The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was the greatest teacher to walk on the face of this earth. He always chose the best and most appropriate teaching methods; that which will have a strong impact on the addressee and which will be easy to comprehend and remember.
Teaching is a vital necessity in our lives for which there are numerous methods and techniques. What may work for one student, may not do the trick for another and what may be appropriate for a topic, may not be for another. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ knew this and beautifully executed his teaching methods each and every time.
His ﷺ Teaching Methods
Those who have diligently studied his way of life and sunnah would see that he painted his teachings with different brushes. Sometimes, he would be the questioner and at times, the responder. Sometimes, he would respond to the point, and at times he would add more information. At times he would present parables, swear by Allāh or dissuade the questioner from his question due to his wisdom. Sometimes, he would teach by way of writing, drawing, comparing or signaling.
He would sometimes present a doubt to clarify it, choose to be playful or prefer to ask a riddle. At times, he would ask a question even though he knew the answer to test his companions or guide them to the answer. Sometimes, he would teach them without receiving a question and would pay attention as to whom is in his presence such as children before teaching a certain topic. If they were in his presence, he would teach them what is suitable and easy to understand. And like this, he chose the best teaching methods suited for his audience.
Below are ten examples of these teaching methods so that we may learn and adopt them in our teaching, inshā’Allāh.
▪ Teaching through his beautiful character and captivating way of life.
When he ordered something, he would first act upon it. Then, his companions would imitate him and act upon what they saw. And undoubtedly, teaching through actions has a greater impact than teaching through speech.
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنه narrated: ‘A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him: “O Messenger of Allāh, how is ablution (performed)?” He (the Prophet) then called for water in a vessel and washed his hands up to the wrists three times, then washed his face three times, and washed his forearms three times. Then, he wiped his head and inserted both his index fingers in his ear-holes; he wiped the back of his ears with his thumbs and the front of his ears with the index fingers. He then washed his feet three times.
Then, he said: This is how ablution should be performed. If anyone does more or less than this, he has done wrong and transgressed, or (he said) transgressed and done wrong. [Sunan Abū Dāwūd] [1]رواه أبو داود في كتاب الطهارة (باب الوضوء ثلاثا ثلاثا)، والنسائي 1: 88 وابن ماجه 1: 146.
▪ Teaching the rulings of Sharīʿah step by step.
He ﷺ took care in teaching gradually. He would firstly introduce the most important aspect and follow it with another of a lesser degree so that it would be easier to understand and memorise.
Muʿādh رضي الله عنه reported that Messenger of Allāh ﷺ sent me (as a governor of Yemen) and instructed me thus: ‘You will go to the people of the Book. First, call them to testify that there is no true god except Allāh, that I am the Messenger of Allāh. If they obey you, tell them that Allāh has enjoined upon them five ṣalawāt (prayers) during the day and night.
If they obey you, inform them that Allāh has made Zakāh obligatory upon them. It should be collected from their rich and distributed among their poor. If they obey, refrain from taking the best of their wealth. Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allāh.’ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [2]رواه البخاري في كتاب الزكاة (باب أخذ الصدقة من الأغنياء…)، ومسلم في كتاب الإيمان واللفظ له. ومن فوائد هذا … المزيد
▪ Teaching moderately and refraining from causing boredom.
He considered the time and conditions of his companions when teaching and reminding them so that they would not become bored and tired.
Shaqīq رحمه الله said: ‘We were sitting at the door of ʿAbdullāh (ibn Masʿūd) رضي الله عنه waiting for him (to come out and deliver a sermon to us). It was at this time that Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiyah al-Nakhaʿī رضي الله عنه happened to pass by us. We said: “Inform him (ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd) of our presence here.”
He went in and ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه lost no time in coming out to us and said: “I was informed of your presence here but nothing hindered me to come out to you but the fact that I did not like to bore you as Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ did not deliver sermons to us on certain days fearing that it might prove to be boring for us. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [3]رواه البخاري في صحيحه في كتاب العلم (باب ما كان النبي يتخولهم بالموعظة والعلم، كي لا ينفروا ومسلم في صحيحه في … المزيد
▪ Observing the different individuals among his audience.
