Giving Sincere Advice to the Learners

some teachers think that their duty toward their students is limited to providing them with information and knowledge. but this is not true. there is another important matter which should be taken into consideration. it is providing sincere advice and guidance to the students. the teacher, in fact, is a guide, advisor and father. the student spends more than five or six hours a day at the school with his teachers which is more than the time he spends with his parents.  this means that the teacher will be surely familiar with some of the student’s behaviors and actions which are not known to the parents of the student. therefore, the teacher should exert all out efforts to guide the students, correct their ideas, and refine their behaviors and manners by providing them with constructive advices and instructions. giving advice is one of the primary principles of the islamic rules before being a principle in the education process.

1. tamim bin aws ad-dari (may allah be pleased with him) narrated that the prophet (peace be upon him) said: ((religion is sincerity and giving advice. upon this we said: for whom? he replied: for allah, his book, his messenger and for the leaders and the general muslims))

al-hafiz bin hajar said: giving advice to the general muslims includes sympathizing with them, benefiting them, teaching them, avoiding causing harm to them and wishing them good as he wishes for himself. the term "general muslims” includes the students.

2. jarir bin abdullah al-bujali said: i gave the pledge of allegiance to allah's messenger for to offer prayers perfectly, to pay zakat regularly, and to give good advice to every muslim.

anas, may allah be pleased with him, narrated that the prophet, peace be upon him, said: ((no one will be a true believer till he likes for his brother (other people) that which he loves for himself))

ibn rajab said: giving advice  to the muslims includes: protecting them from harm, helping  the poor, teaching them, guiding  the wrong doers to the truth kindly and treating them kindly when correcting their manners and behaviors. accordingly, the teacher should provide his students with advice as an islamic duty and as a duty in the education process. if the teacher wants to advise one student only, it is better to advise him individually so that he will be more responsive. giving advice openly means reproach implicitly. ibn rajab said: in the past, when our ancestors want to advise someone, they give him the advice secretly and it was known at that time that if you advise a person secretly, then such action is called “advice” but when you advise a person openly, such action is called “reproach”. the teacher should take these things into consideration if he wants to give advice to any student. the advice means also that the teacher should check and correct the homework of the students faithfully and should do all of his duties faithfully. the best thing which can standardize your advices in this regard is following this hadith: the prophet, peace be upon him, said: ((no one will be a true believer till he likes for his brother (other people) that which he loves for himself))

dear teacher, the parents put their children as trust with you. did you take care of such trust duly? what is your position?

summary:

1) giving advice and guidance is as important as the education process itself; therefore, take care of this aspect.

2)  giving advice is one of the primary principles of the islamic rules before being a principle in the education process.

3) it is the duty of the teacher to advise and guide the student to the right way and correct his manners and behaviors.

4) giving advice secretly encourages the student to accept the advice and to act accordingly.