All the prophets (peace be upon them) have been great teachers and educators of their respective times. Allah had blessed them with such excellent and correct knowledge in which there was no possibility of error, and had prepared them under His special supervision and patronage for the education and upbringing of the nations; therefore, each of them was unique and unparalleled in the matter of education and upbringing.
And when the world passed the stages of childhood and youth and entered its stage of old age, which is the stage of stability, moderation and stability of something, Allah Almighty sent the great teacher and leader of the line of prophets, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him), to educate all nations and regions for the rest of the world.
Comprehensive Perfections of a Teacher and Educator
It is essential for a teacher and educator that his personality should be attractive to the people he is teaching and educating, and this attraction is mainly due to the teacher’s inner perfections; but if external virtues are also added to it, then the attraction becomes twofold. Since he (PBUH) was a teacher of humanity, he was sent to educate all human beings, young and old, rich and poor, ruler and condemned, unknown and insignificant and well-known, and the education and upbringing of everyone was entrusted to him; therefore, Allah Almighty made his personality such a comprehensive perfection that would be attractive to everyone. He was unique in inner perfections and unique in external virtues, and he was so unique that Allah Almighty made him the leader of the greatest teachers of humanity, the prophets, who were directly chosen by Allah.
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Basic Characteristic of a Teacher
The most basic characteristic of a teacher is that he should be perfect in knowledge. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was that despite being illiterate and illiterate, he was a master of knowledge. There has never been anyone among mankind who has attained such perfection in knowledge as he did. Allah, the Almighty, said:
وَاَنْزَلَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیْکَ الْکِتَابَ وَالْحِکْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَکَ مَا لَمْ تَکُنْ تَعْلَمُ وَکَانَ فَضْلُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْکَ عَظِیْمًا (النساء۱۱۳) .
“And Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom, and taught you that which you did not know, and Allah’s grace has been great upon you.” Many scholars have stated that he was given knowledge of the past and the future, and he was superior to all the prophets in knowledge and wisdom; rather, his knowledge was greater than the knowledge of all creatures. (Ma’arif al-Quran, an-Nisa’: 113)
Along with perfect knowledge, he had high relative nobility, no great man could be ashamed to learn from him, his personality was full of dignity and awe, those in front of him could not remain unaffected by his greatness, he was adorned with the pure nature of good manners and gentleness, people would get acquainted very quickly, he was eloquent and eloquent in such a way that the addressee would be captivated, he had great power over understanding, he could convey precise and profound subjects to the mind through similes and metaphors.
He was a man of high intelligence, a man of understanding, a bright mind, a clear conscience, a generous heart, a pure heart, a man of knowledge and action, handsome and charming, a man of charm and personality, distinguished by his manners, tact and high morals, and a man of sympathy and goodwill towards people, and a man of consideration for the position and rank of the person he was addressing, his understanding, intellect and age. He was keen on how to teach people the best possible good and train them according to the religion of Allah. These and many other virtues were there, due to which he was not only an exemplary teacher; but he became a model and ideal for teachers forever.
He was appointed by Allah Almighty to the noble position of a teacher and educator. In four places in the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has explained the objectives and duties of the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with slight advances and delays in the words. These objectives and duties are four according to the statement of the Quran; but if they were described more briefly, their summary would be summarized under the title of “education and training”. Allah Almighty says:
َقَدْ مَنَّ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ اِذْ بَعَثَ فِیْہِمْ رَسُوْلًا مِنْ اَنْفُسِہِمْ یَتْلُوْ عَلَیْہِمْ اٰیَاتِہِ وَیُزَکِّیْہِمْ وَیُعَلِّمُہُمُ الْکِتَابَ وَالْحِکْمَةَ وَاِنْ کَانُوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِیْ ضَلَالٍ مُبِیْنٍ
“Indeed, Allah has conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to the young men His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom, while before him mankind had certainly been in manifest error.”
This subject is mentioned twice in Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 129-151, and once in Surah Jumu’ah, verse 2.
In several hadiths, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has stated that he was a teacher. In Muslim Sharif, a saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has been narrated in which he addressed the Mother of the Believers, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
“Indeed, Allah has not sent me as a difficult person or as a stubborn person, but He has sent me as a teacher who makes things easy for people.” (Muslim 1478)
“Allah has not sent me as a person who makes things difficult for people, nor has He sent me as a person who makes things easy for people.”
