When Islamic bookstores are like “Borders”!

Once a month I will pay a visit to Borders, and sometimes to Dymocks in the Rundle Mall, looking for popular books and bestsellers. I enjoy observing people reading or just browsing, some of them with children in tow. Many seem to make reading a family activity. Inculcating good reading habits from young is important, be it to increase one’s knowledge or just for the fun of it.

Reading is the source of knowledge. Allah swt stated in His first revelation: Read! In the name of thy Lord who createth; createth man from clot; Read; and thy Lord is the Most Bounteous; who teacheth by pen; teacheth man that which he knew not. (Surah Al-Alaq: 1-5).

Through His prophet, Mohammed s.a.w, Allah commanded us to read and study to seek knowledge in order for us to spread the message of Islam to mankind.

From the time of the prophet (610 AD) until the time when Islam was at its peak (before the attack by the Mongols in 1258 AD), Islam had brought the world civilisation out of darkness, and knowledge is the key to this.

It is true that paper was first invented in China but the Muslim merchants had brought paper to the world through the Silk Road in the eight century! The use of paper then spread to other parts of the world including North Africa and Europe. England then revolutionised
the use of paper in the 1450s by discovering printing and publishing methods. This could not have happened had not the Muslims introduced paper to the world!

Jonathan M. Bloom a professor in Islamic and Asian art, Boston College in his book “Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World” (Yale University
Press) made clear the advances of Muslims in using paper.

With the discovery of paper, writing and research by Muslim scholars in various fields of knowledge led to new discoveries and great inventions. Among the great Muslim
inventors and scholars are Jabir Al-Hayyan (Geology), Al-Khwarizmi (Mathematicians), Mohammad Ali Rostam (Clocks), Ibn Baytar (Gunpowder), Najmuddin Hassan
Al-Rahmah (rocket) and more others.

In conclusion, Islam teaches us the importance of knowledge. It has moulded the civilisation of the world. We thus have to educate ourselves and our children to continuously seek and love knowledge as the love for knowledge is the key to understanding Islam. With knowledge we can differentiate the good from bad, right from wrong and will be able to make wise and informed
decisions in order to live our lives in accordance to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of beloved Prophet Mohammed
s.a.w.

To quench the thirst for knowledge, especially Islamic knowledge, Muslims in Australia should strive for great Islamic bookstores with quality books, a huge range of selections, easy access and customer-friendly service, as can be found in Borders. How wonderful if we can recreate
Baytul Hikmah (833 AD, Baghdad) in Australia!

*Co-author is Wan Fauziah, an ex-architecture student from the University of Adelaide and mother- in-law to the author. Currently, is a Women’s wing of Selangor State and Educational & Human Development committee member, Malaysia Reformation Group (JIM).