Explanation of the message of manners of the student and the teacher

Sheikh Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Fawzan Introduction of the Explainer Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and prayers and peace be upon the noblest of prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions all together, and those who follow them with goodness until the Day of Judgment. To proceed: The virtue of knowledge, the honor of its people, the clarity of its fruits, and the encouragement to seek it are supported by numerous authentic Islamic evidences, and scholars, educators, and specialists have spoken about it. Scholars have realized that knowledge is not properly disseminated nor its fruits achieved for the scholar and learner in both acquisition and practice except by embodying noble morals and good manners, as mentioned in this chapter, the manners of the scholar and the learner. Therefore, scholars have paid attention to this chapter, gathering advice, sound methodology, and proper guidance for both the student and the teacher, which benefits and is useful in the principles of education and classification. Among these points is that the teacher may have a wealth of knowledge but may not deliver it to the student in the easiest way because he needs a set of manners, conduct, and knowledge of the best method to convey his information to his students. The student may be serious about acquiring knowledge and have a definite desire, but he may not reach his goal of knowledge or attain the desired fruit because he lacks the manners that a seeker of knowledge should possess. What has been mentioned in this regard includes what Imam and scholar Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf al-Nawawi mentioned in the introduction of his book "Al-Majmoo’" in explaining "Al-Muhtasr," where he mentioned a valuable set of "manners of the scholar and the learner." Then, the distinguished scholar of Sham, Muhammad Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi, summarized it in a beautiful style and excellent presentation, focusing only on what is needed in this time, and removing what is unnecessary. This summarized work is a comprehensive and beneficial message, encouraging reading and benefiting from it, as souls tend to favor brevity in such topics. Allah, the Most High, facilitated for me the explanation of al-Qasimi’s message in a manner suitable for it, dividing it into eighteen lessons, and I included in its explanation a number of quotations from imams, scholars, and writers because this encourages seeking knowledge, as their biographies and stories contain what sharpens the motivation. They are pious Allah-fearing people and guided on the straight path, and what they mentioned is the culmination of their experiences and the fruit of their efforts. I also included in the pages some educational experiences gained during studying at the scientific institute and the College of Sharia, as well as the benefits derived from teaching in mosques, institutes, and universities, which we learned from our sheikhs and teachers, hoping that it will be beneficial. In conclusion, I say that such manners are worthy of being taught in mosques, scientific courses, and systematic studies—whether in high school or university—because the student and teacher are in great need of them. The teacher needs a set of manners concerning himself, his teaching, and his education, and the student needs to be disciplined with knowledge, its people, its books, himself, and his colleagues so that knowledge bears fruit and benefits both parties. This explanation is based on the message "Manners of the Student and the Teacher," which was cared for by Sheikh, the distinguished scholar, Muhammad bin Nasser al-Ajmi—may Allah guide him—in its first edition (1431 AH), published by Dar Al-Bashaer Al-Islamiyyah, with reference to the original, which is the book "Al-Majmoo’" by Imam al-Nawawi. Because the printed version lacks some words present in the original, and the context may require them, I do not know whether al-Qasimi intentionally omitted them or if they are missing. I ask Allah to make my work sincere and purely for His face, beneficial to His servants. He is the All-Hearing, Near, and Responding. Written by Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Fawzan On Friday, 24th of Sha’ban, 1438 AH Alfuzan.net@gmail.com