Allah and His Prophets teach us to be obedient and listen to our teachers in order to be successful in life. Teachers are those people who are not kings themselves but who make others kings. Islam lays great emphasis on knowledge. Our teachers, our educators, and our masters make us what we dream about. Islam has paid considerable attention to teachers and has granted them one of the highest ranks in society. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا
“Indeed, Allah orders you to render the trusts to their owners, and when you judge between the people to judge with justice. Indeed, Allah excellently advises you with it. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:58)
All the Prophets played the role of a teacher by teaching and guiding their nations towards the religion of Allah and righteousness. This automatically raises the status of teachers to greatness, since it was the profession of the Holy Prophets. The Prophet cared for teachers and showed their elevated standings. Teaching is one of the most respectful and valuable professions in the world. In religion Islam, this profession has more importance as our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) introduced himself as a teacher. Allah says:
كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ
“We sent among you a Messenger from you (who) recites to you Our verses and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you what not you were knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 151)
Teaching is one of the most respected and valued professions in the world. A teacher is always considered a highly honoured person in every religion. No matter from which religion or society you belong, you always show respect and honour to people who teach you things. Especially in Islam, a teacher has the highest rank among all professions. It is like Sadqa Jariyah because when you teach something to someone, that knowledge goes to longer terms. Allah says:
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“And obey God and His Messenger, that you may receive mercy.” (Surah Al Imran 3:132)
Islam has given a lot of importance to a teacher. There is a famous saying of Hazrat Ali (RA) in which he said that if a person teaches me one single word, he has made me his servant for a lifetime. A teacher is the person who shapes the personality, opens one’s mind and guides him or her towards the right path; in short, a teacher helps in moulding a person’s personality as well as character.
The role of a teacher is really significant in Islam:
- A teacher is responsible for forming the student’s personality
- A teacher emphasizes their rights on various occasions
- A teacher is happy when their student succeed in life
- A teacher has great importance in building a nation
- A teacher helps learners to fulfil their potential
- A teacher has a positive impact on their pupils
- A teacher helps the child to resolve problems
- A teacher has a significant role in Islam
- A teacher helps us remember Allah
- A teacher acts as a mentor
- A teacher acts as a role model
- A teacher has great value in Islam
- A teacher is often likened to the parent
- A teacher loves teaching their students
- A teacher has a high rank in the society
- A teacher is a good influence on children
- A teacher builds a friendly class environment
- A teacher grooms a child and makes his personality
- A teacher should not discriminate or give preference
- A teacher is the most influential person in the society
- A teacher ensure fairness in his dealings with the students
A teacher is the person who not only shapes you but also grooms you, looks after you, teaches you everything you need to know and loves you like your own parents. Not only the society but also our religion, Islam, emphasizes the importance of teachers. Teachers play the most significant role in a student’s life. Starting from a really young age, a teacher grasps the student’s finger and takes him or her to the point where he or she is successful. Allah says:
رَبَّنَا وَٱبْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًۭا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
“May our Lord send them a messenger from among them who recites Your revelations, teaching them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, the Wise.” (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:129 )
A teacher himself is only a teacher but has the capacity to teach us everything. The importance of teachers cannot be mentioned in a word, a paragraph or even an essay. According to Islamic teaching, anyone who conveys a single good message becomes a teacher to the other person. This is why it is necessary to spread good and help people remember Allah.
A teacher teaches the person so he has some rights some of them are mentioned below:
- Teachers should have freedom of expression, obstacles and intervention should be cleared
- Teachers should acquire and utilize learning facilities and infrastructure
- Teachers should get good treatment to make their job easier
- Teachers should have freedom in giving judgment
- Teachers should get physical and spiritual needs
- Teachers should get respect from other people
- A teacher is the spiritual father of the student
- Teachers should have freedom in giving judgment
- Teachers should get physical and spiritual needs
- Teachers should get good treatment to make their job easier
- Teachers should acquire and utilize learning facilities and infrastructure
- The teacher is the one who provides spiritual nourishment and improves the behaviour of learners
- Teacher lead his pupil means it’s the duty of the teacher to make his student smarter and have a good Akhlaq
- We need to respect the teacher who is willing to give us the knowledge
- We should appreciate teachers for their great work. We get rewards and appreciation
Teaching is a profession that is respected by all religions and all societies of the world and a teacher enjoys a status higher than many individuals of the community. Islam teaches us to respect our teachers, listen to them and be dutiful. Islam tells us how our teachers consume themselves to pave the way for their students. A good teacher is one who will put in an effort no matter what the situation is and light the way for his students in every situation and circumstance.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Book Quran:
- “I do believe in your Lord, so listen to me.” (Quran,36:25)
- “He (Allah) taught man what he did not know.” (Quran,96:5)
- “We will make you recite, and you will not forget,” (Quran,87:6)
- “Nothing on earth or in heaven is hidden from God.” (Quran,3:5 ).
- “Such people are guided by their Lord and are successful.” (Quran,2:5)
- “Allah elevates to high positions those from amongst you who are faithful and those who have acquired knowledge.” (Quran, 58:11)
Islam focuses and emphasizes the respect of teachers so much. A teacher is the person who shapes the personality, opens one’s mind and guides him or her towards the right path, in short, a teacher helps in moulding the person’s personality as well as the character. Teachers play the most significant role in a student’s life. Allah says:
وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَىِٕنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
“God makes it all good news for you so that your hearts will be at peace in Him. Victory is only from God, the Almighty, the Wise.” (Surah Al Imran 3:126)
Allah gives teachers the second-highest rank after our parents because they are the reason we learn and be what we want to be. Allah assists him in achieving his or her goals. Our teachers, our educators, and our masters make us what we dream about. They tell us the difference between right and wrong. So, it is our duty to respect them and do as they say. Allah says:
وَمَا عَلَّمْنَهُ ٱلشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ وَقُرْءَانٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
“We have not taught him poetry, nor is it fitting for him. This ˹Book˺ is only a Reminder and a clear Quran.” (Surat Ya-Sin 36:69)
Seeking knowledge is a duty that is imposed upon every male and female Muslim. It is most surely that Allah loves seekers of knowledge. Islam focuses and emphasises the respect of teachers so much. And it is our duty as Muslims to respect, value and obey our teachers to earn Heaven (Jannah) ultimately. Islam teaches us to respect our teachers, listen to them and be dutiful.
