We are all students, and a great deal of our lives are dedicated to learning, the various subjects we study come from many sound sources. The teachings themselves are coming from Allah (SWT) and his prophet (SAW). Just like his teachings have come from a very high source, the manner of learning has also been demonstrated to us and it is a part of our teachings. Sahaba (RA) had the chance to be with the best of teachers, and when they sat in the company of him, they demonstrated to us what a student should look and act like. The hadith mention that when the prophet (SAW) would speak, the sahaba (RA) would sit so still as if birds were perched on top of their heads. Like this, their posture demonstrated how attentive they were. Somebody who is moving around is distracted and not paying much attention as opposed to someone whose posture is demonstrating attention. Now, everyone has those days where they do not feel like studying or learning or being in that class. Sometimes, the brain is not there, but we can use our posture to convey that we are serious about learning, even if we are not at the time. Sometimes, the physical posture, appearance, and presentation are extremely important. When we do not feel like studying or being in a class, our body language normally displays it. We may be slouching, laying down, some people might put their heads down, someone might prop their head up against their hand – all this body language is saying that we do not want to learn. Even if we want to learn, if we position ourselves like this, our minds are going to get the message that we are not actually there to learn. Even the most attentive student will become lazy if he is in a lazy posture, and even the laziest student will become motivated just by playing the part with their body. Body language is extremely important.
Of course, it wasn’t just the sahaba (RA)’s body language; they would cling onto every word the prophet (SAW) said. That is how they were able to transmit thousands of hadith. So, you have a sahabi who has committed more than 7,000 hadith to his memory. Other sahabi used to write everything down. People used to come to one particular sahabi and say, “You write everything that the prophet (SAW) says. What if he is upset at someone?” He said, “I will go and verify this with the prophet (SAW).” He went to the prophet and said, “I have a habit of writing down everything that you say, but people say to be selective and not to write everything down.” The prophet (SAW) pointed towards his mouth and said, “I swear by Allah, only the truth comes from here. You may keep writing.” Some sahaba (RA) would take something from the prophet (SAW) and go back and verify it, saying, “Is this correct or not?” And he would correct them. Like in the case of Bara ibn Azar (RA), the prophet (SAW) taught him a du’a to recite before he goes to sleep. He repeated that du’a and the prophet (SAW) corrected him.
Becoming an attentive listener takes work and effort, but it is the first major step in becoming a good learner. If we do not practice good listening skills and we do not use body language that a good listener would, we are only absorbing a small percentage of what we actually could. This is one of the etiquettes that we learn from the sahaba (RA); sitting attentively and ready to learn eagerly, even if we are not at that time. Your mood is not always in your control, and there are many times where you do not feel like studying . But use your body language to display someone who is an active learner, and InshaAllah, through this, Allah (SWT) will change your mindset and you will become a more efficient learner. May Allah (SWT) give us tawfiq.
