Home Log In
Unit 1 · Lesson 5 of 7

Adab with the Teacher and Fellow Students

‹ Prev Next ›
Free course

Lesson Content

Honour the teacher within the limits of the Sharīʿa, and learn with classmates through discussion, not competition.

Watch the lesson video first, then study this sheet. It holds everything you need for the lesson quiz and the final exam.

Main points

  • "Success is in proportion to respecting the sanctity of your teacher" (Ḥilya p. 17).
  • The teacher's right is a command of Allah: "He is not of us who does not recognize the right of our scholar."
  • Address him with respect, let him finish, ask few clear questions, keep respect when he errs, ask permission before leaving him.
  • Respect has limits: no kissing hands or bowing, no servile titles (p. 18).
  • Copy the teacher's character, not his voice or mannerisms (p. 18).
  • Choose friends of virtue; discuss, do not argue; do not envy classmates.

Key words

ArabicTermMeaning
حُرْمَةُ الشَّيْخِḤurmat al-shaykhThe sanctity of the teacher
مُنَاظَرَةMunāẓaraDiscussion to reach the truth
مُمَارَاةMumārāArguing to win
قَرِينُ السُّوءِQarīn al-sūʾThe bad companion
رَأْسُ الْمَالِRaʾs al-mālCapital: the teacher's character

Key concepts

AttentionThe teacher's energy follows the listener's understanding (al-Khaṭīb, p. 18).
Who is not a teacherMālik: the open fool, the innovator, the liar, the pious one who does not retain (p. 21).
Three friendsOf benefit, of pleasure, of virtue; only the third lasts (pp. 22-23).

Key ayat, ahadith and sayings

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يُجِلَّ كَبِيرَنَا وَيَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا وَيَعْرِفْ لِعَالِمِنَا حَقَّهُ"He is not of us who does not honour our elders, show mercy to our young, and recognize the right of our scholar."ʿUbāda ibn al-Ṣāmit; Akhlāq p. 57
كَانُوا يَتَعَلَّمُونَ الْهَدْيَ كَمَا يَتَعَلَّمُونَ الْعِلْمَ"They used to learn good conduct just as they learned knowledge."Ibn Sīrīn; Ḥilya p. 7
إِذَا جَلَسْتَ إِلَى عَالِمٍ فَسَلْ تَفَقُّهًا لَا تَعَنُّتًا"When you sit with a scholar, ask to understand, not to trip him up."Ibn al-Qayyim; Ḥilya p. 33

Copy his character, not his mannerisms; choose your classmates for their virtue.

Quiz

8 questions

Test your understanding of this lesson.

1. According to the Ḥilya, the student's success is in proportion to what?
2. What did Abū Salama regret about his time with Ibn ʿAbbās?
3. After a teacher answers, a student says: "But Shaykh so-and-so told me something else." What does the Ḥilya advise instead?
4. Which of these goes beyond the limits of respect, according to the Ḥilya?
5. What is your real capital from your teacher?
6. Imām Mālik said knowledge is not taken from four. Which surprising one is among them?
7. Match each kind of friend to how long it lasts.
Items
Friend of benefit
Friend of pleasure
Friend of virtue
Matches
Ends when the fun ends
Lasts, but it is rare
Ends when the benefit ends
8. Someone is distracted on the phone during a live class. Besides losing for himself, what does the lesson say he takes away?

Discussion

0 comments

Comments are visible after admin approval.

Log in to comment.
No comments yet.