Allah (SWT) has made the system of teaching and learning such that he has designated certain means (“asbab”) as we call them in Arabic for acquiring knowledge. These means are important because knowledge, in the sight of Islam, is something sacred and Honorable. The prophet (SAW) tells us that the bearers of knowledge are the heirs of the prophet (SAW). The prophets (AS) did not leave gold or silver behind as a legacy; rather, they left knowledge. So, whoever takes this knowledge receives something valuable. Knowledge has always been looked at with a very high regard by Muslims, and anything that helps us acquire knowledge is also looked at with high regard. One of the biggest means of acquiring knowledge is our teachers. Because knowledge is special, our teachers are also special because they help us attain knowledge. Of course, not everything the teacher knows is transferred automatically to students; rather, the way a student presents themselves to a teacher will be how they benefit from that teacher.
Islam has a very strong tradition of adhab, (respect) and respectful behavior with anyone that we seek knowledge from. It originates from the prophet (SAW) himself. Sahaba (RA) used to sit in front of him so still as if there were birds perched upon their heads. They would sit so still and focused. But the prophet (SAW) was not always telling them amazing stories, shocking events or anything extremely powerful or moving. Many times, they were stories that they had already been told, and commandments which were not the most exciting thing, but important, nonetheless. They respected the teachings of the prophet (SAW) so much that they maintained a sense of extreme courtesy and respect in the presence of the prophet (SAW), and the Qur’an emphasizes this, telling them, “Do not raise your voice in the presence of the prophet (SAW). If you do this, all your good deeds will go to waste.” Any act that was contrary to respect (adhab) was described in the Qur’an as a means of losing our good deeds. This is what happens when a person acquires adhab, or a high sense of behavior and they do not uphold it. After the sahaba’s students and those after them, this continues to happen where Islam is taught in a meaningful way. It is always taught with a sense of adhab, discipline, or high behavioral expectations. It has never been the case that people had been acquiring knowledge but not acquiring the behavior that went with it. It has always gone hand-in-hand. If we want to benefit from knowledge, we must show adhab first, knowing that Allah (SWT) is watching and that he has designated you these means. Your objective is to please Allah (SWT) first. The way you treat these people, your teachers, for example, will be a matter and decision by Allah (SWT) as to how much knowledge you get and what kind of knowledge you get, so much so that the saying in Farsi is, “A person who has adhab and a high sense of conduct will also have good things lying in store for them, and someone who lacks adhab will also lack their share of good things coming.” There are so many stories of this type, or adhab. Maybe from time to time we will touch upon this, but the mention is never, ever compromise adhab for a teacher, even if the teacher happens to be incorrect in a matter and we are dealing with something on behalf of a teacher that is incorrect. We will deal with it with respect, and we will never raise our voice at our teachers, or stare at them in a disrespectful way. If they are teaching, we will always pay close attention to what they are saying, and we will never cut them off or create a disruption or distraction for them, and we will never, ever cause them grief or pain. That is the worst possible thing to do; to cause pain or anguish in the heart of a teacher. If that happens, the doors of benefiting from that teacher are closed until they forgive us. On the contrary, acting in such a way that the teacher makes du’a for us from their heart – this is the way which we must interact with our teachers. Ibn Abbas (RA) knew the time the prophet (SAW) would get up for Fajr and his need for water at that time, so he had the water prepared for him. The prophet (SAW) did not ask him to, but he figured he should do this. When the prophet (SAW) asked his family, “Who put the water out?” and they said, “Ibn Abbas,” he made du’a for him in his heart. “O Allah, give him the understanding of deen and teach him the meanings and interpretations of the Qur’an.” He became the greatest Mufassir of the Qur’an. It is through the du’as of the teachers and their love and attention that we will make such progress that we cannot make just based on our own intellectual abilities. May Allah (SWT) enable us to deal with our teachers in such a way that the doors of knowledge are opened.
