“We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you Our verses, and purifying you, and instructing you in scripture and wisdom, and in new knowledge” (Al-Imran, 3:164). This verse verifies that Prophet Muhammad (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was sent as a teacher to all of mankind. Islam stresses the seeking of knowledge, and because of that, teachers are looked with reverence and have one of the highest status in Islam. The best teacher to have walked this earth is the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam). He way in which he taught was an ideal standard of educating. As a teacher, 5 attributes that the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) possessed include being patient, using visual representations and analogies, repeating, giving relevant examples, and teaching by practice.
Prophet Muhammad (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was a very patient teacher. He always taught in a measured tone, never raising his voice. He would patiently explain when there were people that did not comprehend what had been said. Whenever he taught, he would give time between his words in order for his students to clearly understand. He would teach in a succinct and clear manner, without moving on too quickly.
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The Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) used to make learning and understanding easier by using comparisons and illustrations. Abu Huraira narrated that he heard Allah’s Apostle said, “If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?” They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet added, “That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds” (Bukhari, 2009, p. 132). In this hadith, the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) is using an analogy to compare a person’s sins being washed away to a river washing away dirt from a person’s body. The comparison the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) used is clever, as it makes understanding easier for the listener. He also used visual representations to explain his point, such as when the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) drew a few lines and said, “This is (man’s) hope, and this is the instant of his death, and while he is in this state (of hope), the nearer line (death) comes to Him” (Bukhari, 2009, p. 1432). Instead of just verbally making his point, the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) drew lines to make the idea clearer to those listening.
Another attribute Prophet Muhammad (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) possessed as a teacher was repeating himself. To emphasize the importance of a point, he would repeat what he was talking about three times in different ways. In a hadith, when a man asked the Prophet about who he should treat kindly, the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) repeated mother three times to emphasize the importance of being kind to mothers. In an article, it has been said that when something is continuously repeated, the information is strengthened in the mind, which will lead to the information being recalled easily even after a long time (Gultekin, 2012). This was the reason the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) continued to repeat himself when he taught something new.
The Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) used daily life examples relevant to the topic which he was speaking of to instruct his listeners. Using examples is a method many good educators use, as examples will relate more to a person and can be remembered more easily. In a hadith narrated by ‘Aisha and ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas, when the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was in the last moments of his life, he said, “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their Prophets” (Bukhari, 2009, p. 113). He was warning the Muslims to stay clear from what the people of the past had done. Instead of telling the people straightforwardly not to fall into those kinds of actions, it left a bigger impact when the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) made an example of the people of the past.
One of the best attributes the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) possessed as a teacher was that he taught by practice. It is easy for a person’s words to contradict their actions, as they may tell others to act a certain way, but they themselves do not follow what they told others. But the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) used to lead by example. When the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) travelled with some companions, everyone started working to prepare food. When the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said he would collect wood for the fire, the companions replied that he need not to do work. However, the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said that he is aware that they can do it for him, but he hates to be privileged, as Allah (subhanahu wa-ta’la) hates to see one person privileged above others. He used that opportunity to teach his companions. Allah says in the Quran, “ Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much” (Al-Ahzab, 33:21). In this verse, Allah is telling the people to use the Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam)’s behavior and way of life as a model.
The Prophet (Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) was the best teacher to have lived. The way in which he taught others continues to impact us centuries after his death. He possessed many attributes as a teacher. Five of his attributes include his patience, his use of illustrations and analogies, his repetitions, his use of examples, and his teaching by practice.
Bibliography
- Bukhari, A. (2009). Sahih Bukhari (M. Khan, Trans.) [PDF version]. Retrieved from https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_Sahih_Al-Bukhari.pdf.
- Gultekin, V. (2012, 11 August). The Educational Methods of Our Prophet (PBUH). Retrieved from http://www.thepenmagazine.net/the-educational-methods-of-our-prophet-pbuh/.
- Shaarawy, K. (2014, 28 January). The Teaching Methods of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Retrieved from https://messageinternational.org/the-teaching-methods-of-the-prophet-muhammad-pbuh/.
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