Time is moving on like the speed of light. It seems just like yesterday we were celebrating academic excellence and achievements with graduations, whilst looking forward to the summer holidays; bringing with it all the possibilities of summer – sea, fun, holidays abroad, Cup Match and so much more.

And just like that, in a blink of an eye it’s over! Time to buckle down now and get back to the grind; life is a balance and the scales are always tipping.

We are now embarking and embracing the new school year. Time to get serious, hit those books, teach those students and move onward and upward. To this end, we extend our best wishes to students, teachers, parents and the village for a successful and rewarding academic year.

My Granny Stubbs always lamented to me that school days are the best days and I’ve come to realise that this is certainly true! Indeed my granny was always right.

Learning and gaining knowledge is such a wonderful and fulfilling endeavour. Didn’t Dr Seuss say, “The more that you read, the more things you’ll know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Knowledge opens up many doors of opportunity. Why is knowledge pivotal? For starters, knowledge brings about awareness and awareness brings about understanding. Understanding brings about humility and humanity. So gaining knowledge is the key to all of mankind’s ills!

The first command from Allah that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received at the commencement of his prophet hood, delivered by the angel Jibril (Gabriel) was “Iqra!” meaning read!

This first command proceeds to then mention the pen (qalam) and education or learning (ilm). This is evidenced in Surah 96: “Read: In the name of Allah Who created, created man from a clot. Read: And Allah is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught man that he knew not.”

So from the very beginning of Islam, education and learning has been at the forefront; paramount to a decent and dignified existence.

Throughout time, Muslims have been encouraged to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. This means that throughout one’s lifetime knowledge should be sought. One is never to old to seek knowledge and learn.

Religious knowledge, ultimately coupled with secular knowledge, is the goal to attain. One serves us in this life and the other serves us for the hereafter.

The Islamic period was a time when the Muslim world became a leading centre of learning especially in science, philosophy and medicine.

The acquisition of knowledge is liberating, however the passing on of one’s knowledge to others is mandatory. We are to use knowledge to benefit not only ourselves but others for the sake of empowering humanity.

“My Lord, grant me wisdom, join me with the righteous; give me a good name among later generations; make me one of those given the Garden of Bliss.” (Koran 26: 83-85)

The Koran (20:114) reads: “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”

Bermuda, let’s support our students in whatever way we can to ensure their success.

Let us continue to demand permanent and immediate ceasefire wherever wars are raging.

Remember, we rise by helping others.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam