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.
Below are ten examples of the teaching methods of the Messenger so that we may learn and adopt them in our teaching, inshā’Allāh.
The Teaching Methods of the Messenger ﷺ:
▪ Utilising opportune moments.
Often, the Messenger ﷺ would seize opportune moments when teaching so that the occurring event would correlate with the knowledge he wished to propagate. In this way, it would be clearer and easier to understand.
Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh reported that Allāh’s Apostle ﷺ happened to walk through the bazar coming from the side of ʿĀliyah and the people were on both his sides. There, he found a dead lamb with very short ears. He took hold of his ear and said: ‘Who amongst you would like to have this for a dirham?’ They said: ‘We do not like to have it even for less than that as it is of no use to us.’
He said: ‘Do you wish to have it (free of any cost)?’ They said: ‘By Allāh, even if it were alive (we would not have liked to possess that), for there is defect in it as its ear is very short, now it is dead also.’ Thereupon, Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ said: ‘By Allāh, this world is more insignificant in the eyes of Allāh than it (this dead lamb) is in your eyes.’ [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim][1]رواه مسلم في أول كتاب الزهد والرقائق
▪ Teaching through humour.
The Messenger ﷺ used to joke with his companions رضي الله عنهم sometimes but he only ever spoke the truth while doing so. He taught a lot of matters concerning dīn in this manner.
Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه said: ‘The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ used to come to visit us. I had a younger brother who was called Abū ʿUmayr as a kunyah (surname). He had a canary with which he played, but it died. So, one day the Messenger ﷺ came to see him and saw him grieved.
He asked: “What is the matter with him?” The people replied: “His canary died.” He then said: “O Abū ʿUmayr! What has happened to the little canary?”’ [Ṣahīh al-Bukhārī][2]رواه البخاري في كتاب الأدب (باب الانبساط إلى الناس) و(باب التكنية للصبي وقبل أن يولد للرجل) ورواه مسلم في كتاب … المزيد
There are many benefits which can be derived from this ḥadīth. Some ʿulamā’ have counted up to 400 benefits. Some of them are:[3]بعض العلماء شرح هذا الحديث في جزء مستقل، استخرج منه أكثر من ستين فائدة كما في فتح الباري. وبعضهم أوصلها إلى … المزيد
- The leader visiting some of his people.
- The mixing of some people with others.
- The permissibility of a scholar going to those who would benefit to propagate his knowledge.
- The permissibility of joking.
- The permissibility of giving a surname to a person who hasn’t yet had a child.
- The permissibility of playing with a bird as long as it is not harmed.
- The permissibility of spending money on permissible amusements for children.
- The permissibility of keeping a bird in a cage.
- Treating people according to their intelligence and abilities.
- The permissibility of calling a person with the diminutive form of their name as long as it doesn’t cause harm to them. (ʿUmayr is the diminutive form of ʿUmar.)
- The permissibility of asking a question for which one knows the answer as long as it is not hurtful.
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated: ‘A man sought a mount from the Messenger of Allāh who said: “Indeed, I will let you ride on a she-camel’s child.” So, he said: “O Messenger of Allāh! What can a she-camel’s child do?” The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Are camels borne from other than she-camels?”’ [Sunan Abū Dāwūd][4]رواه أبو داود في كتاب الأدب (باب ما جاء في المزاح) والترمذي في كتاب البر والصلة (باب ما جاء في المزاح) وفي … المزيد
▪ Emphasising the issue by swearing.
A lot of times, the Messenger ﷺ would start his statements by swearing in the Name of Allāh to draw the attention of the listeners to the importance of what he ws saying. Also, as a means to emphasis the statement and strengthen it. It is mentioned that he swore more than 80 times and was commanded to do so thrice in the Qur’ān.[5]قال الإمام ابن القيم رحمه الله في إعلام الموقعين وزاد المعاد: أقسم النبي ﷺ على ما أخبر به من الحق، في أكثر من … المزيد
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: ‘By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you shall not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salām amongst yourselves.’ [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim][6]رواه مسلم في كتاب الإيمان (باب بيان أنه لا يدخل الجنة إلا المؤمنون وأن محبة المؤمنين من الإيمان).
Abū Shurayḥ al-Khuzāʿī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: ‘By Allāh, he is not a believer! By Allāh, he is not a believer! By Allāh, he is not a believer.’ It was asked: ‘Who is that, O Messenger of Allāh?’ He said: ‘The one whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.’ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī][7]رواه البخاري في كتاب الأدب (باب إثم من لا يأمن جاره بوائقه).
▪ Repeating a statement thrice for emphasis.
