By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
27 July
2021
Teachers,
Spiritual or Academic, Open the Canvass of Knowledge and Guide Us On To the
Path of Success in the Life Here and Hereafter
Main
Points:
1. Our tryst
with our teachers at different stages of our lives makes us understand the
mysteries of the world.
2. The first
teacher of a child is his mother as per the saying, ‘mother’s lap is the
child’s first school’.
3. Those of us
who use their wisdom with a sense of service to humanity understand
spiritualism and its teachings.
4. For the best
use of our acquired knowledge, we need to be introduced to the spiritual
essence of life.
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Grooming
of a Personality
We come
into the world, our fists tightly closed. And go from here our fists wide open.
We have all the wisdom, knowledge and intellect in our closed fists. But
without the guidance of a teacher, we are unable to use those wisdom, knowledge
and intellect. Teachers, spiritual or academic, open the canvass of knowledge
and guide us on to the path of success in the here and hereafter life.
At the time
of birth, we are nothing less than an angel that carries no sins in his scroll
of deeds (Aamaal Naama). The slate of our life is clean and clear of everything
good or bad. Our life begins with the trait of innocence.
Our tryst
with our teachers at the different stages of our lives makes us understand the
mysteries of the world. The first teacher of a child is his mother as per the
saying, ‘mother’s lap is the child’s first school’. She introduces us to the
ethos of the religious, social, cultural and civilisational life we are born
in. This learning is important as it plays a pivotal role in the mental and
psychological make of a man.
After the
Introductory lessons given by the mother, the rendezvous with the teachers at
the schools, colleges and universities begins. We are introduced to books of
arts, science, technological, medicine and commerce where we find ourselves in
a whole new world of knowledge. Our teachers are our guide to this enormous
world, where every single point carries an ocean of knowledge in itself.
Teachers at the academic institutions guide us, to the world of education with
love and affection that is no less than a mother. There we witness the
uniformity as that of our houses where all the siblings are equal.
This part
of our learning journey ends after the completion of our worldly knowledge
imparted in the schools, colleges and universities. There is no word, no
feeling that could express our gratitude for the devotion of our teachers.
Spiritual
Education
Loads of
bookish knowledge and certificates of our being educated is not enough for
leading a life of satisfaction that is full of humility and nobility. We feel a
vacuum. There is a feeling of emptiness in life. This vacuum and emptiness end
with the knowledge of spirituality. The course of spiritualism opens the door
of understanding our responsibility towards the world society of human beings
and all the other creations of Allah, the Almighty. And we can understand how
we use our knowledge for the betterment of the human society that has given us
so much love and care. Those of us who use their wisdom with a sense of service
to humanity understand spiritualism and its teachings. For the best use of our
acquired knowledge, we need to be introduced to the spiritual essence of life.
Many of us
who do not get an opportunity to learn lessons of spirituality that introduces
us to our Creator and the ethos of His creations are unable to return to
society the love and care that has been given to them. Spiritual teachers and
Gurus are the pivots of the enlightening life. The enlightening life introduces
us to the originality of our birth in the world that we do not take birth just
like that rather our birth to this world is to fulfil our responsibility
towards the fellow human being.
Spiritual
teachers like the Sufis, the saints and the Gurus introduce us to the divine
world that consists of godly traits like the beauties of nature and environment
and make us listen to the hymns that the environment keeps reciting in praise
of its creator, Allah, the Most Graceful. Thus we are introduced to ourselves
as we, the human beings, do also have ingrained in our personality various
traits of Allah, the Almighty so that we could fulfil our responsibilities
bestowed upon us by Him. Thus the spiritual guides introduce us to those
innumerable mysteries of life that are not open to all but the ones that are
true servants of their Creator.
Teacher’s
Status in Islam
After the
father, it is the teacher who acquires the highest status in the life of a man,
according to Islam.
