THE QUALITIES OF A TEACHER

To proceed, we want to remind ourselves that having a Sound Teacher is the first step in Learning the Din. We ask Allah for His assistance, succor and guidance.

As we have stated, today’s topic is on the QUALITIES OF A TEACHER of the Islamic Sciences. We did same while discuss the Methodologies of Memorizing the Qur’an.

Likewise, those people that have experience in seeking for Islamic Knowledge will realise that, very different from the Western Education, it cannot be studied without a teacher. We mentioned that while discussing the Conditions and Rudiments of Ilm. That is both due to the intricacies involved and the susceptibility of not comprehending it.

The Scholars used to say:

يظن الغمر أن الكتب تهدي * آخا فهم إدراك العلوم

“The foolish thinks that only books can guide; to comprehending and understanding the Sciences.
“But this Ignoramus is unaware that in them (Books) are obscurities; that confuses the mind of the Intelligent.”

إذا رمت العلوم بدنون شيخ * ضللت عن الصرات المستقيم

وتلتبس عليك الأمور حتي * تصير أضل من توم الحكيم

“If you delve into the oceans of the Sciences without a teacher; you get misguided from the Straight Path.
“And the entire matters will become mixed up to you; until you become more misguided than Tawma Al-Hakim”

Tawma Al-Hakim was, according to our historians a Medical Doctor whose father was a versed Aalim and therefore passed away leaving behind a very rich library. Instead of Tawma to rely on Ulamaa in the studying of and the practice of his medicine, He wanted to rely on the books that his father left behind for him
Once, he came across a Hadith in which the Rasul – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – said:

“The Black Snake is a cure to all ailments”

Mr Tawma went ahead seeking for a Black snake that could cure all diseases and cure people. There was a typographic/calligraphic mistake. It was written ‎ي‎ instead of ‎ب

Some of our historians said, It was in his attempt to capture the black snake alive that he lost his life and passed away. We ask Allaah for assistance.

That should remind the Student of Knowledge that he must seek a teacher in whatever he intends to learn. We should understand very well Brothers and Sisters, that having a teacher cannot be overemphasized.

Now, we move unto discussing the Qualities you should seek for in a person before you choose him as your teacher.

1. Deep Knowledge:

Avoid seeking knowledge with all you have got from someone whose knowledge is shallow. Seek for people who have spent a considerable period of time learning, memorizing and acquiring Ilm. If you restrict yourself to people whose knowledge is shallow and who have not taken their time to study, then you will learn from them and acquire two things at the same time.
These two things are:

a. The knowledge of what they know and an ignorance of the fact that they do not know what they do not know. Meaning that you will end up packing what is correct and what is entire wrong and disguised in a cloak of what is right.

b. You may then, spend the whole of your life thinking that the ignorance you are carrying is knowledge.
If you do not identify people who are deeply rooted in knowledge, then seek the recommendation of others around you.

2. Sound Creed (Aqidah)

Aqidah is very important. The Ulamaa are at a consensus on the improperness of seeking Ilm from people who are derailing in ‘Aqidah. The reasons are obvious:

A. Not to add to the number of people who are converging in the meeting places, the majlis and the congregations of the People of Bid’a.

B. It leaves behind side effects on the student. Most times, if the student does not end up supporting his Bid’a teacher’s creed, he ends up seeing it as something that isn’t grievous.

C. Strenghtening of the People of Bid’a. Once the people of Bid’a notice the increase in their numbers, it emboldens and strenghtens their resolves.

D. It weakens the Ulamaa of Sunnah. It effectively weakens the morale of the Ulamaa of sunnah to see people trooping to the gates of the People of Bid’a.

Therefore, always choose an Aalim with a Sound Aqidah.

3. Taqwa

You need an Aalim and a Shaykh who is conscious and fearful of Allaah. That is because, it is only with his Taqwa that he can speak to you the truth, refrain from misguiding you and telling you whenever he has no knowledge of something that he has no knowledge of it.
Aside that, you are influenced by your teacher’s ways and values. Therefore, ensure that you choose one who fears Allah and worships.

4. Hikmah

You need your teacher to be a person of wisdom and deep insight and a person of cleverness and intellect. If you have a foolish teacher, you are likely to be a foolish student in the end. Your teacher is the one who can guide and direct you. Taking the advices of fools leads to foolish decisions and opinions. So, let us take that one serious.

5. Mentorship

Choose a teacher who can mentor you at the same time. You need a teacher that can adequately advise and be to you like a father. That is the way teacher-student relationship was in the time of the predecessors. And that is the way they understood it. We ask Allaah for His assistance and His support

It’s about time. We will inshaa Allaah pause here.

Nowadays, it is hardly to find a teacher who is upright in his aqeedah and this people posses knowledge patterning some sciences of the deen other than Aqeedah , can one learn some those sciences from them in the absence of true scholars?

Answer

yes, in such a case it is permissible provided:

1. The scholars you are talking about are not calling others to their bid’a.

2. That you have a sound understanding of Aqidah first before going to learn from them in such a way that their intrigues does not confuse you.

Inshaa Allaah; we will be pausing here,