He used to take great care in addressing everyone according to their understanding. He was considerate to those who were beginners such that he wouldn’t teach them what he taught seniors.
Anas رضي الله عنه reported that when Muʿādh رضي الله عنه was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ on the saddle, he said: ‘O Muʿādh!’ to which he replied: ‘At your service and at your pleasure, O Messenger of Allāh.’ This occurred three times. He then said: ‘If anyone testifies sincerely from his heart that there is no god but Allāh and that Muḥammad is Allāh’s Messenger, Allāh will declare him immune from Hell.’
Muʿādh رضي الله عنه asked: ‘O Messenger of Allāh, shall I not then inform people of it, so that they may rejoice?’ He replied: ‘Then they would trust in it alone.’ Muʿādh told about it at the time of his death to avoid sinning. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [4]أي لا تبشرهم بذلك فإنهم يمتنعون من العمل اعتمادا على ما يتبادر من ظاهره من أن مجرد الشهادة بالوحدانية … المزيد
▪ Teaching through dialogue and questioning.
One of his most prominent teaching methods was teaching through dialogue and questioning so that they will yearn for the answer and actively think of it. Also, so that the Messenger’s answer – if they were not able to respond – would be simple and uncomplicated.
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ saying: “Say, if there were a river at the door of one of you in which he takes a bath five times a day, would any soiling remain on him?” They replied: “No soil would be left on him.
He ﷺ said: “That is the five (obligatory) ṣalawāt (prayers). Allāh obliterates all sins as a result of performing them.”‘ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [5]رواه البخاري ومسلم واللفظ له. وفي الحديث الشريف من الأمور التعليمية – إلى جانب طريقة الحوار– التمثيل … المزيد
▪ Teaching through conversation and rational comparison.
He used to choose this technique over other teaching methods to remove falsehood from a person’s mind and to establish the truth in the heart of those who find a certain ruling strange.
It is mentioned in a lengthy ḥadīth narrated by Abū Umāmah al-Bāhilī رضي الله عنه in Musnad Aḥmad [6]رواه أحمد في مسنده واللفظ له والطبراني في المعجم الكبير كما في مجمع الزوائد للهيثمي. قال الهيثمي: رجال إسناد … المزيد that a young boy came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allāh. Allow me to commit fornication. People approached him and started rebuking him.
Then, the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: ‘Bring him close.’ So, he come closer and sat. He ﷺ said: ‘Would you like this for your mother?’ He (the boy) said: ‘Never. By Allāh, O Messenger of Allāh. May I be ransomed for you. People would not like this for their mothers.’
The Messenger ﷺ said: ‘Would you like this for your daughter?’ He (the boy) said: ‘Never. By Allāh, O Messenger of Allāh. May I be ransomed for you. People would not like this for their daughters.’
Then, the Messenger ﷺ said: ‘Would you like this for your sister?’ He (the boy) said: ‘Never. By Allāh, O Messenger of Allāh. May I be ransomed for you. People would not like this for their sisters.’
The Messenger ﷺ said: ‘Would you like this for your paternal aunt?’ He (the boy) said: ‘Never. By Allāh, O Messenger of Allāh. May I be ransomed for you. People would not like this for their aunts.’
Then, the Messenger ﷺ said: ‘Would you like this for your maternal aunt?’ He (the boy) said: ‘Never. By Allāh, O Messenger of Allāh. May I be ransomed for you. People would not like this for their aunts.’
He (Abū Umāmah) said: ‘The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ placed his hand on him and said: “O Allāh forgive him for his sin, purify his heart and protect his private part.”‘ He (Abū Umāmah) said: ‘The young boy never turned to that after this.’
▪ Posing questions to gauge their intelligence and knowledge.
Sometimes, he would ask his companions a question even though he knew the answer to ignite their intelligence and increase their knowledge.
