ABSTRACT
I. Education in the early history of Islām.—The value set upon education in Islām is indicated by certain ḥadīth sayings which, though they may nave no claim to rank as authentic, yet undoubtedly reflect the educational ideals of Islām in its early days, and may be taken as representing the prevailing views of the first generations. Thus it is handed down as a saying of the Prophet himself, that’ A father can confer upon his child no more valuable gift than a good education’; and, again, ‘It is better that a man should secure an education for his child than that he bestow a ṣā’ in charity.’ * The boon thus commended extends also to slaves. It is regarded as a work of specially meritorious character ‘to educate a slave-girl well, then set her free, and give her to a husband.’ 1
