Selam aleykum we rahmetallahu,
I'm gonna address some points and then maybe slowly but steadily leave this thread, inshaAllah.
format_quote Originally Posted by
Amatul Wadud
It depends on what you deem most important huh, status when it comes to Ilm of the Deen or worldly status amongst peers and the like. I dislike it when the desgree becomes a title, a means of boasting and nothing more. Humans can be so much more than a piece of paper at graduation.
I never claimed status is the most important. Status is made out of many things in today's sociaty, money, your degree, where you live, what you do, what you wear, where you go, what you eat... etc.
Humans are so much more, no question about that. I honestly doubt the brothers or sisters who put "degree" as an important factor, think about it just as an boost or show off. The degree shows so much more, as you can see what I described in my post, or what BintAmjad said or what Abu Sayyad said.
I'm going to be playing devils advocate in all my replies so dont mind me :p
You're gonna play me? :D How sweet. ;)
I think too much importance is placed on the actual title, 'degree'. What if a sister exerted all her efforts in learning the Arabic language, took regular classes at the local community centre...went to the weekly circles at the masjid, yet didnt come out with an official recognised academic degree, wouldnt you say she had a direction, an aim....motivation?
yet no degree...
Definitely yes. I have no idea what kind of situations you have encountered, but that definitely screams motivation and what she has chosen in this life. But you have to understand and really accept, what an offical academic degree can do for you, in this country, in this world.
What you just described gives you a status aswell, I'm saying this just so you'll see status is not always that assumed ego-boost issue but something we all have through our lives. I'm a student, that's a status aswell, like any other kid here in my city. But somewhere in the poor areas of Africa, my simple student status gets a higher worth, 'cause being a student there shows intellect and power, etc. Doing all the things you described will show a strong status, probably not on the academic side, but in the notice of the Muslims in the area.
I mean a sister might have ilm of the deen to the highest level and might be intellectual and intelligent enough to refute even the most hardcore of nonmuslims yet be without a degree. How does that hold up?
Of course that's important, actually, it can be so very important, especially if a man seeks a woman who can always support their children's Islamic knowledge. Although she might not have such an official academic degree, doesn't mean she can't read or write.
It is just simply something our sociaty demands. The intellectuals of all times used to study lots of things at the same time. 'Cause true intelligence is broad and wide, it is not simply concentrated on one thing, of course you might have specialities, but it won't get you far to just have them, 'cause people's common knowledge constantly improves, so you have to imrove yours just aswell, to stay updated. ('Cause knowledge is constantly updated.)
If one chooses to become a housewife and taking care of the kids, which is one of the most demanding works out there, she'd be so much better off having knowledge in lots of things, for at the end of the day, one does want to have a child whose knowledge is high. For high knowledge just makes you see the world more differently, it makes you appreciate and know and learn more and discover more.
An example I must give, so that people understand, that piece of paper you've worked for half of your life, needs an addition to it: People constantly get high degrees here in Finland, so nowadays I've seen, the practical is highlighted even more than before, 'cause we end up with a bunch of degrees and no or very low practical experienced people.
A balance is needed, you know, balance is the key, to almost anything in life.
Bi'idhnillah I could help you.