issue 8 june

As access to information, data and knowledge becomes easier our ability to learn has alsoincreased. Alexander Khaleeli reflects on the impact that true knowledge should have on thosewho have acquired it‘Seek knowledge, even unto China’said the Prophet Muhammad (s)Living at a time when educationis so ubiquitous, it is all tooeasy to forget the significanceof these words, uttered somany centuries ago. In the developedworld, we take for granted the fact thatchildren go to school, that books areprinted by the thousands and, withenough time and effort, someone canlearn almost anything they desire.And now, thanks to websites suchas Wikipedia and YouTube, it hasnever been so easy to learn abouteverything from astrophysics torefrigerator repair without evenneeding to leave the comfortof our own homes, letalone go to China. Withthe power of moderntechnology to bringthe world to us, wemight be forgivenfor thinking thata new age hasdawned. Inthe past,aspiring12 13