Muslims.

“Personally, I have been spearheading the development of Islam in my district as well as other areas by constructing mosques. I have so far built 14 mosques. I have also been helping orphans and giving Zakat in the month of Ramadan,” she said.

Men held their Ijitimah prayers in Blantyre a week ago.