Respect for the teacher
In fact, honoring the teacher is also the honor of knowledge. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) said:
أَنَا عَبْدُ مَنْ علمنی حرفا وَاحِدًا إِنْ شَاءَ بَاعَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ اعْتَقَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ اسْتَرَقَ
Meaning: Whoever taught me a letter, I am their servant. Whether they want to sell me now, set me free, or keep me as a servant, it’s up to them.
Undoubtedly, the one who has taught you even a single letter from the essentials of faith is your religious father. In the respect and honor of the teacher, it is also important for the student never to walk ahead of the teacher, neither to sit in the teacher’s place, nor to begin speaking without permission, nor to speak excessively in front of the teacher without permission.
When the teacher is troubled, one should not ask any questions. Instead, one should be considerate of the teacher’s time and not knock on the teacher’s door. Rather, one should wait patiently for the teacher to come out. The purpose is that the student should always consider the teacher’s satisfaction and avoid displeasing them. Besides the disobedience of Allah Almighty, the student should implement the teacher’s instructions in every matter, as disobedience to Allah Almighty is not permissible. This is as the beloved Prophet (ﷺ) has guided.
إِنَّ شَرَّ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُذْهِبُ دِينَهُ لِدُنْيَا غَيْرِهِ ۔
The worst person among people is the one who, while trying to improve someone’s world, ruins their own religion.
Respecting and honoring the teacher is indeed a part of respecting and honoring their relatives.
A story is narrated that Caliph Harun al-Rashid sent his son to Imam al-Lughah Asma’i to acquire knowledge. One day, Harun al-Rashid observed that Asma’i was performing ablution (wudu) and had his feet in the water while Harun’s son was pouring water for him. Upon seeing this, the Caliph complained to Asma’i, saying, ‘I sent my son to you so that you could teach him knowledge and etiquette. But when you perform ablution, why don’t you command him to pour water with one hand and wash the other hand with the other? Every student of knowledge who values the teachings of their teacher and adorns themselves with the jewels of knowledge can illuminate the path of righteousness in society. This is the essence of ‘Baa Adab Baa Naseeb’.
