Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq
Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
Allah Ta’ala says in the opening verses of Surah
Ar-Rahmaan:
“The Most Merciful, Taught the
Qur'an.”
One of Allah Ta’ala’s attributes and noble
names is “Ar-Rahmaan”. ...Who is Ar-Rahmaan? Ar-Rahmaan is the Most Merciful; the One who treats His
Creation with gentleness, compassion and kindness and wishes mercy for all
of His creation, everywhere, at all times. His Mercy is unlimited and continuously
descends upon His Creation. His Mercy encompasses all and everything:
“My Mercy covers everything.”
[Surah Al-A'raaf 7 : 156]
The greatest favour of “Ar-Rahmaan" is
teaching the Qur’aan Sharief – because it is through the Qur`aan Sharief that
man is guided and directed to righteousness, and ultimately gains salvation.
Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim
Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh) had mentioned a beautiful point in regard to these Ayaat
(verses): That we, who are occupied in the service of teaching the Qur`aan
Sharief, should take the lesson that in
teaching the Qur`aan Sharief, the quality of mercy is to be employed. The
quality of mercy and kindness must be dominant!
We find, from these Ayaat, that there
is a great relationship between Mercy and teaching the Qur’aan Sharief! This
should be the method of teaching the Qur’aan Sharief so that the love of Allah
Jalla Jalaaluhu is nurtured and developed within the heart of the student.
It is
related in a Hadith that Allah Ta’ala inscribed above His Arsh (Throne), the
words:
“My Mercy surpasses My Wrath.”[1]
Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “The
merciful ones will be given mercy by the All-Merciful. Be merciful to those who
are on this earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy on you.”[2]
We
commence our recitation with Ta’awwuz and Tasmiyah. In Ta'awwuz, protection
from shaytaan is sought. ...In this context, protection is sought from anger and
hard-heartedness, which is from shaytaan.
In the Tasmiyah, Allah Ta’ala chose His qualities of Mercy: Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem. So the heart immediately connects to the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala on commencing the recitation of the Qur`aan Sharief. …When Allah Ta’ala’s approach to His Creation is with Mercy, then a teacher should also adopt mercy when teaching the Qur`aan Sharief.
In the Tasmiyah, Allah Ta’ala chose His qualities of Mercy: Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem. So the heart immediately connects to the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala on commencing the recitation of the Qur`aan Sharief. …When Allah Ta’ala’s approach to His Creation is with Mercy, then a teacher should also adopt mercy when teaching the Qur`aan Sharief.
Sadly, we hear and come across incidents
of some teachers, who become angry and are even abusive – verbally or physically, when teaching. …Those who give vent to their anger – in any which
way their nafs (ego) desires – should understand that harshness, hardness and being
physically or verbally abusive is a sure way to destroy one’s relationship with
one’s students and to undo the great rewards that accrue in teaching Dien. It
also earns Allah Ta’ala’s anger and invites punishment.
Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh) had said that it is Haraam (forbidden) to hit children when teaching them Hifz.
A student entrusts
himself and hands himself over to his teacher, with the objective to learn from
him. I usually say that if a teacher then abuses that relationship and he hits the student, then even if that student becomes an excellent Hafiz, the
hard attitude of the teacher can easily lead to the student developing a hatred
for the Qur’aan Sharief, a hatred for the Ustaadh (teacher) and a hatred for Dien. If the end result is hatred, then we have
failed miserably.
On the
other hand, if the student did not become a Hafiz, but due to the good
character – the mercy, kindness and compassion of the teacher - he loves the
Qur’aan Sharief, loves Dien and he loves the Ustaadh, then such a teacher is 100%
successful!
Hadhrat
Moulana Masihullah Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh) had told me, with great attention and emphasis,
that to become Hafiz is not Fardh. However to become obedient to Allah Ta’ala,
to become pious and righteous is Fardh. …Sometimes, a student tries memorising
the Qur`aan Sharief, but struggles in his efforts and is unable to do so. So we
should keep in mind that even if he does not become a Hafiz, he should leave us
as a friend and Lover of Allah Ta'ala. This will be achieved if we, who are teaching
Dien, become friends and lovers of Allah Ta'ala.
