Hyderabad, Aug. 12 -- The importance of education can never be overstated. But in no other religion is it stressed as profoundly as in Islam. The very first revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) begins with a command to read -Iqra. In fact the first five verses of Surah Al-'Alaq place reading, writing, and acquiring knowledge at the very foundation of human development and the Islamic way of life:

Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq. Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq. Iqra wa rab bukal akram. Al lazee 'allama bil qalam. 'Al lamal insaana ma lam y'alam(96: 1-5).

Translation:Recite in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clot of congealed blood. Recite, and your Lord is the Most Generous - Who taught...