By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
17 May 2021
All
Religions Acknowledge The Role Of A Teacher And The Importance of Being Learned
Main
Points:
1. The right to
education is accepted as an international legal instrument of human rights in
the Universal Declaration of 1948.
2. Education as
a human right was declared from the very first word ‘Proclaim! (or read!) in
the Holy Quran revealed by Allah, the Most Merciful.
3. The human
being is indebted to the people of knowledge.
4. The oldest
references to the concept of guru are found in the earliest Vedic texts of
Hinduism.
5. Guru-Shishya
tradition helped preserve, create and transmit various fields of knowledge.
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The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, is the first
international legal instrument that recognises education as a human right.
Article 26 states: 'Everyone has the right to education. It is a non-legally
binding instrument but with a great political and moral force. Since its
adoption, the right to education has been reaffirmed in numerous human rights
treaties and declarations adopted by the United Nations. https://www.right-to-education.org/
It is in
1948 that the right to education is accepted as an international legal
instrument of human rights but it was centuries ago when the Holy Quran was
revealed to the Last Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that education as
a human right was declared from the very first word ‘Iqra' or 'Read,'
(Quran, 96:1) of the Holy Book.
The human
being is indebted to the people of knowledge because of whom the world is
introduced to nature and its gifts, science and technology that has brought
ease and luxury to life and medicine which cures us from the minor to the most
dreadful of diseases.
It is
education that glorifies humanity and justice and is a reason for our peaceful
existence like a big family inclusive of various kinds of languages, customs
and creed from around the world. It is education that advocates unity in
diversity and teaches the human being to respect and acknowledges the message
of peace from all the religions of the world.
Quran,
Ahadees and the Education
Allah, the
All-knower says in the Holy Quran that the people of knowledge and those who
are illiterate are not the same in the rank bestowed to human being by the
Creator. The Holy Quran says:
….Say, “Can those who know and those who do not
know become equal?” It is only the people of understanding who are receptive of
the advice. (Surah Az-Zumar-9) — Mufti Taqi Usmani
The human
being is the best of the creation of Allah because of the knowledge that gives
him the power of distinguishing the fair from the unfair and thus establishing
justice in the world. People with knowledge are selected for the guidance of
fellow humankind and on the Day of Judgement, the educated people will arise
with high rank among the Ummah. Consider the following Ayaat:
And when you are told, "Arise, "then
arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were
given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Aware of what you do. (Surah Al-Mujadila - 11) — Saheeh
International
You are the best ‘Ummah ever raised for
mankind. You bid the Fair and forbid the Unfair, …. (Surah Ali 'Imran - 110) — Mufti Taqi Usmani
"O Muslims! you are the best of peoples,
who have been selected for the guidance of mankind; you enjoin them to do good
deeds, and prevent them from forbidden things; and you have firm faith in
Allah." (Quran
3:110)
Allah, the
All-knower bestows high ranks to the knowledgeable people because He says that
it is they who will understand the divinely signs and will spread His message
among the mankind for their good is hidden in understanding His message that
shields them from the dangers of the evil powers and saves them from the
natural disasters. Allah, the Most Merciful says in the Holy Quran:
And these examples We present to the people,
but none will understand them except those of knowledge. (Surah Al-'Ankabut - 43 )— Saheeh
International
Along with
the Holy Quran, numerous Ahadees exemplify the role of knowledge and the
importance of its acquisition no matter how many hardships one has to face for
it for there are great rewards for it in the life hereafter. Consider the
following Ahadees in this regard:
In a famous
Hadees Abu Dardaa said that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“Those people endowed with knowledge are the
inheritors of the prophets.” (Hadith Hassan, Abu Dawood, ibn Majah,
At-Tirmidhi, ibn Habaan].
“If anyone acquires knowledge that should be
sought for the sake of Allah, but instead he acquires it merely to get some
worldly advantage, he will not experience the fragrance of Paradise.” (Sunan
Abu Daoud)
Abu Huraira
reported the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“When the human being dies, his deeds end
except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child
who prays for him.”(Sahih Muslim 1631)
Distribution
of Knowledge: First Responsibility of the Educated People
The beauty
and purpose of knowledge are to teach and mentor other fellow beings. Acquiring
knowledge is not the end of the responsibility of the human being rather it is
the beginning of a more important responsibility towards the creation of Allah
and that is to teach them.
We find
that a teacher in almost every religion and spiritual school is given a
respectable rank. All the religions acknowledge the role of a teacher and the
importance of being learned.
Ancient School System of India -
Gurukula - Guru Shishya Parampara.
