Status of Teachers in Islam | Rights of Teachers

Teaching is one of the most respectful and valuable professions in the world. In religion Islam, this profession has more importance as our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) introduced himself as a teacher. Allah Almighty says in Holy Quran: 

 “Like (a favor which you have already received) in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you Our verses, and purifying you, and instructing you in scripture and wisdom, and in new knowledge” (Quran, 2:  151). 

 According to this verse of Holy Quran Holy Prophet (SAW) were sent to teach about the Holy Book Quran, the wisdom and unknown things to the people of this world.

As we all know that the person who teaches is a teacher, a

 man of obedience and respect. Teachers are some of the most influential people in society and have great importance in modern society. Teachers bear the responsibility of molding students’ personalities and educating them. Teachers are considered the most honored person in every religion. Due to the important role of teachers, Islam has granted high status and rights to teachers. Islam has paid great attention to teachers for their being the first brick in the structure of social development and perfection and the cause of guiding and developing behaviors and mentalities of individuals and communities. We can understand the highest rank of teachers from the Quote of Hazrat Ali (RA) in which He (RA) stated that: 

“If a person teaches me one single word, he has made me his servant for a lifetime. “

The teacher is considered the profound father in religion Islam. All Prophets were the teacher that sent before Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and obviously, Holy Prophet (PBUH) was also the great teacher for all mankind. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) teaches us how to worship Allah, how to implement teachings of the Quran in our daily lives and many other things. Islam lays great emphasis on knowledge. At numerous times and instances, Allah Almighty ordered the Muslims to acquire knowledge and learn. Islam lays so much stress on seeking knowledge and also on giving the respect to the ones who imparted knowledge. That’s why teachers have the highest status in Islam.  In Holy Quran Almighty Allah says:

 “Allah elevates to high positions those from amongst you who are faithful and those who have acquired knowledge”.
(Quran, 58:11)

Rights of Teachers

A teacher teaches the person so he has some rights some of them are mentioned below:

• Lead his pupil means it’s the duty of the teacher to make his student smarter and have a good Akhlaq.
• Get reward and appreciation. The teacher is the spiritual father of the student as he is the one who provides spiritual nourishment and improves the behavior of learners. That’s why we should appreciate teachers for their great work.
• Teachers should have freedom of expression, obstacles and intervention should be cleared.
• Teachers should get respect from other people. We need to respect the teacher who is willing to give us the knowledge.
• Teachers should get good treatment to make his job easier.
• Teachers should have freedom in giving judgment.
• Teachers should acquire and utilize learning facilities and infrastructure.
• Teachers should get physical and spiritual needs.

25 Rights of Teachers in Islam

A right can be interpreted as an authority or power that ethically one can work, own, abandon, use or demand something. The right can also mean a calling of the will of others to the mediator of reason, contrary to the power or physical strength to recognize the authority that exists on the other. Every human has a right, so the teacher has some rights too. The teacher is the one who gives knowledge to the learners. Teachers in the community view are those who carry out education in certain places (not only in formal educational institutions) teachers have heavy duties and responsibilities. The teacher is a leader figure.

“And among men and moving creatures and the cattle (are) various [their] colors likewise. Only fear Allah among His slaves those who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving.” (Fatir 35:28)

Teachers have spent time with learners in educating the nation’s children so that teachers have some rights like below.

1. Lead his pupil

The duty of a teacher is to make her pupils become smarter and have a good akhlaq. In this case, the teacher should lead his pupils to obtain the objectives that they are looking for.

“From Ibnu Umar ra said: The Messenger of Allah said: each of you is a shepherd and each responsible for the shepherd: the leader is a shepherd, the husband is a shepherd to his family members, and his wife is a shepherd in the middle of her husband’s household and against her. Every one of you is a shepherd, and each is responsible for what is the shepherd. “ (H.R. Bukhari – Muslim)

2. Salary/wage

Regarding the receipt of this salary at first, there was a dispute. Regarding this salary, the pikers and philosophers differ in the opinion of the teacher receiving the salary or rejecting it. The most famous refused to receive a salary is Socrates, then followed by the Muslim philosophy of al-Ghazali, concluding forbidden salaries. While Al-Qabisi has different opinions, he considers receiving the salary may be held. Al-qabisi’s reason, teachers receive salaries because educators have become professions, of course, they are entitled to get prosperity in economic life, in the form of salary or honorarium.

Teachers are part of the state apparatus that serves for the benefit of the State through the education sector, appointed civil servants, given salaries and educational personnel allowances. But if compared with developed countries, the income is not satisfactory but the task is noble, not an obstacle for teachers in educating students. For teachers whose status is non-civil servants then they are on the salary of the foundation, not even a few they do not get it but they still serve in order to seek Allah SWT pleasure.