There is a hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar bin As, may Allah be pleased with him, who says:
“The Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, came out of a room that day, and entered the mosque, then Huwabihalaqatin: One of them recites the Qur’an, and calls upon Allah, the Exalted, and the other learns and learns, he said. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: All is good, if they recite the Qur’an and call upon God, then He will grant them what He wills. And if He willed to forbid them, and those who know and learn, and if I sent a teacher, then he sat with them.” (Ibn Majah: 229)
“One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out of his room and went to the mosque When he arrived, he saw two groups in the mosque. In one group, people were reciting the Quran and praying, and in the other group, people were learning and teaching. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Everyone is in a good place. These people are reciting the Quran and praying to Allah. If Allah wills, He will grant them, and if He wills, He will withhold them. And these other people are learning and teaching, and I have been sent to you as a teacher.” Saying this, he sat in this circle of reciting.
Education and training through sermons, speeches, and sayings
While his exemplary personality was a source of education and training for everyone who saw and treated him, his language, the most important means of education and training, was also a source of education and training. He was born in the Arab tribe of Quraysh and was raised in the Banu Saad. Both these tribes were exemplary in their eloquence, linguistic fluency and eloquence.
Due to this natural disposition and natural ability, he was very distinguished among his contemporaries in language and speech. He taught people about religion and trained them through his eloquent sermons and effective speeches. In addition to the Friday sermon, he addressed the companions on various occasions, such as travel and stay, war and peace, normal and emergency situations, and other various and varied requirements, and gave necessary education according to the conditions and requirements of the time.
These sermons of his were a very important means of educating the companions and the nation. In addition to these, it was his habit to educate and train the companions through his sayings according to the occasion, while standing, sitting, walking, and talking to his friends.
Choosing an effective method for education and training
While teaching, advising, and training the companions, he would adopt the method that was most effective and heartwarming. Sometimes, while advising, he would resort to persuasion and encouragement. He would tell the rewards of good deeds so that the listener would be interested in them, and the punishments of bad deeds so that the listener would be afraid and refrain from them. Sometimes, he would give advice by telling the events and stories of ancient nations; because what is told through stories is both effective and memorable. Sometimes, before explaining a subject, he would establish a suitable introduction, then state the arguments.
So that the mind would be well prepared to understand the real issue. The common noble habit was that he would treat his students with kindness, but if anger and severity were needed for training, he would become angry and would reprimand them, which would shake the hearts of people and make them think of reforming themselves. Instead of saying shameful and shameful things clearly, he would say them in hints and innuendos. Sometimes he would say something briefly and then explain it in detail. On one occasion, he said:
“Consider five things as a benefit before five other things: youth before old age, health before illness, wealth before poverty, leisure before busyness, and life before death.” (Mustadrak al-Hakim 7846)
The benefit of detail after summary is that it becomes easier to remember and understand the matter. Similarly, sometimes he would mention something vaguely, which would arouse curiosity and anticipation in people, and a desire to know arose. Then he would clarify this vague statement, and people would truly enjoy what he said, and it would prove to be more effective in their lives.
Sometimes before saying something, he would hold the hand or shoulder of the person he was addressing, due to which he would be completely focused on you and listen intently. Then when you gave him any education or training, he would When he would say something, it would become a stone line on the tablet of the heart.
Posture to highlight the importance of the matter
Sometimes he would change his posture to highlight the importance of the matter, for example, while sitting comfortably, he would sit up straight to say repentance, while being in a normal manner, he would become more serious, sometimes he would repeat the matter repeatedly and say it with emphasis, in this way the addressee would feel the importance of the matter and listen to it with the same attention and attention with which he had the right to listen to it. Sometimes he would say something by swearing, the use of swearing is found frequently in the hadiths. While teaching something, he would sometimes use humor and good humor; but even in humor, he would speak the truth and the truth.
He would observe gradualness in teaching the rules and issues, teaching the basic things in religion first, moving from the most important to the least important. While teaching, he would take care that the people’s interest remains; therefore, he would observe moderation; Therefore, instead of delivering sermons daily, he would deliver them at intervals so that people would not become bored. In imparting education, he would consider the circumstances, status, tastes, and temperaments of the people; thus, he would teach them whatever he considered necessary.
