Originally published in Statesman
Unfortunately, many extremists claiming to act in the name of Islam believe that Islam disallows the education of women. This is in direct contradiction with the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, which valued the education of daughters so much that he stated: “If a daughter is born to a person and he brings her up, giving her good education and training in various arts of life, I shall myself stand between him and hellfire.” Today, groups like Boko Haram tarnish the image of Islam by forbidding women’s education and consequently kidnapping girls in Nigeria. But Boko Haram does not represent Islam just as the Lord’s Resistance Army does not represent Christianity.
