The Islamic University- Gaza Deanery of Higher Education Faculty of ...

Chapter IStudy Statement and BackgroundThis chapter provides a preliminary introduction to the research problem. It introduces thepotential need for conducting this study. In addition, it presents the questions of the study, thestatement of problem, the purpose, the significance, the limitations and the definitions of theterms used within this study.1.1 IntroductionRead in the name of Allah who created. Createdman from a clot. Read and Allah is the MostHonorable, Who taught to write with the pen.Taught man what he knew not" (The Holy Quran,Al-Alaq, 96; 1-5)With these highly adored Quranic words, Muhammed, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH), washonored to be the last prophet. Reciting these verses of the Holy Quran, for the first time, heturned from an illiterate who never attended schools to the greatest leader of the magnificentIslamic civilization. This is the essence of Islam, a religion which liberates mankind fromtheir first enemy, ignorance, a religion which celebrates knowledge and considers it a sacredduty upon both men and women. The Holy Qur‟an confirms that, “Allah elevates to highpositions those from amongst you who are faithful and those who have acquired knowledge”.(Al-Mujadilah, 58:11). Also, Almighty Allah questions humans, "Are those equal, those whoknow and those who do not know?" (Al-Zumr: 9), "Allah grants wisdom to whom He pleasesand to whom wisdom is granted indeed he receives an overflowing benefit." (Al-Baqarah:269). Furthermore, our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) tells Muslims that seeking knowledge isan obligation for believing men and women even if that means traveling far away. Moreover,the Prophet says: "Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make apath to Paradise easy for him." (Al-Bukhaari, p.54).2