The Messenger ﷺ used to repeat his statements thrice to accentuate its contents, draw the listeners attention and to help them understand and accurately execute it.
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated: ‘Whenever the Prophet ﷺ said a statement, he used to repeat it thrice so that the people could understand it properly. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī][8]رواه البخاري في كتاب العلم (باب من أعاد الحديث ثلاثا ليفهم عنه).
ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAmr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ remained behind us on a journey. He joined us while we were performing ablution for ṣalāh al-ʿAṣr which was overdue and we were just passing wet hands over our feet (not washing them thoroughly). So, he addressed us in a loud voice saying twice or thrice: ‘Save your heels from the fire.’ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī][9]المصدر السابق.
▪ Emphasising the importance of an issue by changing his posture and repetition.
Sometimes, the Messenger ﷺ would change his posture while repeating his statement indicating the significance and gravity of what he was saying.
Abū Bakrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said thrice: ‘Should I inform you about the greatest of the great sins?’ They said: ‘Yes, O Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ!’ He said: ‘To join others in worship with Allāh and to be undutiful to one’s parents.’ The Prophet ﷺ then sat up after he had been reclining (on a pillow) and said: ‘And I warn you against giving a false witness, and he kept on saying that warning till we thought he would not stop.’ [Ṣaḥīh al-Bukhārī][10]رواه البخاري في كتاب الأدب (باب عقوق الوالدين من الكبائر) ومسلم في كتاب الإيمان (باب الكبائر وأكبرها).
▪ Drawing the attention of the listener by calling him repeatedly and delaying the answer.
Sometimes, the Messenger ﷺ would repeatedly call a person and delay his statement to accentuate what he was saying. And so that the person would understand and remember precisely what occurred.
Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه said: ‘While I was a companion rider with the Prophet ﷺ he said: “O Muʿādh!” I replied: “At your service.” He repeated this call three times and then said: “Do you know what Allāh’s right on His slaves is?” I replied: “No.” He said: “Allāh’s right on His slaves is that they should worship Him and should not join partners in worship with Him.”
He said: “O Muʿādh!” I replied: “At your service.” He said: “Do you know what the right of (Allāh’s) slaves on Allāh is, if they do that (worship Him Alone and join none in His worship)? It is that He will not punish them.”’ [Ṣaḥīh al-Bukhārī][11]رواه البخاري في الجهاد (باب اسم الفرس والحمار) واللباس (باب إرداف الرجل خلف الرجل) وفي الاستئذان (باب من أجاب … المزيد
▪ Drawing the attention of the addressee by grasping his hand or shoulder.
Sometimes, the Messenger ﷺ would draw the attention of the addressee by grasping his hand or shoulder to increase his attention to what was being taught and so that his gaze, hearing and heart will be focused.
ʿAbdullāh ibn Sakhrabah رحمه الله said: ‘I heard Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه saying: “The Messenger of Allāh taught me tashahhud just as he taught me a chapter of the Qur’ān while my hands were between his hands.”‘ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī][12]رواه البخاري في كتاب الاستئذان (باب الأخذ باليد) ومسلم في كتاب الصلاة (باب التشهد في الصلاة).
Mujahid رحمه الله said: ‘ʿAbdullāh bin ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said: “Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ took hold of my shoulder and said: “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a wayfarer.”‘ The sub-narrator added: ‘Ibn ʿUmar used to say: “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.”’ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī][13]رواه البخاري في أوائل كتاب الرقاق والترمذي في كتاب الزهد (باب ما جاء في قصر الأمل).
▪ Using ambiguous words to encourage the listener to inquire about it.
Sometimes the Messenger ﷺ would be ambiguous and vague to encourage the listener to seek clarification for it so that he would be more inclined and motivated to learn more.
Anas رضي الله عنه said: ‘We were sitting with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ when he said: “A man from the inhabitants of Jannah is going to come into view now.” Then, a man from the anṣār[14]هو سعد بن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه كما جاء مصرحا باسمه في البداية والنهاية للحافظ ابن كثير في ترجمة سعد بن أبي … المزيد emerged with water trickling down his beard from performing wuḍū’ and his shoes in his left hand.
The next day, the Prophet ﷺ said something similar as before. Then, that man emerged like the first time. Then, on the third day, the Prophet ﷺ said something similar to his previous statement as well and that man emerged in the same condition as before.
So, when the Prophet ﷺ stood, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr follow him – meaning he followed that man – and said: Indeed, I had an argument with my father and saw that I will not go to him for three days. So, if you want to give me shelter until the three days passes, do so. He said: “Yes.”
