Taliban's War Against Education

by Nauman Umair Khan | June 7, 2009 at 03:20 am

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Note: This article relates to the Swat-based Pakistani legion of renowned Taliban, also known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

After taking hostage and killing journalists and foreign nationals, after abducting and brutally slaying the members of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), after flogging women in public, and after bringing out Fatwas (religious opinions) against people and after-wards killing them on the basis of those Fatwas, the Taliban started waging war against education. Their main targets included female schooling and west-inspired pedagogy, and therefore boys' education perished too.

This move of Taliban together with their attacks on holy shrines and other heinous crimes (as stated above) received huge criticism from almost all segments of Pakistan. Following were the main questions raised by Pakistanis against the Taliban.

Main Question raised by Islamic Scholars

According to all the learned scholars of Islam, to put forward a Fatwa, which was the main weapon of Taliban on the basis of which they took so many lives, you need necessary education i.e. you must be professionally competent enough to bring out a Fatwa. They all raised worries on the professional competence of these so-called Maulanas, most of whom are totally illiterate as you will see in my report, and the way they misused Fatwas as you can't slaughter people on the basis of mere opinions.

Main Question posed by the Journalist Fraternity

Journalists remarked that most of the Taliban have themselves never gone to a school or a Madrasah i.e. most of them are uneducated both formally and religiously. They raised the question that is this the main reason of their hatred towards schooling.

Main Question posed by the Populace

Most of the people were seen ranting that what sort of Islam is the Taliban following?

Main Question that I pose

If demolishing schools and banning girls to pursue education is Islam then what's this:

The first thing that was ever revealed upon Prophet of Islam (Muhammad) asserts to seek knowledge.

"Recite: In the name of thy Lord who created man from a clot. Recite: And thy Lord is the Most Generous Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not." (Quran, 96:1-5)

Also, seeking knowledge has been held compulsory for both male and female in Islam.

"The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female."

Educational Background of the Taliban

To understand why Taliban were against education, it would be helpful to assume their own educational background first. According to the report prepared by EXPRESS NEWS, Taliban are a bunch of illiterate guys i.e. most of their members have no education at all either religious or formal. Here's what the report and my incremental research says:

Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the TTP, had no formal education or religious schooling at all.

Baitullah has no formal education or religious schooling but is a natural leader with keen political instincts.

Maulana Fazlullah, Commander-in-Chief of the TTP in Swat, holds formal education till Matriculation which is enough as regards his profession. But, when it comes to religious education, he left it in the fourth year before the completion of his degree which means that he isn't eligible to give out Fatwas as an Islamic scholar like the way he did (Potential Islamic Scholars must seek up to 8 years of professional education in a religious institute after Matriculation prior to becoming eligible to give out Fatwas as an Islamic Scholar). It is important to state here that Fazlullah is one of the miscreants who ran the renowned FM channel Radio Taliban in Swat, sending out terrorizing Fatwas to the populace.

Shah Duran, Second-in-Command of the TTP in Swat, is a complete illiterate, who never had education of any sort, religious or formal (That's why I didn't bother to put 'Maulana' before his name). And, he was the one who led in running the Radio Taliban, sending out terror waves every night as if he was an Islamic Scholar of a very high decree, nominating people who are under close-watch by the Taliban, ranting the success story of the day i.e. the number of innocents flogged, abducted or killed, calling Pakistan Army infidels and asserting on people to kill them.

“Da paka army na ganda army da, da kafiran di dwee na sirf sar na di prekawol pakar balkai da dwee tukri tukri kol pakar di,” (They are not the Pak army, they are infidels, not only behead them but also chop their bodies up into little pieces), this is what Zuleikha, 52, heard on Fazlullah FM, after the military operation was launched in Swat; it was Maulana Shah Duran, a close-aide of Maulana Fazlullah, who delivered the speech.

This illiterate bastard reminds me of this:

"Are those who have knowledge and those who have no knowledge alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful. " (Quran, 39:9)

Muslim Khan, the spokesman for the TTP in Swat, is somewhat more educated as compared to Fazlullah, but, when it comes to hatred for education, he's on the top.

According to the research, most of the other Taliban are complete illiterates like Shah Duran which seems to be the reason behind their hatred for education.

Their Philosophy

Their philosophy is somewhat inspired by the Wahhabi brand of Islam which, according to me, dictates to fight in the name of God without sound reasoning or looking at the consequences.

Their Targets

As I have stated earlier, their main targets were the female education and the west-inspired system of schooling. I don't know from where their brand of Islam emerged but I do know that the one that once emerged from Arabia has a high-place for education without the demarcation of sexes. Here's what 'Islam minus Wahhabism' has to say regarding education:

The following traditions of the Prophet supplement the foregoing teachings of the Qur'an in the following way:

Seek knowledge "even though it be in China."

"The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female."

"The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr."

"Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave."

"God has revealed to me, 'Whoever walks in the pursuit of knowledge I facilitate for him the way to heaven.'

"The best form of worship is the pursuit of knowledge."

"Scholars should endeavor to spread knowledge and provide education to people who have been deprived of it. For, where knowledge is hidden it disappears."

Some one asked the Prophet : "Who is the biggest scholar?" He replied: "He who is constantly trying to learn from others, for a scholar is ever hungry for more knowledge."

"Seek knowledge and wisdom, or whatever the vessel from which it flows, you will never be the loser."

"Contemplating deeply for one hour (with sincerity) is better than 70 years of (mechanical) worship."

"To listen to the words of the learned and to instill unto others the lessons of science is better than religious exercises."

"Acquire knowledge: it enables its possessor to distinguish right from the wrong, it lights the way to heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless - it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament among friends and an armor against enemies."

Attacks on Education

TTP's attacks on education ranged from merely stopping girls from going to school to burning down institutions in the name of God. They were of the view that girls should remain indoors and schooling isn't necessary for them. When they had subjugated the women completely in this regard, they took on a new topic. They started their war against the west-inspired schooling system. This time boys' schooling also perished. Also, they forcibly recruited young boys to their so-called noble cause during this turmoil amid growing concerns of an expected military operation.

Most Shocking...

According to the report, Muslim Khan, the worst critic of education among TTP, his children had attended high rank schools and universities. Strange! Isn't so?

Figures and Facts

According to the report:

-- In Swat, between May and December 2008, 171 schools were demolished by the Taliban of which 114 belonged to girls while 57 belonged to boys.

-- Girls' schooling was completely subjugated in the name of religion.

-- Boys' schooling also perished in the name of anti-west ideology.

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Paschen

at 04:26 on June 7th, 2009

Knowledge is freedom, Freedom does not seem to be what the Taliban seek.

israeli.agent

at 06:07 on June 7th, 2009

There are a couple of simple equations behind Tallies being so nervous about women education.

Educated woman = Educated children.
Educated children = No taliban followers
No taliban followers = Genocide ®

Nice Story, Nauman.

.Agent.

israeli.agent

at 10:54 on June 7th, 2009

Thanks for marking the territory.

It is easy to understand why headless chicken runs around and make marks all over the place. Since the terrorist organization KTTE guys support - and that supports them in turn - has become a part of history, they vent out their frustration whenever and wherever they get a chance. I am sure Nauman won't have any problem with that for once ..!

Wow..! State terrorism™ , detention camps™ and Dumeel ™.

What was the kind of education now fossil "Führer" was giving to the IDP™ children ?

Coming back to the orbit, there is one MAJOR difference between Tallies and Letties (LTTEs). Tallies are the future biofuel and Letties are already fossilized, consumed and added to global warming. Maybe Pak Army can get some friendly tips from SLA on how to get rid of civilian "rear-admirals" of Tallies those who try to pass off and save their rears hiding behind civilians when they really feel the heat.

.Agent.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 09:16 on June 7th, 2009

Yeah sure. You speak absolute truth as always Tamiya.

St. Velupillai of LTTE fame was the only human who gave all these children a wonderful education for twenty something years. The education was so advanced that they knew such advanced technology like the inner workings of an AK-47 by heart.

Unbelievably contrasting values by Tallies and the Saint LTTEs isn't it?

;-)

Hiranya Malwatta

at 09:25 on June 7th, 2009

Educated woman = Educated children.
Educated children = No taliban followers
No taliban followers = Genocide ®

Coooooool

Educated woman = Genocide ®

Good stuff as always Agent !

Nauman Umair Khan

at 23:03 on June 7th, 2009

"What an interesting and informative article"

Thanks!

"...what it really takes to be a Muslim capable of declaring a Fatwa!"

Err! It's... what it really takes in 'Tribal Areas' to be a Muslim capable of declaring a Fatwa...

Things required to be an Islamic Scholar of such a decree...

-- AK-47 or any other terrorizing instrument

-- A powerful FM transmitter to send out terror waves

-- A guide-book written by some Wahhabi scholar

And you can be an Islamic Scholar too... but yeah, that's just applicable for Tribal Areas...

Best of luck, :)

Rhonda J Mangus

at 05:12 on June 7th, 2009

Thanks for this, Nauman Umair.

Tamiya

at 06:37 on June 7th, 2009

Wow how much similar The Sri Lankan government and the Taliban sounds like.

The same assaults and killings of journalists.

The same denial of education to 80,000 Tamil IDP children. Restricting UNICEF to build temporary eduation centers for these kids and taking already running Tamils' schools to build the detention centeres, hence denying education to Tamil children living in the regions.

One is a "sovereign" state terrorism.

Other one is a identified terrorism.

The latter is easier to eliminate.

Nauman Umair Khan

at 07:44 on June 7th, 2009

Exactly!

Nauman Umair Khan

at 07:45 on June 7th, 2009

You're welcome, Rhonda.

Nauman Umair Khan

at 07:49 on June 7th, 2009

You're welcome. Yup! :)

Nauman Umair Khan

at 08:12 on June 7th, 2009

All 5 stars for your simple yet justified equations.

Thanks, Agent.

Roy C

at 17:03 on June 7th, 2009

What an interesting and informative article, this story on what it really takes to be a Muslim capable of declaring a Fatwa!

Thanks. Helps so much in completing the perspective on what we are up against in taking on the Taliban.

israeli.agent

at 18:19 on June 7th, 2009

That is very simple. We are really up against noise pollution of very high decibel levels. Terrorists make hell a lot of noise before going down.

.Agent.

Spydermonkey

at 05:55 on June 7th, 2009

Thank you for the quote from the Koran, I knew that what the taliban is spitting out is "religious junk". I'm happy to read verses from the koran that agree with what I belieave as the way to true enlightnment, knolage :)