Communities and Nations built on intellectual capital find a leadership position without asking for it. However, we need to define education first before embarking on this mission. In contemporary terminology, a highly qualified couple with both having doctorates in medicine can be labeled as 'educated' by all means. However, in a chilling incident in the North Indian state of Haryana, a doctor couple recently slaughtered their own younger son. They did this to make their elder son intelligent enough to qualify for a prestigious pre-medical exam called Central Pre-Medical Test! Why? Because their spiritual guru advised that the reason for their elder son's persistent failure to qualify is that his younger brother is too intelligent and this in turn is adversely affecting the intelligence of his older sibling.

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah Be upon Him) always begged Allah for granting him 'beneficial knowledge'. He never wanted to gain knowledge which included even a tiny element of harm. Why? The answer lies in the above incident. Being qualified doctors, these parents were highly knowledgeable. But they lacked the values that would benefit their own family. Incidents like the above are not rare in today's highly superstitious society. They are in fact becoming the order of the day. Our best and brightest youth are committing suicide, getting drug addicted, sinking in alcohol or resorting to violence etc just because they received only ‘knowledge’ but not necessarily ‘beneficial knowledge’!

Knowledge turns deplorable and despising if it is the cause of bloodshed in the family, society and the nation at large instead of becoming the foundation of progress and prosperity. We at EPS provide 'beneficial knowledge' to our students that will help them lead a balanced ethical life and will ensure success in The Life After, insha’Allah.