Good Deed: #106 Teach
51:55 (Y. Ali) But teach (thy Message) for teaching benefits the Believers.
The Prophet(SAW) said: “Whoever teaches someone even one verse of the Quran, then that teacher becomes a master over that student.” (Tabrani)
Narrated ‘Uthman(RA) The Prophet said, “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”(bukhari 6:61:545)
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allâh ‘s Messenger(SAW) said, “Learn the obligatory acts and the Qur’ân and teach them to the people, for I am a mortal.” (Tirmidhi 244)
Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (RA) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (SAW) said to me, “Acquire the knowledge and impart it to the people. Acquire the knowledge of Fara’id (laws of inheritance) and teach it to the people. Learn the Qur’ân and teach it to the people; for I am a person who has to depart this world. And the knowledge will be taken away and turmoil will appear to such an extent that two people will not agree in regard to a case of inheritance distribution and find none who would decide between them.” (Tirmidhi 279, Darimi and Daraqutni)
Abu Hurairah(RA) narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger (SAW) as saying: “He who comes to this mosque of mine and he comes only to learn or teach a khayr (good, i.e. the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), his status is like that of one who strives in the cause of Allâh. He who comes for any other motive, his status is like that of a person who covets the property of another.” (Tirmidhi 742, Ibn Majah and Bayhaqi)
Abdullâh ibn Mas‘ûd(RA) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger(SAW) said, “Do not wish to be like anybody except in two cases: The case of a man whom Allâh has given wealth and he spends it in the right way; and that of a man whom Allâh has given religious wisdom (i.e., Qur’ân and Sunnah); and he gives his verdicts according to it and teaches it to others i.e., religious knowledge of Qur’ân and Sunnah.” (Bukhâri 9/419)
Abu Hurairah(RA) narrated…that Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz wrote to Abu Bakr bin Hazm, “Look for the knowledge of Hâdîth and get it written, as I am afraid that religious knowledge will vanish and the religious learned men will pass away (die). Do not accept anything save the Ahâdîth of the Prophet (SAW). Circulate knowledge and teach the ignorant, for knowledge does not vanish except when it is kept secretly (to oneself).” (Bukhari 1/98)
Abu Umama(RA)narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said, “A learned person is as much above a worshipper as I am above the least of you. Allâh, His angels and all those in Heavens and on Earth, even the ants in their hills and the fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct people in beneficial knowledge.” (Tirmidhi 1392)
Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (RA) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (SAW) said, “May Allâh be well pleased with the servant who heard our words, remembered them, retained them well and then passed them on to others. How many scholars are there who are the scholars of religion without having an understanding of it, and how many scholars of religion are there who convey knowledge to those who are well versed compared with them. There are three things on account of which no rancor enters a Muslim heart: the sincerity of purpose for Allâh’s sake, seeking goodness for the Muslims and adhering to their main body (jama’ah), for their prayers encompass them all round.” (Tirmidhi 228)
Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari (RA) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger(SAW) said, “…One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.” (Muslim 4/4665)
Abu Hurairah(RA) narrated that Allâh’s Messenger (SAW) said, “He who called people to righteousness, there would be reward (assured) for him like the rewards of those who adhered to it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who called (people) to error, he shall have to carry (the burden) of its sin, like those who committed it, without their sins being diminished in any respect.” (Muslim 4/6470)
Al Mualim – Sami Yusuf
Action Plan
1. Good teaching is as much about passion as it is about reason. It’s about not only motivating students to learn, but teaching them how to learn, and doing so in a manner that is relevant, meaningful, and memorable. It’s about caring for your craft, having a passion for it, and conveying that passion to everyone, most importantly to your students.
2. Good teaching is about substance and treating students as consumers of knowledge. It’s about doing your best to keep on top of your field, reading sources, inside and outside of your areas of expertise, and being at the leading edge as often as possible. But knowledge is not confined to scholarly journals. Good teaching is also about bridging the gap between theory and practice. It’s about leaving the ivory tower and immersing oneself in the field, talking to, consulting with, and assisting practitioners, and liaisoning with their communities.
3. Good teaching is about listening, questioning, being responsive, and remembering that each student and class is different. It’s about eliciting responses and developing the oral communication skills of the quiet students. It’s about pushing students to excel; at the same time, it’s about being human, respecting others, and being professional at all times.
4. Good teaching is about not always having a fixed agenda and being rigid, but being flexible, fluid, experimenting, and having the confidence to react and adjust to changing circumstances.
5. Good teaching is also about style. Should good teaching be entertaining? You bet! Does this mean that it lacks in substance? Not a chance! Effective teaching is not about being locked with both hands glued to a podium or having your eyes fixated on a slide projector while you drone on. Good teachers work the room and every student in it.
6. This is very important — good teaching is about humor. It’s about being self-deprecating and not taking yourself too seriously. It’s often about making innocuous jokes, mostly at your own expense, so that the ice breaks and students learn in a more relaxed atmosphere where you, like them, are human with your own share of faults and shortcomings.
7. Good teaching is about caring, nurturing, and developing minds and talents. It’s about devoting time, often invisible, to every student. It’s also about the thankless hours of grading, designing or redesigning courses, and preparing materials to still further enhance instruction.
8. Good teaching is supported by strong and visionary leadership, and very tangible institutional support — resources, personnel, and funds. Good teaching is continually reinforced by an overarching vision that transcends the entire organization — from full professors to part-time instructors — and is reflected in what is said, but more importantly by what is done.
9. Good teaching is about mentoring between senior and junior, teamwork, and being recognized and promoted by one’s peers. Effective teaching should also be rewarded, and poor teaching needs to be remedied through training and development programs.
10. At the end of the day, good teaching is about having fun, experiencing pleasure and intrinsic rewards … like locking eyes with a student in the back row and seeing the synapses and neurons connecting, thoughts being formed, the person becoming better, and a smile cracking across a face as learning all of a sudden happens. Good teachers practice their craft not for the money or because they have to, but because they truly enjoy it and because they want to. Good teachers couldn’t imagine doing anything else.