Teachers Qualities and Responsibilities
The ancient Muslim educationists referred to a number of qualities
andresponsibilitiesthattheteachersshouldapplyontheirteachinglife.
Thesequalitiesmayparticipatein makingtheteachersthenoble exem-
plarsandachievingtheprosperityofeducationandteachingforcreating
ageneration ofequanimityandgoodmanners. Thefollowingisan ex-
position of these qualities:
- Teachers should offer their disciplinary activities for God’s sake.
Theiractsmust aim atreforming theMuslim younggenerations.They
shouldavoidthinkingof richesorpositions.Deviationistheinevitable
fateofanyteacherthatintendstogaingoodlivelihoodorhighpositions
throughhismissions.SufianbinUyeinasays,“Ihadbeengiftedtheun-
derstandingoftheQuran,butwhenIreceivedthoserichesfromAbuJa-
far I lost the understanding totally.” - Teachersshouldbe of extraordinary faith in Godthe Exalted, and
shouldperformtheritualsforshowingtheIslamicnormsanddestroying
theseditious.TheyshouldalsoacquirenobletraitssothatGodwillcast
understandingin their minds.IbnMasud said, “Knowledge is not the
abundance of narration. It is an illumination that God casts in minds.” - Teachersshouldavoidhumble professions,suchascupping ortan-
ning, during the rest hours. - Teachers should clean their bodies and
practice the other ablutionary activities such as clipping the nails and
avoiding malodors. - Teachers should economize in their clothing, food, and lodging.
Ashafii said, “I have not been saturated for sixteen years.” - Teachersshouldkeepthemselvesawayfromtherulingauthoritiesas
muchaspossible.Al-Awzaiisaid,“NothingismorehatefultoGodthan
the scholars’ visiting the viziers.” - TeachersshouldcopythevirtuousandpiousmenamongtheProph-
et’s companions and their followers. - Teachers should be concerned with the serviceable knowledges and
avoid the useless and disputable. - Teachersshouldbeconcernedwiththeknowledgesthattaketotheaf-
fairsoftheHereafter.Shaqiqal-Belkhiaskedhisstudent,Hatemal-Asem
about the questions he had learned. “How long have you been with
me?”askedthe teacher.“Theyhavebeenthirtythreeyears,”answered
thestudent.“Whathaveyoulearnedalltheseyears?”askedtheteacher.
“I have learnt eight questions,” replied the student. The teacher