All the
prophets of Islam, sent by Allah the Most Gracious, to every region and every
community, are taken as a teacher. It is they who taught their communities
about the Oneness of Allah and all His mercies and the trait of forgiveness.
They, therefore, are highly respectable for human beings of all ages and times.
Allah the
Almighty has on various occasions’ commanded people to acquire knowledge even
if one has to travel to distant places. In this connection, the Holy Quran says
that Allah bestows the highest ranks to those who acquire knowledge. Consider
the following Ayat:
Allah will
exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted
knowledge. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. (Al-Mujadilah: 11) -
Muhsin Khan
Quranic
Verses and the Significance of Teachers and Teachings
Read, ˹O Prophet, in the Name of your Lord Who
created—(Al-Alaq:
1)
“And do not pursue that of which you have no
knowledge.”
(Al-Isra: 36)
(The angels) said, “All glory is yours!? We
have no knowledge except that which you have taught us? Verily you are the
Knowledgeable, the Wise. (Al-Baqarah: 32)
“Like (a favour which you have already
received) in that 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.” (Sura Al-Baqarah: Ayat 151)
Thus do We make Our signs clear in diverse ways
that they might say: 'You have learned this (from somebody)'; and 'We do this
in order that We make the Truth clear to the people of knowledge. (Surah Al-An'am:105)
“And Allah taught Adam all the names.” (Al-Baqarah: 31)
(God) said, “Oh Adam!? Make known to them their
names.”? And when (Adam) had made known to them their names [God] said, “Did I
not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth and that I
know what you reveal and what you conceal?” (Al-Baqarah: 33)
“Is he who was dead by ignorance and We gave
him knowledge and set for him Light of Belief whereby he can walk amongst men;
like he who is in the darkness?” (Quran; 6:122)
Prophetic
Traditions on the Significance of a Teacher
Prophet
(pbuh) said, “… But I am a teacher. I shall join the group assembled for
learning.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
A prominent
Sahabi, Muwiyya Ibnul Hakam As- Sulani (Ra) says about Rasul (pbuh), “I have
never come across a teacher more excellent than him either before or after him.
By Allah Subhanahu Taa’la, he did not scold, beat or call me names.”[Muslim]
Biblical
Verses That Acknowledge Teachers as Guides to Humanity
Prescribe
and teach these things. - 1 Timothy 4:11
Do not hold
back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will
not die. You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol. -
Proverbs 23:13-14
Train up a
child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Proverbs 22:6
All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
I will
instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you
with My eye upon you. - Psalm 32:8
Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? - 1
Corinthians 12:29
Let not
many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a
stricter judgment. - James 3:1
Hinduism
Acknowledges Teachers as Bhagwan
BG 4.34:
Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with
reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart
knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.
BG 4.35:
Following this path and having achieved enlightenment from a Guru, O Arjun, you
will no longer fall into delusion. In the light of that knowledge, you will see
that all living beings are but parts of the Supreme, and are within me.]
BG 4.33: O
subduer of enemies, sacrifice performed in knowledge is superior to any
mechanical material sacrifice. After all, O Parth, all sacrifices of work
culminate in knowledge.
BG 4.32:
All these different kinds of sacrifice have been described in the Vedas. Know
them as originating from different types of work; this understanding cuts the
knots of material bondage.
Teachers
are given the highest rank in the social hierarchy by every religion. They are
venerated by one and all. All the Abrahamic and other religions and religious
faiths bestow honour and highest rank among all human beings.
We
celebrated ‘Guru Purnima on Saturday, 24th July remembering all our spiritual
teachers thanking them for their guidance that introduced us to the spiritual
world. Purnima means ‘full moon’. It marks the division between the two lunar
fortnights every month. Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of
Ashadha (month of Hindu calendar). Guru Purnima is a celebration of paying
tributes to the Spiritual Gurus.
And
Allah Knows the Best.
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Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/hadees-teacher-guru-purnima/d/125134