Rights and Etiquette for Teachers and Students in Islam

Rights of Teachers & Respect and Gratitude:

Students must respect teachers as they would their fathers, showing appreciation for their efforts in imparting knowledge. Imam al-Baqir (a) emphasized that teaching guidance earns the teacher a share in the rewards of those who apply it, while teaching deviation incurs shared punishment[2].

Kind Treatment:

Teachers should treat students with compassion, avoiding humiliation or harshness. They must consider students’ intellectual levels and tailor instruction to their readiness, guiding them toward suitable fields of study[2].

Defending the Teacher:

Students must defend their teacher against backbiting and avoid sitting with their enemies. Imam as-Sajjad (a) advised covering the teacher’s flaws and publicizing their virtues[2].
Rights of Students

Qualified Instruction:

Students deserve teachers who are faithful, well-mannered, and qualified to transmit knowledge authentically. Parents should choose such teachers to ensure moral and intellectual guidance[2].

Patience and Gradual Learning:

Teachers must be patient, avoiding public reprimands that could discourage students. They should follow a structured approach, starting with basics and progressing gradually[2], [5].

Humility and Service:

Students must approach knowledge with humility, recognizing the teacher’s role as a spiritual guide. Al-Ghazali and al-Isfahani highlighted the teacher’s duty to nurture students like a compassionate father, mirroring the Prophet’s (s) kindness[5].

Prohibited Behaviors
Arrogance Toward Scholars:

Disrespecting a teacher is akin to insulting the Prophet (s) and Allah. The Quran warns that pride is a sin reserved for Allah alone, and scholars who act arrogantly risk severe punishment[4].

Interrupting Knowledge Circles:

Students must avoid interrupting teachers during lessons, as this breaches etiquette. Historical examples, like Shaykh Abdul-Razzaq al-Halabi’s circle, illustrate the importance of undivided attention[1].

Spiritual Foundations
Purification of the Soul:

Students must cultivate virtues like detachment from worldly desires (zuhd) and sincerity in seeking knowledge. Al-Ghazali emphasized that adab (etiquette) toward oneself is foundational for spiritual growth[5].

Knowledge as a Trust:

Teachers must verify the authenticity of knowledge before teaching, as it is a sacred trust (amanah). Sharing unverified information, especially about the Quran or Sunnah, is sinful[1].
Practical Etiquette

Teacher’s Role:

Teachers should prepare lessons thoroughly, connect theoretical knowledge to practical life, and engage students through questions, as exemplified by the Prophet (s)[1], [5].

Student’s Conduct:

Learners must maintain silence during lessons, avoid side conversations, and prioritize assigned tasks. They should pray for their teachers and honor them above others[2], [3].
By adhering to these principles, both teachers and students uphold the sacred bond of knowledge transmission, reflecting the Prophet’s (s) legacy and the Quranic emphasis on humility and sincerity.

Citations

[1]: Utrujj – The Correct Etiquette of the Teacher and the Student [2]: Al-Islam.org – Rights of Teachers and Students [3]: SeekersGuidance – Key Etiquettes for Qur’an Teachers and Learners [4]: Al-Islam.org – The Thirty-Third Greater Sin: Pride or Arrogance [5]: Yaqeen Institute – Etiquette as Spiritual Nourishment: The adab of the Student According to Al-Ghazali and Al-Isfahani