Teaching is one of the most respectful and valuable professions

Status of the Teacher in Islam

It is all known, he who teaches is a teacher. The most respected and dignified profession in the world is teaching. Teachers are the architect of a nation. A teacher is a man of obedience and respect. Teachers can very easily decide what they want the nation to look like and educate the masses accordingly. The teacher is considered the profound father in the religion of Islam. All Prophets were the teacher that sent before Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and obviously, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was also a great teacher for all mankind. 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)

The teacher should advise and correct those who do not maintain good manners in class, such as insulting friends, laughing loudly, sleeping, talking to friends or not accepting the truth. By doing this, the teacher can create good behaviour and akhlaq for his pupils. Pupils are like people that don’t know a direction and still do not know anything. As a teacher, he should give his pupils a direction and make them have a clear path in the future. The teacher should have freedom of expression because of how a teacher can transfer his knowledge to his pupils without freedom. Allah says:

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“Our Lord! [And] raise in them a Messenger from (who) will recite to them Your Verses and will teach the Book and the wisdom and purify them. Indeed You! You (are) the All-Mighty the All-Wise.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:129)

Obstacles and intervention should be cleared. The teacher is a good figure that can make an example for his pupil. He can order the pupils to follow his way and life. The great merit of the teachers who have given their knowledge to the pupils and often restrain his anger, who always feels the pain of holding patients. It is not proper for pupils to forget the merits of their teacher. They should be patient even though the teacher has a hard attitude, and never forget to insert their names in the chanting of your prayer. May Allah grant mercy and kindness to the teachers of the Muslims.

Teachers have spent time with learners in educating the nation’s children so that teachers have some rights like below:

  1. The teacher is a good figure that can make an example for his pupil
  2. The teacher should get good treatment to make his job easier
  3. Teachers are not angels, they can make some mistakes
  4. Get respect from people
  5. Give his pupil a direction
  6. Give his pupil a lesson
  7. Be hard on his pupil
  8. Lead his pupil
  9. Advise his pupil
  10. Living by Example
  11. Patience Through Adversity
  12. Have the freedom of expression
  13. Judge which is the right and the wrong one
  14. Getting the award and appreciation: The teacher is the spiritual father of the students. He is the one who provides spiritual nourishment and improves the behaviour of learners

Here is presented more rights of teachers in Islam:

  • Teachers should have freedom of expression, obstacles and intervention should be cleared
  • Have the opportunity to play a role in determining government policy
  • Gain training and professional development in the field
  • Acquire and utilize learning facilities and infrastructure
  • Obtain equal treatment from school organizations
  • Have freedom in giving judgment
  • Get married and have a family
  • Get physical and spiritual needs
  • Provide punishment to pupils
  • Free in choosing a religion
  • Have privacy that should not be disturbed
  • Teachers should get physical and spiritual needs
  • Teachers should have freedom in giving judgment
  • Teachers should get good treatment to make their job easier.
  • Teachers should acquire and utilize learning facilities and infrastructure.
  • Lead his pupil means the teacher must make his student smarter and have a good Akhlaq.
  • Get reward and appreciation. The teacher is the spiritual father of the student as he is the one who provides spiritual nourishment and improves the behaviour of learners. That’s why we should appreciate the teachers for their great work.
  • Teachers should get respect from other people. We need to respect the teacher who is willing to give us the knowledge.

فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

“So high (above all) (is) Allah the King, the True. And (do) not hasten with the Quran before [that] is completed to you its revelation, and say, “My Lord! Increase me (in) knowledge.” (Surah Taha 20:114)

Technically, there must be a guarantee or insurance when something happens to the teacher in carrying out his duties. So the teacher does not have to worry about carrying out his professional duties. In Indonesia, there are some cases that students attack their teacher or make him embarrassed. This is not a good akhlaq so we need to give the teacher a sense of security. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ فَإِن لَّمْ تَجِدُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“O you who believe! When you privately consult Messenger, then offer before your private consultation, charity. That (is) better for you and purer. But if not you find, then indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Mujadila, 58:12)

Perhaps one of the greatest qualities that made Prophet Muhammad such a phenomenal teacher is that he led by example. He often lectured to his companions about the Oneness of God Almighty, living life by Islam and being mindful of the Hereafter. For many teachers, there is a very fine line between reaching out to students in the spirit of understanding and not being able to get through to the students who fight every step of the way. 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)

The words of Allah and the words of the Apostle describe the high position of the one who knows (teacher). It is argued that knowledge can lead people to always think and analyze the nature of all phenomena that exist in nature, to bring people closer to Allah. With the ability that exists in humans are born theories for the benefit of human beings. So, we need to respect the teacher who is willing to give us the knowledge.