3. Getting the award and appreciation

The teacher is the spiritual father of the students. He is the one who provides spiritual nourishment and improves the behavior of learners. That is the profession of teachers must be honored, given its very significant role in preparing future generations. Respecting teachers means respect for our children. The nation who wants to advance is a nation that is able to give awards and respect to the teachers.

4. Give his pupil a lesson

It is the duty of the teacher to give his pupil a lesson. This lesson will make his pupils more knowledgeable and smarter. There should not be an intervention for the teacher to give the lesson.

“As We sent among you a Messenger from you (who) recites to you Our verses and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you what not you were knowing.” (Al-Baqarah 2:151)

5. Give his pupil a direction

Pupils are like people that don’t know a direction and still not knowing anything. As a teacher, he should give his pupils a direction and make them have a clear path in the future.

“You will not achieve that science except with six things. I will explain to you broadly: intelligently, earnestly, patiently, there is provision, there is a guiding teacher and a long time. ” (Burhanuddin al-Zarnuji)

6. Have freedom of expression

The teacher should have freedom of expression because how a teacher can transfer his knowledge to his pupils without freedom. Obstacles and intervention should be cleared.

“I am the servant of the man who taught me a letter. If he wants to sell me and can also set me free. “ (Sayyidina Ali r.a.)

7. Judge which is the right and the wrong one

There are some cases that make the teacher should choose between two options. As the pupils, they need to accept the judgment of the teacher.

“Indeed, Allah orders you to render the trusts to their owners, and when you judge between the people to judge with justice. Indeed, Allah excellently advises you with it. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (An-Nisa 4:58)[AdSense-A]

8. Get respect from people

The words of Allah and the words of the Apostle describe the high position of the one who has knowledge (teacher). It is argued that the knowledge can lead people to always think and analyze the nature of all phenomena that exist in nature, so as to bring people closer to Allah. With the ability that exists in humans are born theories for the benefit of human beings. So, we need to respect the teacher who is willing to give us the knowledge.

“Stand up and respect the teacher and reward him, a teacher is almost as an Apostle.” (Syauki)

9. Accept or reject gift

Teachers should avoid livelihoods that are contemptible in the view of syara ‘and away from situations that can bring slander and do not do something that can drop the price in the eyes of the people. They also need to choose carefully between accept or reject a gift from the parents or pupils to avoid slander.

“O you who believe[d]! Eat from (the) good (of) what We have provided you and be grateful to Allah if you alone worship Him.” (Al-Baqarah 2:172)

10. Advise his pupil

The teacher should advise and correct those who do not maintain good manners in class, such as insulting friends, laughing loudly, sleeping, talking to friends or not accepting the truth. By doing this, the teacher can create a good behavior and akhlaq to his pupils.

11. Get good treatment

The teacher should get good treatment to make his job easier. Without it, the teacher will face some difficulties when gives his knowledge to the pupils.

“A learner of knowledge should sit politely in the presence of his teacher, calm, tawadhu”, eyes fixed on the teacher, not tossing legs, not leaning, not laughing loudly, not sitting in a higher place than his teacher nor back to his teacher.” (Ibnu al-Jammah)

12. Make a mistake

Teachers are not angels, they can make some mistakes. We should not look for the fault, remember the word of Allah.

“Every son of Adam must make mistakes, and the best of them are repentant ones” (HR Ahmad)

13. Make example for his pupil

The teacher is a good figure that can make an example for his pupil. He can order the pupils to follow his way and life.

“If your teacher is very good akhlaq, make him qudwah or example for you in akhlaq. But if the opposite is true, then do not make bad akhlaq as an example for you, because a teacher made an example in good akhlaq, not bad akhlaq, because the goal of a learner is sitting in the assembly of a teacher to take his knowledge and then akhlaq.” (Ibnu Utsaimin)[AdSense-C]

14. Be hard on his pupil

The great merit of the teachers who have given their knowledge to the pupils and often restrain his anger, who always feels the pain of holding patients. It is not proper for pupils to forget the merits of his teacher. They should be patient even though the teacher has a hard attitude, and never forget to insert their names in the chanting of your prayer. May Allah grant mercy and kindness to the teachers of the Muslims.

“Be patient with the hardness of a teacher’s attitude. Indeed failure to learn science because of hostility.” (Al-Imam As Syafi)

15. Gain a sense of security and safety in carrying out the task

Technically, there must be a guarantee or insurance when something happens to the teacher in carrying out his duties. So the teacher does not have to worry about carrying out his professional duties. In Indonesia, there are some cases that students attack their teacher or make him embarrassed. This is not a good akhlaq so we need to give the teacher a sense of security.