expressedhissorrowandsaid,“Ihavefinishedmyyearswithyou,but
youhavelearnteightthingsonly!”“Thatisit,”expressedthestudent,“I
donot wantto lie.”“Well,” saidthe teacher, “Letmehear.”“Theyare
thefondnessofthegooddeeds,shovingthecapricesaway,decencyand
god-fearing, befriending the right,antagonizing the devil, adhering to
obedience,leavingthehumiliationofseekingearningstopeople,andde-
pendingonGod,”counted thestudent.Theteacherexpressedhisgreat
admirationandesteemandsaid,“OHatem!Godmayprosperyou.AsI
lookedintheTorah,theBible,thePsalms,andtheQuran,Ifoundthese
eight questions be the pivot of these Books.”
- Teachersshouldnotengage themselvesinpositions higherthantheir
abilitiesuntiltheyaccomplishtheirprofessionandgrantthecertificateof
masterteachers.As-Shiblisays,“Hewhoeverhasthefrontbeforeattain-
ing suitability is meeting his shame.” - Teachersshoulddisciplinethepupilswiththeiraccountsanddeedsin
addition to words and admonition. - Teachersshouldlove theirpupilsandguardthemagainstharm.Abu
Abbassaid,“Themostrespectful-forme-ismystudentwholeavesall
peopletocometome.IprotecthimtothedegreethatIexertmyefforts
for preventing even the flies from reaching him.” - Teachers should pardon and acquit the pupils who make mistakes.
Theyshoulduseintimationinattractingtheirattentionstotheirfaults.If
they do not conceive, teachers then may state the fault openly. Then
comes the reproach. The Prophet (s) said, “Teach without chiding.
Teachersarepreferable tothe scolders.”Healsosaid,“Useleniencyto
those whom you teach and those who learn you.” - Teachersshouldwelcome the attendant pupilsandaskabout the ab-
sent. - Teachersshouldnotanswer questionsthey ignore.They mayconfess
theydonotknow.IbnMasudsaid,“Opeople!He,whoever isfamiliar
withsomething,shouldsayit,otherwiseheshouldsay:Allahisthemost
knowledgeable. This saying is a part of knowledge.” - Teachershouldrealizethelevelsofthepupilsandoffertothemaccord-
ingtotheirunderstandings.Theyshouldintimatetothesmart,elucidate
for others, and repeat for the unintelligent. - Teachersshouldrefertotheunchangingrulesandtheexceptionsofthe
materials theyteach. They shouldalsourge themonworkingand ask
themtorepeat themattersthey hadtomemorize,andchidethe negli-
gentandpraisethegoodretainers.Theyshouldalsoaskthemfortesting
their understandings and order them of moderation especially when