Dear Islamic brothers! In the light of the blessed life history of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , the qualities of a capable teacher were described in the previous issue (Rajab-ul-Murajjab 1440 AH). Now an excellent way of making people understand in the light of blessed life history of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has been given. Read and reap blessings.
Verbal explanation and practical demonstration
By nature, man not only listens to the one who advises and guides him but he also does see his deeds. A good quality of a good teacher is that he educates his students both by his sayings and by his practices. If he wants to set his students to a new work or to give them a new target to aim for, he should make them understand it by means of a practical demonstration so that they learn it quickly and correctly. The sayings of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ are the proofs of this method of education. It has been narrated that once a blessed companion came to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and asked about the timings of Salah, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ led the Salah the next two days in such a way that he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ led every Salah at its beginning time on the first day and he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ led Salah at its ending time on the second day. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ then asked, ‘Where is the person who asked [me] about the timings of Salah?’ When the person came, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘The time of your Salah is between these two timings’ [i.e. the beginning and ending timing of each Salah]. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 243, Hadees 1391)
Merciful Nabi’s manner of making people
understand
A good way of giving explanations plays a vital role in making the students understand a point. This is quite an art which promotes education. On the contrary, explaining something to the students in an improper way brings about harmful effects. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would adopt many ways to make people understand his points; for example, talking clearly and repeating it when necessary. Whenever the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ talked, he would do it clearly and distinctly and would repeat any point two or three times showing its importance or for the purpose of making others understand it.
It is narrated that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would speak slowly that the person beside him would memorise what he said. In another narration, it is narrated that Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would repeat a word three times so that it would be understood [by people]. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 366, Hadees 3659, 3660)
About blessed Madinah, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: ‘ھِیَ طَابَّة، ھِیَ طَابَّة’. (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 6, pp. 409, Hadees 18544)
Making people understand through examples
The Holy Quran and blessed Ahadees show that anything explained with the help of examples is quickly understood and is imprinted on mind for a longer period of time. Human nature also acknowledges it.
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would also make blessed companions رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُم understand different things with the help of examples. Sayyiduna Abu Zar Ghifari رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ narrated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ came out during the winter while leaves were falling from trees. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ held a branch of a tree and shook it, causing the leaves to fall. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ then said, ‘O Abu Zar.’ I humbly said, ‘O Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ! Here I am.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Indeed, when any Muslim performs Salah for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, his sins fall [i.e. are forgiven] as these leaves are falling from this tree.’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 8, pp. 133, Hadees 21612)
Sayyiduna Jabir Bin ‘Abdullah رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ narrated a Hadees: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ passed by a dead baby goat one of whose ears was smaller. Lifting it by holding its ear, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Who would like to buy it for a dirham?’ People humbly said, ‘We do not want to get it in exchange for anything; what would we do with it?’ [The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ] said, ‘If it is given to you, then would you like that?’ They reverently said, ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! If it were alive, there would still be a defect in it [as it is now], because one of its ears is small. Now it is dead, so why will anyone take it?’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! As this dead baby goat has no value in your eye, the world is more contemptible than even this, in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 1210, Hadees 7418)
Asking questions for making others understand
Explaining certain points by asking a question is also beneficial. If the importance of something is to be highlighted or something significant needs to be explained or any student asks a question; then, in response, a teacher may ask the students such a question whose answer they know and that should also be relevant to the point being explained. Describing an example of the forgiveness of sins by means of Salah, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said to the blessed companions رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُم , ‘If there is a stream at the door of a person [and] he takes a bath five times in it daily, will there be any dirt left on his body?’ The blessed companions رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُم humbly said, ‘No dirt will be left on his body.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘The same example is for five Salahs. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgives sins through them.’ (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 196, Hadees 528)
Similarly,
for the purpose of making people realize the honour and dignity of Mu`min, the Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی
عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ once asked a question,
‘Example of a Mu`min is like the tree whose leaves do
not fall; tell [me] which is that tree?’ Attendees started telling the names of
different trees [but no one gave the correct answer]. Sayyiduna
‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُما was very intelligent. He knew that it was a date palm tree but
he felt shy of telling it (out of respect). Eventually, the attendees requested
the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ
وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ to tell them about
it. Upon this, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ
وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘That is the date
palm tree.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp.
1157, Hadees 7098)
Making people understand with the gesture of hand
Sometimes,
the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ
وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would make people
understand something with the gesture of his hand. While mentioning the rank of
the person who brings up orphan children, the Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی
عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘I and the one
who provides for an orphan will be like this in Jannah.’ Then he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ
وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ made a gesture with his
two fingers, the index finger and the middle one [showing closeness]. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 497, Hadees 5304)
Making people understand with the
help of lines and sketches, etc.
Every sensible person is aware that it is very useful to make anyone understand anything through a sketch, etc. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would also make blessed companions رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُم understand different things by drawing sketches, etc., so that they would keep them in mind.
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has said: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ drew a square. In the center of it, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ drew a line that went beyond it [the square]. [Then], he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ drew few small lines from the edge of the square to the center line. The he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘This is a human being, and this is his death surrounding him, and this line [going beyond the square] is his desire; and these small lines are calamities and troubles; so If a person stays safe from this trouble, that trouble bites him and if he stays safe from that one, the other one bites him.’ (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 224, Hadees 6417)
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ narrated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ drew a line for us, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ then said, ‘This is Allah’s path.’ Thereafter he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ drew lines at right and left sides of it, and then said, ‘These are the paths Satan is calling towards.’ (Musnad Abi Dawood Tiyalsi, pp. 33, Hadees 244)
Making Du’a for students
Another virtue of the teacher who is sincere and devoted to ‘knowledge and his students’ is that he keeps making Du’a in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for the success of his students. In the blessed life-history of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , there are many beautiful parables related to it. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُما said: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ (embraced) me and said, ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Bless him with the knowledge of the book i.e., Quran.’ (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 44 Hadees 75)
Dear Islamic brothers! Besides the above-mentioned examples and Ahadees, there are many Madani pearls for a teacher in the blessed life-history of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . The Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would show great gentleness and affection while teaching and preaching. This is the reason why his words had pleasant effects on others. After gaining knowledge from the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , people would feel happiness when they acted upon what they learnt. It is necessary for a successful teacher to follow these methods. He should have an excellent character along with various virtues so that his personality brings about a revolution in the lives of students. He should treat his students gently and affectionately, refraining from swearing at them, from using inappropriate words and from beating them. Instead, he should make them understand the topic with a kind and soft attitude. If a teacher makes fun of students due to unnecessary objections on their part or he becomes irritated by serious objections raised by them, then this attitude is totally against the blessed life-history of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . Moreover, making money should not be the real purpose of a teacher; he should be a well-wisher of the students and should aim for their bright future instead of showing selfish attitude.
May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant us the ability to follow the blessed life-history of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ !
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
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