This reflective discussion illuminates the blessings and responsibility of nurturing hearts and minds while delving into the sacred trust of teaching with humility, good intentions and resilience as an educator.
I once had a deep, reflective discussion with a dear sister of mine, Ustazah Halimah Alaydrus, a religious teacher from Indonesia who has a huge following on social media and countless students attending her classes. We talked about how we, as educators, perceive people who listen attentively to our lectures and the responsibility that comes with our words.
While our words have the potential to inspire and guide, they also carry the risk of causing harm if we are careless or haphazard in choosing them. Naturally, this makes us self-conscious when delivering lectures or talks.
There have been moments when we felt the urge to stop speaking altogether, to retreat into safe spaces and think to ourselves, “We’re done!” But we are constantly reminded of the amanah (trust) we hold. The knowledge we have learned from our predecessors is a trust that must be shared and benefited by others.
1. Making and Renewing Good Intentions
As people of faith, our primary goal in spreading knowledge should not be for worldly gains. While receiving remuneration is a form of compensation for the hard work and hours invested, and it’s only fair that teachers receive proper salaries, the main objective must be solely to please Allah. Teaching is an act of worship, a noble service that benefits others and keeps us on the path to Jannah.
Yes, it’s true that often, we are driven by the need for income, as the rewards kept for us in the hereafter can feel abstract and distant. However, the blessings from good intentions can already be felt in this world: blessings like peace of mind, contentment and various forms of blissful provision (rizq) from Allah.
Read: The Concept of Rizq (Sustenance) In Islam
2. Acknowledging That Guidance Comes From Allah Alone
When we teach or offer advice to students, family members, or our children, we remind ourselves that if our intention is to make others listen, they may not. Instead, we should speak as a reminder, both for them and for ourselves and entrust the outcome to Allah. This approach helps us understand that true guidance comes from Allah alone. Our role is to facilitate that process.
Allah holds every heart in His hands, and only He knows whom to guide based on the sincerity of the listeners’ intentions and the effort they make. We have no power to control or grant guidance to anyone. Understanding this, we don’t become easily frustrated or angry when our efforts don’t achieve the desired outcome. Instead, we find peace within ourselves and remain calm. As Allah s.w.t. says in the Quran:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves”
(Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:11)
3. Striving With Integrity and Preparing for Lessons
Effective teaching begins with confidence in our knowledge, which requires us to learn from the right teachers, especially when dealing with faith and belief.
Our teachers often remind us to continuously seek knowledge, stay attuned to the context and be more than fully prepared before each lesson. They also stress the importance of revisiting questions we can’t immediately answer and refraining from speaking when unsure. We must always balance confidence in sharing knowledge with humility.
