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The Manifestations of God are likewise in agreement
with the view that education exerteth the strongest possible
influence on humankind. They affirm, however, that differences
in the level of intelligence are innate; and this fact
is obvious, and not worth debating. For we see that children
of the same age, the same country, the same race, indeed of
the same family, and trained by the same individual, still are
different as to the degree of their comprehension and
intelligence. One will make rapid progress, one will receive
instruction only gradually, one will remain at the lowest
stage of all. For no matter how much you may polish a
shell, it will not turn into a gleaming pearl, nor can you
change a dull pebble into a gem whose pure rays will light
the world. Never, through training and cultivation, will
the colocynth and the bitter tree
[cf. Qur'án 37:60 (The Tree of Zaqqúm)]
change into the Tree of
Blessedness.
[cf. Qur'án 24:35]
That is to say, education cannot alter the inner
essence of a man, but it doth exert tremendous influence,
and with this power it can bring forth from the individual
whatever perfections and capacities are deposited within
him. A grain of wheat, when cultivated by the farmer, will
yield a whole harvest, and a seed, through the gardener's
care, will grow into a great tree. Thanks to a teacher's
loving efforts, the children of the primary school may reach
the highest levels of achievement; indeed, his benefactions
may lift some child of small account to an exalted throne.
Thus is it clearly demonstrated that by their essential
nature, minds vary as to their capacity, while education
also playeth a great role and exerteth a powerful effect on
their development.
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