2 How To Be A Teacher

Asalaamu 'Alaikum, Today Dr. Saleh As-Saleh explained Hadith #29 from "The Collection of An-Nawawi 40 Hadith." Mash'Allah the explanation was very detailed and covered many areas of our lives as Muslims. What I want to do in this message is share some information about the subject of teaching that I learned from the explanation of Hadith #29. I include myself first that Insha'allah this information can make all of us better teachers. Dr. Saleh's class is on PalTalk everyday approx 3pm EST. Go to Rooms/Social Issues and Politics/Human Rights and then choose "Understanding Islam". The Praiseworthy Characteristics and Abilities of Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) as a Teacher Use of Additional Benefit One of the merits of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) in teaching and educating is that he (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) brought benefits [that was] not asked about [by the person] in a question. It was his (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) habit to add to the answer what is beneficial. For example, when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) was asked by some of the sahaba if it was permissable to make ablution using water from the sea, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) said that it was and also added that the animals of the sea are halal to eat even the dead ones. Use of Action and Statements The use of teaching by way of statements and actions is an effective teaching method. For example, when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) was answering a question that Mu'adh asked, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) took hold of his own tongue and said, "restrain this." This method of teaching makes an imprint on the heart and mind and will not be forgotten. Likewise, the Sahaba used to teach people by actions also. For example, instead of telling someone how to make wudoo, the sahaba would make wudoo in front of the people to teach them. Use of Comparing Things The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) used to compare the tangible to the intangible. For example, he said, “Charity extinguishes the sins like water extinguishes the fire.” Use of Analogy The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) used analogy’s to help people understand and to convince them. For example, the Prophet used the expression, “My your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu’adh!” as a way to incline someone to do something. The Prophet used non-literal expressions in analogies. Use of Evidence The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) cited the Qur’aan as evidence.

The Praiseworthy Characteristics of the Sahaba as Students The Emphasis on Understanding the Meaning The keeness of the sahaba was in seeking knowledge to know the meaning not the ruling.

Sought Action They sought knowledge in order to act not just to know something. Motivation Level Mu’adh was highly motivated to learn and thus was the most knowledgeable sahaba; he was sent by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) to Yemen as a Mufti, Judge, Caller to Islam.

English Translation of Hadith #29 On the authority of Mu'adh bin Jabal, who said: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an act which will take me into Paradise and will keep me away from Hell fire." He said: "You have asked me about a major matter, yet it is easy for him for whom Allah Almighty makes it easy. You should worship Allah, associating nothing with Him, you should perform the prayers, you should pay the zakat, you should fast in Ramadan, and you should make the pilgrimage to the House." Then he said:" Shall I not show you the gates of goodness ? Fasting [which] is a shield, charity [which] extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire; and the praying of a man in the depth of night." Then he recited : "Their sides forsake their beds invoking their Rubb in fear and hope and they spend out of what we have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." (As-Sajdah 16, 17) Then he said: " Shall I not tell you of the peak of the matter, its pillar, and its topmost part?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "The peak of the matter is Islam; the pillar is prayer; and its topmost part is jihad." Then he said: "Shall I not tell you of the controlling of all that ?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah", and he took hold of his tongue and said: "Restrain this." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, will what we say be held against us ?" He said: "May your mother be bereaved of you, Mu’adh! Is there anything that topples people on their faces - or he said on their noses into Hell-fire other than the harvests of their tongues ?"

Umm Hadiyyah bint Wakefield Durham, NC