"READ - إقرأ"
Main Article Content
Abstract
“Read” has a significant meaning and implications in Islam not only because it is the first word mentioned in the holy Qur’an but because of its message of spreading knowledge and urging people to deepen their understanding of God. This call amplifies the importance of education and more specifically learning the script as well as the world. “Read” also has meaning in educational and psychological theories of learning, which emphasize not only the importance to learn, and grow and, in many cases, to transform people’s lives, but also to reflect upon our lives and the world around us. Freire and Macedo’s (1987) famous saying that “reading the word and the world” as a goal of education for the oppressed and marginalized is a testimony to its importance for social and economic mobility. It speaks to a consciousness of our place in the world and how we conceive of ourselves in relation to all others. In today’s environment, this is a reminder to all educators to advocate for a deeper and more transformative education, that is, to invite young people to think and awaken themselves to the worlds of others. Freire’s dictum seems especially pertinent at a time when fewer people are reading. And when asked, many prefer online quick readings where information is summed up in headlines, Twitter feeds, and brief summaries—signaling a skimming over ideas and a focus on soundbites, rather than substantive understanding or engagement. In Muslim societies, this scenario is exacerbated in some countries where literacy rates are the lowest and the number of books read is minimal.