The style of conversation and question and answer
Sometimes, while teaching, he used the style of conversation and question and answer. He once asked the companions: “Do you know who a Muslim is?” The companions replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: “A Muslim is the one from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” (Musnad Ahmad 15635 and Muslim 40) Such examples are abundant in the books of Hadith. Sometimes, while teaching, he would rationally explain and explain something, which would make the addressee understand the wisdom of the Shariah ruling and make him bow down before it. There is a story narrated in the books of Hadith:
“A young man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit adultery.” As soon as the people heard this, they started scolding him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called him close and asked him, “Would you accept it if someone wanted to do this bad thing to your mother?” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! My life is sacrificed for you, never.” No! And what about me? No one will like it, he said: If he wants to do it with your daughter? He said: O Messenger of Allah! May my life be sacrificed for you, never! And what about me? No one will like it, he said: If he wants to do it with your sister? The young man replied the same, then the Prophet mentioned his paternal aunt and maternal aunt? The young man replied the same. Thus, when the young man understood the matter, he placed his hand on him and restrained him, and after that the young man never turned his attention to such things.” (Musnad Ahmad 22211)
Instead of mentioning the prohibition of adultery and the warnings that came about it, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) explained to him the wisdom and rational reason for the prohibition of adultery, and he became completely satisfied with this ruling of Islam.
By giving examples
By giving examples, the matter is understood quickly and is well remembered. He used similes and metaphors frequently in his teachings, and he was able to easily memorize things. Similes and metaphors have been mentioned in many hadiths. Here, only one example is quoted. He said:
“The example of a good companion (companion) is like a musk seller. Even if you do not get any musk from the musk seller, you will definitely get its fragrance. The example of a bad companion is like a furnace owner. Even if you do not feel the soot of the furnace, the smoke will definitely reach you.” (Abu Dawud 4829).
Explain something by drawing lines
Sometimes he would explain something by drawing lines on the ground, sometimes he would use hand gestures along with his speech to make a point: He said in a hadith: “I and the one who looks after an orphan will be like this in Paradise.” He opened his index and middle fingers and kept a little distance between them. (Bukhari 4998) Sometimes someone would ask him something and he would teach him by answering his question. Sometimes he would say something without asking anyone, feeling the need. Sometimes a person would ask him a question and he would feel that answering that question would not be of any particular benefit to him. In such a case, instead of answering the question, he would say something in response that would be beneficial to him.
Apart from words and deeds, your silence also taught you; so if something happened in front of you and you just watched it and let it happen, without criticizing it, then this silence also taught you that this action was permissible in Sharia.
The Miracle of the Teacher of Humanity
It was the miracle of this teacher of humanity and the world educator that a nation that had been unfamiliar with knowledge and awareness for centuries, who considered reading and writing a cause of shame and humiliation and being illiterate a source of pride, had gone too far in stubbornness, harshness, rigidity, dryness of intellect and mind, barbarity, savagery, and blind imitation of their ancestors. Family pride, relative arrogance, and egotism had reached their peak. Right to destroy, plunder, war, and strife had become their passion. The birth of a girl child was considered such a cause of shame and humiliation that a man considered it safe to bury his newborn alive. The developed nations of the world never considered them worthy of attention because of this temperament and nature of theirs.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) started the work of preaching and reforming the land, which had been lying idle for a long time, by making it his field of labor. Then what happened? The stony-hearted people became completely hardened and adopted every weapon of enmity. They became estranged from their own people, their friends became hopeless, those who filled their hearts with love became enemies of their souls and thirsty for blood. He would walk through the streets of Mecca and among different tribes, raising the voice of truth; but this voice would prove to be a voice in the desert, and no one would listen to it.
But for how long? The patience and independence of the one who called out for truth did not lose heart. Finally, the flute of truth began to resonate in the ears. The sincerity and benevolence of the preacher softened the hearts of stone. Fountains of guidance gushed forth from the rocky crags of the desert. The pebbles of the desert became rubies and gems through the education and training of this teacher, and they shone in such a way that the eye of the universe had never seen such radiant gems in its lifetime. Every single person who emerged from the training ground of this teacher became a reformer and Imam of the nations. There is no teacher or educator in the history of the world who has brought about such a grand, comprehensive, scientific and reform revolution in a short period of just two decades.
SUMMARY
This revolution took place in his lifetime; but fourteen centuries have passed since his departure from this world; but neither has there been any change in the scholarly generosity of this teacher, nor has the importance of his training diminished. Even today, there are millions of people in the world who consider the attribution to this teacher as the most valuable asset of life, and the enjoyment of this world more precious. Even today, they consider the Quran brought by him and the gems of knowledge and wisdom he revealed as the greatest source of education and training and are gaining benefit from it.
This is the teacher whose method he has explained is the choice of the Creator of the universe and whose Shariah he has brought is the eternal standard of truth and honesty. Apart from this, every path is rejected, every path is false, and every guidance is misguidance and error.
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