Islamic Perspectives

1.The themes of Literacy and Islam are intertwined together, since Islam pays a huge emphasis on being able to understand what a person is being taught. The first revealed word that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was ever revealed was "iqra'", or the imperative "read!".

2.It is possible that Muhammad (SAW) knowing he himself was illiterate, understood the sheer importance of being able to read, write and attain knowledge. He had mentioned once, "pursue knowledge till you reach China" (where one would assume you'd have to learn Chinese).

3.It is possible that because if this, he did not take learning new things and being able to understand things for granted.

4. Perhaps, considering English's role as a modern lingua franca, we shouldn't take that for granted either.

5. Most importantly, we were essentially created to get along, and invariably language is seen as the divider and uniting force behind people. Perhaps learning the languages of others can give us insight into how they think, and help us understand them at a human level. But Allah S.W.T says it best: "O MANKIND, WE CREATED YOU FROM A SINGLE (PAIR) OF A MALE AND A FEMALE, AND MADE YOU INTO NATIONS AND TRIBES, THAT YE MAY KNOW EACH OTHER NOT THAT YE MAY DESPISE EACH OTHER. VERILY THE MOST HONOURED OF YOU IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS (HE WHO IS) THE MOST RIGHTEOUS OF YOU. AND GOD HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE AND IS WELL ACQUAINTED (WITH ALL THINGS)".(Holy Quran 49:13)