The Great Teacher and
Educator of Mankind
Dr. Norlain bint Muhammad Dindang
Islâm stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allâh (subhanahu Wa ta'ala) has given to the whole mankind. It gives importance to education, which is the process of teaching and acquiring or learning knowledge (which includes beliefs, values, attitudes, manners and skills). In fact, Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) not only as His Final Messenger and the Seal of the Prophets (Qur'an, 33: 40) but also as the Great Teacher (Educator) to mankind. Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) sent him to teach humanity the Qur'an and the Sunnah:
"Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and Wisdom (Prophet's Sunnah) and teaching you that which you did not know." (Qur'an, 2:151)
"Certainly did Allah confer (great) favor upon the believers when He sent among them a
Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book (the Qur'an) and wisdom (the Sunnah) although they had been before in manifest error." (Qur'an, 3:164)
"It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book (the Qur'an) and wisdom (the Sunnah) although they had been before in manifest error." (Qur'an, 62:2)
The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said that he was sent as a teacher. He clearly said: "Allah has not sent me as a self-opinionated (messenger) nor to make others self-opinionated; but as a teacher and to facilitate things for people." (Muslim)
In another authentic hadith, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stressed his having been sent as a teacher:
Abdullah ibn Amir (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) happened to pass by two groups (of Muslims) in the mosque and he said: "Both of them are good, but one is superior to the other. One group is supplicating Allah and praying Him. If He so wills He will confer upon them and if He so wills He will withhold. So far as those who are acquiring the understanding of religion and its knowledge and are busy in teaching the ignorant, they are superior. Verily, I have been sent as a teacher." He then sat down amongst them. (Tirmidhi, 257 and Darimi)
As the universal teacher to mankind, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) possesses an exalted standard of character (i.e., sublime morals) (68:4) and is an excellent example for us to follow.
Allah (subhanahu Wa ta'ala) says:
"Indeed in Allah's Messenger (Muhammad) you have an excellent example to follow for him who hopes in (meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." (Qur'an 33:21)
In an authentic Hadîth we read that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) himself said:
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "I have been sent (as a Messenger) in the best of all generations of Adam's offspring since the Creation." (Bukhari 4/757)
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Allah's universal Messenger to all mankind (Qur'an, 34: 28), was the unlettered Prophet (Qur'an, 7: 157) who received the Message by inspiration (Qur'an, 6:145 and 29:45). He had come with the very Truth, and he confirmed the messages of the Messengers before him (Qur'an, 37: 37). He was Allah's Mercy for all creatures (21: 107) for he taught us the Qur'an and the Sunnah (62:2).
It is significant to note that the first revelation that Allâh (subhanahu Wa ta'ala) revealed to His Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) for the guidance of mankind pertains to reading -- Surah Al-Iqra, which is Chapter 96 of the Qur'an. Iqra means "Read". This is in line with the Prophet's universal role as the teacher (educator) to mankind. Allah (subhanahu Wa ta'ala) has commanded not only His Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who is our Great Teacher but also the whole mankind to read in His name, meaning to learn knowledge of Islam for His pleasure. Part of the Surah Al-Iqra is translated as follows:
"Read! In the name of your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer), Who created — created man, out of a leech-like clot: Read! And your Rabb is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, taught man that which he knew not." (Qur'an, 96:1-5)
When we follow the divine commandment to read, we learn in the Qur'ân that aside from reading, Allâh commands us: to know (e.g., 2:194, 196, 203, 223, 235 and 14:52) to learn (e.g., 6: 151, 9:122, 12:2, 22:46 and 54, 40:58 and 68:37), to understand (e.g., 2:44, 6:32, 7:169, 10:16, 11:51, 12:109, 21:10, 40:67, 43:3, 47:24 and 57:17), to ponder (4: 82 and 23:68) or contemplate (38:29), and even to ask questions (i.e., 10:94 and 43:45). To know, learn, understand, ponder or contemplate, as well as to ask questions constitute what we called the learning process in education. With Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as Allah's universal teacher and the fact that Allah has enjoined us to learn Islam purely based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah as taught by His Great Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), we see the educational aspect of Islam as a complete process of teaching and learning knowledge based on Allah's Divine Guidance. Allah is the One who bestows
knowledge and wisdom to whom He pleases. Successful are those whom Allah gives knowledge and wisdom.
Allah the Exalted says:
"He grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding." (Qur'an, 2: 269)
In line with the above inspiring verse, the world's great teacher and educator, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) , likewise inspired us to learn knowledge of Islam in order to be able to play a role in Islam that pleases Allah. The following authentic Hadith states: 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakra's father (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion and of course knowledge is attained by learning." (Bukhari 1/67)