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said in respect to mercy and harshness:
“Gentleness
beautifies everything. Harshness disfigures.” [3]
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu
'anhu) had narrated that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "Indeed
Allah is gentle and loves gentleness, and gives to gentleness that which He
does not give to harshness."[4]
In yet another Hadith, Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "He who is deprived of gentleness is
deprived of good."[5]
Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah
Aal-Imraan about Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) :
‘Thus, it is due to mercy from Allah
that you deal with them gently. And had you been rough or hard-hearted, they
would certainly have dispersed from around you…’
[Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 159]
Mufti
Muhammad Shafi Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh) had explained in his Tafsier, Ma’ariful Qur’aan, that harshness in behaviour or language, is poison for that person who is engaged in the work
of Dien or is an Imam entrusted with the duty of conveying the message of Allah
Ta’ala to others. Being harsh, severe,
rough or even cruel wipes out a good end result and turns an opportunity for achievement
into failure.
Allah Ta’ala says in this Ayah that
if Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had been harsh, his companions
(Radhiyallaahu 'anhum) would have dispersed – they would have left him. …This much should be sufficient for
any teacher to understand that he would lose his students, or they would become
distant from him, if his approach is severe and hard.
Ultimately, harshness would be
detrimental to the person himself because his knowledge will then not benefit
others - if people keep away. This reminds me of an incident
related by our Sheikh (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh):
When Hadhrat Hasan Basri
(Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was born, his mother took him to Ameerul Mu’mineen, Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) for
Tahneek. …Tahneek is a Sunnah, another special practice in Islam, where a pious
person chews a piece of date or anything sweet and places it onto the
palate of the child. Together with this, the pious person is requested to make
Du‘aa for the child. It is hoped that the effects of the piety of the person
will fall upon the child and he will grow up to be pious and righteous.
After the Tahneek, Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu 'anhu)
made two Duas for Hadhrat Hasan Basri (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh). These were:
1.) O Allah, give him a deep
understanding of Dien. Make him an Aalim, a Faqih.
2.) O Allah, make him beloved to the people. [i.e. make him beloved in the eyes of people.]
SubhanAllah, what a wonderful, comprehensive
Dua!
Without having the correct
understanding of Dien, there will be deficiency in one’s knowledge. And where there is love, one’s knowledge
can benefit the creation. Where there is dislike, resentment, hatred, one’s
knowledge does not reach the creation or benefit the creation. So we can gauge
the importance of good character - of mercy and kindness, patience and
tolerance!
Furthermore, Allah Ta’ala describes
and gives the title of “Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen” to Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam).
And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)],
except as a Mercy to the worlds.
except as a Mercy to the worlds.
[Surah
Al-Ambiyaa 21 : 107]
And Allah Ta’ala mentions that one of
the duties of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) – who is this Mercy to the
worlds - is teaching the Qur`aan Sharief :
هُوَ الَّذِىْ بَعَثَ فِى الْأُمِّيّٖنَ رَسُوْلًا مِّنْهُمْ
يَتْلُوْا عَلَيْهِمْ اٰيٰتِهٖ وَيُزَكِّيْهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتٰبَ
وَالْحِكْمَةَ ق
وَإِنْ كَانُوْا مِنْ
قَبْلُ لَفِىْ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِيْنٍ ۙ
“He it is who sent among the
unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)) from among themselves, reciting to them His
Verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur`aan, its Laws and
Jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (The
Sunnah). And verily, they had been
before in manifest error.”
[Surah Al-Jumu’ah 62 : 2]
SubhanAllah! We see, in so many different ways, that we are being taught that mercy
is the key quality for a teacher – especially for that person teaching Dien and
even more so, for the person who is teaching the Kalaam of Allah Ta’ala.
Of course, there is a need for
discipline and correction. There is a need to establish rules. There are times
when a teacher has to be firm. However, a good teacher will think before taking any disciplinary
measures. He or she will exercise prudence and caution in his relationship with
his students and will not just reprimand or punish, off the cuff.
In
fact, when angry or frustrated, the best course of action is to remain silent. When
the anger has subsided, then a decision can be made – otherwise an unjust
reprimand or punishment will only bring about harm to oneself.
