How Do I Know Who is The Best Teacher for Me?

by Abu Shama

January 24, 2019

in Q&A, Reflections on Knowledge

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Identifying the Right Teacher

Different Types of Teacher

There are many different types of scholars in our midst today. Some scholars are strict and literal in their understanding, some liberal and reforming, some practical and balanced, some politically minded, some spiritually orientated, some self taught (desktop scholar), some well-known and others not so well-known. The big question is who to choose as your teacher and guide.

There is a well known narration from the Prophet (peace be on him) who said:

‘The upright in every generation will carry this knowledge, rejecting the distortions of the extremists, the false claims of the liars, and the (false) interpretations of the ignorant.’ [Al-Bayhaqi, Sunan Al-Kubra]

The student of knowledge has a responsibility to choose his teachers wisely. He must carefully select the most learned, pious and the most advanced person(s) he is going to acquire knowledge from. He should not take knowledge, except from one whose qualifications are legitimately established, whose good religious qualities are evident, whose reputation is reliable and whose respectability is well known. Ibn Seereen said:

‘Indeed, this knowledge is the basis of the Religion! So look carefully towards whom you take your Religion from.’ [Shama’il At-Tirmidhi]

The best teachers are those who have been trained by authentic scholars whose chain can be traced back to the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him). These scholars will have their speech and mannerism directly linked to that of the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him). Imam Shafi’i said:

‘If you want to know if your teacher was well educated and legitimately qualified, then check how well connected he is to the chain of the authentic scholars. ‘

The best teacher is the one who instils kindness and generosity in to his pupil, who helps his student to develop his natural abilities and broaden his horizon in accordance to his abilities. The Blessed Prophet (peace be on him) said:

‘Don’t go after every scholar. Instead, seek out the one who imparts in you a confidence instead of doubt, who preaches abstinence instead of love of the world, who teaches you humility and servitude instead of pride, who advocates love instead of hate and who teaches you sincerity instead of hypocrisy.’ [Mishkat]

Righteous company of a scholar awakens the heart and the person, just like a dying plant regains life and beauty in the hands of a competent gardener. In this very same way a student’s life enters full bloom when he takes the hand of a righteous scholar.

Celebrity Scholars

Many scholars have achieved celebrity status; people flock to their lectures if they hear their names. Some of the celebrity scholars are due to the name or how well they can deliver a lecture and others are due to their knowledge. It should not be your objective to follow just names, it should be your objective to learn knowledge wherever you can find it.

This is not to say that all the celebrity scholars are promoting themselves. It is rather an advice for the seeker to choose the best teacher for them. If you choose a celebrity scholar, it should not be his name that should draw you but his knowledge.

Sometimes there is no link between being a celebrity and being the most knowledgeable or being the better teacher. It may be so that the people who are unknown possess more knowledge than the famous scholars. Allah Almighty chose not to reveal the identity of who His awliya (chosen people) are; He has hidden them in the ocean of people in order that you respect all people.

The Right Teacher for You

Often, it is the less renowned scholars who are more influential and beneficial for you than the very well-known scholars providing they possess humility, the sincerity and authentic knowledge. This is mainly due to local scholars being more accessible, as the more well-known scholars tend to be busier with engagements, lectures, and appointments and other pressing matters. Therefore you will find it difficult to build a close link with them.

The student must consult his heart as to the real purpose he is studying with a well known scholar whilst overlooking a less well known scholar. Imam Ghazali said in his Ihya:

‘Ignoring the unknown teachers and only studying with the well-known teachers is a sign of arrogance, as it is to showoff.’

You should seek the best teacher for yourself; he should be someone that is suitable to your needs, who commands your respect, who you look up to and possesses knowledge irrelevant of the fact if he is well-known or unknown. He is someone who has learnt not to waste time and has mastered the art of juggling a heavy schedule whilst staying calm. He should be someone who responds to difficult problems by coming up with creative solutions, someone who loves what he does but still finds time for important personal relationships with friends and family.

If you find someone who fits the criterion and you then overlook him because he is unknown for a more well-known scholar, then this is arrogance and this will affect the sincerity of seeking knowledge. It is to make a statement, to say: ‘I am studying with such and such Shaykh and everyone knows him.’ And in the unknown case, ‘Well no one really knows my Shaykh.’

Related Post

Do I Need a Shaykh?

This is a series compiled following lectures on ‘The Manners and Etiquette of the Teacher and the Students’. The course was based on a book written by Shaykh al-Islam, Badr al-Din Ibn Jama’ah and conveyed to us by our Shaykh Haytham Tamim.

Qadi al-Qudat, Shaykh al-Islam, Badr al-Din Ibn Jama’ah was born in 639 AH (1241 AD). Originally from Syria and later moved to Egypt. He was educated at Hama, achieved excellence in religious studies and jurisprudence, and became a leading promoter of the Shafi’i Fiqh. Eventually, he attained the high status of Shaykh al-Islam and held the high position of Chief Justice. Imam al-Dhahabi has observed that Qadi Ibn Jama’ah was well versed both in prose and poetry, and had left abundant notes on Fiqh, Hadith, Usul al-Fiqh, and Tarikh(History). He commanded respect and influence, and had a large number of students and followers. He died at Cairo in the year 733 A.H. (1332 A.D.), aged 94, and was buried by the side of the great Imam Shafi’i.

His book on the subject of Adab al-Alim wal-Mutaalim

It was in the year 672 AH (1273 AD) that Ibn Jama’ah completed this book as a guide for both students and teachers to help improve quality of their academic life and work.

Suggested Books:

Ibn Jama’ah – Etitquettes of Seeking Knowledge

Abd Al Barr – Jami’ Bayan Al Ilm

Al Khateeb Al Baghdadi – Al Jami’ li Akhlaq Al Rawi