Anas رضي الله عنه said: “ʿAbdullāh narrated that he spent those three nights with him but didn’t see him worshiping at night except that when he was disturbed in his sleep and tossed and turned, he remembered Allāh ﷻ and glorified Him until he performed ṣalāh al-Fajr.”
ʿAbdullāh said: And except for the fact that I only heard him saying good things. When these three days passed by and I was close to belittling his actions, I said: “O ʿAbdullāh![15]ناداه بأعم أسمائه، فإن الخلق كلهم عبد الله وإلا فاسمه سعد بن أبي وقاص كما سبق. There wasn’t any anger or separation between me and my father. Rather, I heard the Messenger of Allāh saying three times that a man from the inhabitants of Jannah is going to come into view and you emerged three times.
So, I wanted to stay with you to look at your actions so that I may imitate you. But I saw that you do not do much. So, what has reached the Messenger of Allāh regarding you such that he said that?”
He replied: It is only what you saw. When I turned back, he called me and said: “It is only what you saw, O my nephew except that I do not harbour any ill feelings for any of the Muslims nor am I jealous over the good which Allāh has given someone.”
ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنه said: “This is what has been heard regarding you and it is something we cannot bear.”’’ [Musnad Aḥmad][16]رواه أحمد في المسند في (مسند أنس) وهو كذلك في المصنف لعبد الرزاق والزهد لابن المبارك.
▪ Explaining an issue briefly, then clarifying it further so that it will be clearer and easier to understanding.
Sometimes, the Messenger ﷺ would mention an issue briefly to encourage the addressee to ask about it. Then, he would explain it clearly so that it would be simple to understand and remember.
Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated: ‘A bier (being carried by people) passed by and it was praised. Upon this the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “It has become certain, it has become certain, it has become certain.” And a bier passed by and it was condemned. Upon this the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “It has become certain, it has become certain, it has become certain.”
ʿUmar said رضي الله عنه: “May my father and mother be ransom for you! There passed a bier and it was praised in good terms, and you said: “It has become certain, it has become certain, it has become certain.” And there passed a bier and it was condemned in bad words, and you said: “It has become certain, it has become certain, it has become certain.”
Upon this the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “He whom you praised in good terms, Paradise has become certain for him, and he whom you condemned in bad words, Hell has become certain for him. You are Allāh’s witnesses in the earth, you are Allāh’s witnesses in the earth, you are Allah’s witnesses in the earth.”’[17]قوله: أنتم شهداء الله في الأرض خطاب منه للصحابة رضي الله عنهم ولكن قال العلماء: ليس هذا القول الكريم مخصوصا … المزيد [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī][18]رواه البخاري في كتاب الجنائز (باب ثناء الناس على الميت) وفي كتاب الشهادات (باب تعديل كم يجوز) ومسلم وابن ماجه … المزيد
Qatādah ibn Ribʿī رضي الله عنه reported Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ as saying: ‘Whenever a bier passed before him, he said: “Relieved or relieving.” The people asked: “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ! What is relieved and relieving?” He said: “A believer is relieved (by death) from the troubles and hardships of the world and leaves for the mercy of Allāh, while (the death of) a wicked person relieves the people, the land, the trees, (and) the animals from him.”’[19]قال الإمام النووي في شرح صحيح مسلم: معنى الحديث الموتى قسمان: مستريح ومستراح منه. أما استراحة العباد من … المزيد [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim][20]رواه مسلم في كتاب الجنائز (باب ما جاء في مستريح ومستراح منه).
▪ Enumerating issues and explaining each of them thereafter.
This is a similar method to the previously mentioned one. He used to enumerate issues and explain each, one at a time so that it may be easier to grasp and memorise.
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allāh said: Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your business, and your life before your death. [Mustadrak al-Ḥakim][21]رواه الحاكم في المستدرك وقال: صحيح على شرط الشيخين ولم يخرجاه.
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنهما reported Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ as saying: ‘A woman may be married for four reasons: her property, her status, her beauty and her religion. Choose the religious, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e. may you prosper).’ [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim][22]رواه البخاري في كتاب النكاح (باب الأكفاء في الدين) ومسلم في كتاب الرضاع (باب استحباب نكاح ذات الدين).
These ten teaching methods of the Messenger ﷺ were extracted from the work of Shaykh ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah (may Allāh have mercy on him); Al-Rasūl al-Muʿallim. Read Part One and Part Two which contains ten teaching methods each. The fourth and final part will be published soon, inshā’Allāh. May Allāh grant us wisdom and the ability to apply these teaching methods correctly in our teaching. Āmīn.
الحاشية