We should also reflect if our anger is due to our nafs or due to a sincere desire that the student progresses. Often it is our nafs and if it is due to our nafs, then that would be Zulm (oppression). And Allah Ta’ala does not tolerate Zulm.
We should also reflect if our anger is due to our nafs or due to a sincere desire that the student progresses. Often it is our nafs and if it is due to our nafs, then that would be Zulm (oppression). And Allah Ta’ala does not tolerate Zulm.
On one
occasion, whilst in Makkah Sharief, Hadhrat Moulana Shah Masihullah Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh) was asked: “Must we be only soft and let
everyone just do what they want to?!”
Hadhrat Moulana
(Rahmatullahi Alayh) replied: “When did I say that you must not put the wrong, right? I say:
Don't do so in the state of anger. …Keep four things in mind:
1.) Never take
any action in a state of anger. An angry person is like a person who is
in under the influence of liquor. In this case one is under the influence of
anger.
2.) Never use
foul language, or be vulgar or oppressive.
3.) Explain to
the person the wrong he has done. …In many cases the person is not even
aware
that he has done anything wrong.
4.) Explain
the solution to the problem, so that it does not recur in the future."
On one occasion, a great Aalim and
Sheikh reprimanded his student, more than was called for. Due to this excess in
reprimanding, the Sheikh himself was deprived of reading his Fajr Salaah the
next day. He missed reading Fajr, in its time. He was deprived of Fajr Salaah
in Jamaat the day thereafter. On realising his error, he sought forgiveness and
made amends.
In conformity with the Sunnah, a
teacher will be mild in his temperament, yet firm on the Commandments of Allah
Ta’ala. There should be no laxity and no disregard when it comes to the Commands of Allah Ta’ala. There should be no compromise in regard to Dien. We should not condone, accept or allow any wrong-doing. Of course, we should be tactful in dealing with such situations. ...There are different narrations which disclose those times where Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam expressed his disapproval and displeasure, and corrected the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu 'anhum)
A teacher will also smile at his
students and be cheerful – so that he is approachable and accessible to his
students, that they may feel comfortable to ask him questions and discuss with
him.
Due to his kindness and compassion,
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would speak about matters besides
Dien; worldly matters that related to his companions (Radhiyallaahu 'anhu). By accommodating the
Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallaahu 'anhu) and others, love increased and naturally, where there is love, there is obedience.
This was the wonderful understanding Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught us of human psychology. He sought to make people feel at ease
and comfortable because by doing so, the people would derive maximum benefit.
When we study the Seerah of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), we find perfect balance and justice
in his approach to people and a perfect methodology in teaching. No matter who
the person may have been – no matter how uncouth and bad-mannered - Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would not reciprocate except with noble character and beautiful speech. All of this made manifest the
elevated and great character of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam):
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلٰى خُلُقٍ عَظِيْمٍ ◌
“And you are
surely on an excellent standard of character.”
[Surah Al-Qalam 68
:4]
The Ulama are described as the heirs
of the Ambiyaa ('Alayhimus Salaam) and should thus introspect whether there is resemblance to
the speech and behaviour of the Ambiyaa ('Alayhimus Salaam).
Those teachers who are wont to be
abusive to their students should reflect over the concern and fear for
accountability and the Hereafter, as well as the justice that Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) possessed.
On one occasion, during Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)’s last illness, he sat on the mimbar and
addressed his Sahabah (Radhiyallaahu 'anhum). After praising Allah Ta’ala, he
said: “If I have ever beaten any of you on his back, let him come and avenge
himself by beating me on my back. If I ever abused anyone, let him come and
abuse me. To dispute is not part of my nature, nor does it appeal to me. The
one of you who is dearest to me is the one who has a right against me and
claims it. By so doing, he releases me, and I will be able to meet Allah with nothing
held against me by any person.”
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the
understanding, bless us all with the noble character and demeanour of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and the Taufeeq of following in his
footsteps in teaching Dien and interacting with others.
[1]
Sahih Bukhari
[2]
Sahih Bukhari
[3]
Sahih Muslim
[4]
Ibn Majah
[5]
Sahih Muslim