Ibn ʿUmar said: ‘We were sitting with Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ one day, when someone brought the heart of a date palm. He said while eating it: Indeed, there’s a green tree. Its benefits are like that of a believer. Its leaves don’t fall or wither. It bears fruits all the time with its Lord’s permission. And indeed, it is like a Muslim. Tell me, what is it? The people began to mention (different) trees of the desert.
Ibn ʿUmar said: It was instilled in my mind that it was the date-palm tree. I made up my mind to make a mention of that but could not do that because of the presence of the elderly people there. Since I was but a young boy, I was afraid to speak. I then turned and saw that I was one of ten people and the youngest. I saw that Abu Bakr and ʿUmar wasn’t speaking so I remained silent.
When they didn’t say anything, they asked: “What is it, O Messenger of Allāh. Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ said: It is the date-palm tree. When we stood, I told my father; ʿUmar: “By Allāh, O my beloved father. It had occurred to me that it was the date-palm tree.
He asked: Why stopped you from answering? I said: I didn’t see you nor Abu Bakr speaking and I am a young boy so I was shy. I disliked to speak so I remained silent. ʿUmar then said: “Had you given the answer, it would’ve been dearer to me than such and such thing.”’ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [7]رواه البخاري في أحد عشر موضعا في صحيحه. وهو حديث جليل القدر، غزير العلم كبير الصلة بالتعليم وأسبابه. من … المزيد
▪ Teaching through comparison and analogy.
Whenever the procedure of rulings became confusing for the companions, he ﷺ would clarify it by way of comparison and would inform them of its reasons.
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated: ‘A woman from the tribe of Juhaynah came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “My mother had vowed to perform Ḥajj but she died before performing it. May I perform Ḥajj on my mother’s behalf?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Perform Ḥajj on her behalf. Had there been a debt on your mother, would you have paid it or not? Pay Allāh’s debt as He has more right to be paid.”‘ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [8]رواه البخاري في أبواب المحصر وجزاء الصيد (باب الحج والنذور عن الميت).
▪ Citing examples.
Often, the Messenger ﷺ would explain matters through presenting examples. In this way, it would be much easier to understand since it would be related to their experiences and knowledge.
Abū Mūsā Al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘The example of he who recites the Qur’ān is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. He who does not recite the Qur’ān is like a date which is good in taste but has no smell.
And the example of a dissolute wicked person who recites the Qur’ān is like the rayḥānah (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who does not recite the Qur’ān is like the colocynth which tastes bitter and has no smell.’ [Sunan Abū Dāwūd] [9]رواه أبو داود في كتاب الأدب (باب من يؤمر أن يجالس) والحديث عند البخاري و مسلم من حديث أنس عن أبي موسى الأشعري … المزيد
▪ Drawing on the ground.
At times, the Messenger ﷺ would explain a concept by drawings and illustrations on the earth for better understanding.
Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ drew a square and in the middle of it he drew a line, the end of which jutted out beyond the square. Further across the middle line, he drew a number of smaller lines. Then he ﷺ said: ‘The figure represents man and the encircling square is death which encompasses him. The middle line represents his hopes and the smaller lines are calamities of life. If one of those misses him, another will seize him, and if that one misses him, he falls victim to another. If all of them miss him, old-age will afflict him.’ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī] [10]رواه البخاري في كتاب الرقاق (باب الأمل وطوله).
Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh said: ‘We were with the Prophet ﷺ and he drew a line (in the sand). Then, he drew two lines on its right and two on its left. He then put his hand on the middle line and said: “This is the path of Allāh. Then, he recited the verse: “And: This is My straight path. So, follow it, and do not follow the (other) ways, lest they should make you deviate from His way.”’ [11]رواه ابن ماجه (باب اتباع سنة الرسول ﷺ). الآية من سورة الأنعام: 153.
These ten teaching methods of the Prophet ﷺ were extracted from the work of Shaykh ʿAbdul Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah (may Allāh have mercy on him); Al-Rasūl al-Muʿallim. Read the Part Two and Part Three part as well, each contain ten extraordinary methods. May Allāh grant us wisdom and the ability to apply these teaching methods correctly in our teaching. Āmīn.
الحاشية