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Consider
the following:
The oldest
references to the concept of guru are found in the earliest Vedic texts of
Hinduism. The guru, and Gurukula – a school run by guru, were an established
tradition in India by the 1st millennium BCE, and these helped compose and
transmit the various Vedas, the Upanishads, texts of various schools of Hindu
philosophy, and post-Vedic Shastras ranging from spiritual knowledge to various
arts By about mid 1st millennium CE, archaeological and epigraphical evidence
suggest numerous larger institutions of gurus existed in India, some near Hindu
temples, where Guru-Shishya tradition helped preserve, create and transmit
various fields of knowledge. These gurus led broad ranges of studies including
Hindu scriptures, Buddhist texts, grammar, philosophy, martial arts, music and
painting.
The
tradition of the guru is also found in Jainism, referring to a spiritual
preceptor, a role typically served by a Jain ascetic.
In Sikhism,
the guru tradition has played a key role since its founding in the 15th
century, its founder is referred to as Guru Nanak, and its scripture as Guru
Granth Sahib.
The guru concept has thrived in Vajrayāna
Buddhism, where the tantric guru is considered a figure to worship and whose
instructions should never be violated.
(Guru From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
Sant Kabir
Das Ji, in one of his famous Dohas, attributes a teacher higher rank than that
of a god. According to him had there not been a teacher, people would not have
understood the value of a god hence, if both, a god and teacher, stand together
you have to touch the feet of your teacher before touching the feet of your
god.
गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय।।
Kabir Das
Ji
The Holy
Quran says that people with knowledge should be given the responsibility of
teaching other people as this is more important than going to the front. The
Holy Quran also says in the following Ayat that people of knowledge should
command their fellow human being to warn them to be cautious of the fault and
misdeeds they might commit. Consider the following Ayat:
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to
battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a
group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people
when they return to them that they might be cautious. (Surat At-Tawbah:122) - Sahih International
Islam
emphasises the acquisition of knowledge through discussion hence the Holy Quran
in the following Ayat commands the people who do not know to discuss and
acquire knowledge from the people of knowledge.
So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned
men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not. (Surah An-Nahl - 43) - Mohsin Khan
Various
narrations describe the importance of being a teacher and the spread of
knowledge. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has all through his pious life asked his
companions and the people to teach their fellow being to make them aware of
their duties towards Allah, the Most Merciful and the people around them. The
Prophet of Islam (SAW) has cautioned Ummah of the punishments they will have to
bear if they concealed their education and hide from people, what they knew.
Describing the importance of a teacher, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says that God’s
angels, the inmates of the heavens, the earth and even the ant and the fish
salute to ‘a teacher who teaches good to the people. Consider various Ahadees
on the importance of being a teacher and acquisition of knowledge:
“Verily Allah, His angels, the inmates of the heavens and the earth, even
the ant in its hole and the fish in the sea send salutation on the one who
teaches good to the people.” [Its chain is Hassan]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best among
you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it." (Sahih
al-Bukhari 5027)
Whoever acquires knowledge and keep it
concealed Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of
Resurrection. [Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, At-Tirmidhi]
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says: “The superiority
of a learned man over a worshipper is like my superiority over the ordinary men
from among any companions.” [At-Tirmidhi. Hadith Hassan].
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah,
peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever travels a path in search of
knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim
2699)
After going
through the teachings of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Prophet Of Islam (SAW)
various lessons from other religions of the world and the teachings of great
men among us, it seems we have lost our way somewhere in the middle and have
given importance to have with us whatever knowledge we have otherwise we, the
human being would not have to face the consequences of greed, dishonesty and
superiority complex that is bringing unbearable hardships on the world. It does
seem that no education that gives the tiding of humanity and selfless service
is left amidst us. Either we have lost
our strength of understanding Allah’s signs or we are concealing our knowledge
and not letting others know the signs that can aware us of incoming natural
disasters.
We, the
human being must acknowledge our roles as parents and as per the narration of
Ayyub Ibn Musa give our children good education that helps them be an educated
fellow that understands its responsibilities towards his fellow human being and
acts accordingly:
The Prophet
Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “A father gives his child nothing better than a good
education.
There is a
Hadees hadith compiled by Imam At-Tabarani that says:
“The best of people are those that benefit humanity.” (Al-Mu’jam
Al-Awsat)
Let us be
among the best of the people of our Creator and create an atmosphere of love,
peace and brotherhood that brings smiles to our faces.
And
Allah knows the best.
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Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/guru-shishya-knowledge-islamic-education/d/124834