What excuse can anyone have not to be a Muslim in this modern era? Allah sent the Prophet PBUH at such a pivotal moment in history that Islam would change the landscape of the world. This would lead to the modern technological era, such that every person on this planet has heard of the Prophet PBUH, and the Quran. Not only that, but they can easily read it in their own language from the comfort of their own home!
By reading the Quran and the biography of the Prophet PBUH they would necessarily arrive to the conclusion that Allah would send the best teacher to teach the most important message of mankind; that is to worship the Creator and not the creation. Allah says in the Quran:
لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.Quran 3:164
Teaching Strategies of the Prophet PBUH
By reading the Seerah (biography) of the Prophet PBUH we learn that the Prophet PBUH utilized many different teaching strategies to best reach the hearts and minds of his followers. These teaching strategies as they are from the best teacher of mankind are the most suitable methods for us to use today.
As educators rather than acquiring our teaching methodology primarily through western/kuffar academia we should look inward at our own Islamic history and utilize the divinely ordained methodologies given to us by the Creator. Who knows best how to teach mankind, other than the Creator of mankind?
In this article I will briefly explain 3 different techniques the Prophet PBUH used to teach his followers, but in fact he used many many more.
Technique #1: Repetition
The Prophet PBUH sometimes used repetition to emphasize the importance of the message.
Narrated abdur-rahman ibn abi-bakr from his father that the prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you the three greatest sins?” (repeating the question three times) they said. “Indeed o messenger of Allah.” He said, “Associating partners with Allah (shirk) and ill-treatment of parents.” He was leaning [when he mentioned that], and then sat up straight (as if he was alarmed) and said, “and bearing false witness.” [The narrator] said, “He continued to repeat this until we said [to ourselves], “if only he would stop.”
Sahih al-Bukhari
What we learn from here is that the message is important, but also the delivery of the message is of great importance. When we as teachers don’t emphasize certain points, they can get glossed over, missed and forgotten. But by repeating, emphasizing, pausing, and even standing up, it causes the listener to pay more attention.
Allah uses the same strategy in the first three verses of Suratul Haqqah. After answering the question of what is the “inevitable reality” Allah gives 3 examples in the destruction of Thamud ‘Ad and Pharaoh. Similarly the Prophet in the above hadith answers his own question repeatedly.
In another hadith the Prophet PBUH was asked who among the people is most deserving of good treatment. The Prophet PBUH answered your mother three times (Sahih Muslim). It is clear from these few examples that the Prophet PBUH utilized repetition as a teaching strategy, and likewise we should do the same when appropriate.
Technique #2: Teaching by Example
One of the best teaching strategies the Prophet PBUH used, and we should also emulate, is teaching by example. Often times we tell our students and our children what they must do, while we ourselves don’t do it. The often used excuse is, “do as I say, not as I do!” But the reality is, if you’re not even convinced by your own arguments, then how can you expect your students to be? As Allah says in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?As- Saff, 61:2
The Prophet was known as the walking Quran. As the first and only Muslim known to the people of his time, and as the Prophet sent by Allah, he could not make any religious mistakes, except accompanied with a swift correction from Allah.
One huge proof of Islam is the Prophet himself being sincere in his message. Only a sincere person would go against his whole society, neither seeking power, nor fame or glory. If he had not preached by example then Islam would not have been successful.
We often say don’t judge Islam by what Muslims do, but the reality is that people do. And they have very good reason to. If we want to uplift Islam, we must use this strategy of the Prophet PBUH to teach by example!
The Prophet PBUH taught by example when the sahaba refused to slaughter their animals and shave their heads after the treaty of Hudaibiyah. The Prophet PBUH following the advice of his wife, umm Salamah, to slaughter his own animal first then shave his head. Afterwards the companions followed suit (Al-Ghazali, 367).
Technique #3: Using Images and Diagrams
The final Prophetic teaching technique to be discussed in this article is teaching by use of imagery.
Ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, drew a line in the sand with his hand and he said, “This is the straight path of Allah.” Then, the Prophet drew lines to the right and left, and he said, “These are other paths, and there is no path among them but that a devil is upon it calling to its way.” Then the Prophet recited the verse, “Verily, this is the straight path, so follow it and do not follow other ways.” (Quran 6:153)
Musnad Ahmad 4423
As they say a picture is worth a thousand words. By illustrating what you mean, you can drive the message across in a simple and easily understood manner. Today we use presentations, graphics, images, and video. Adding an image to an article or to a presentation adds interest, creating engagement with the listener.
These were just three teaching strategies the Prophet PBUH used, but there are many more! If we utilize them in our own lessons, we will find success and blessing in doing so. Who better to learn from than the best human teacher for mankind?
References
Al-Ghazali, M. (1999) Fiqh-Us-Seerah Understanding the life of Prophet Muhammad (Revised Second Edition). International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations.
Al-Mabarakpuri, S.R. Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)
Khan, M.M. (2009). Sahih Bukhari
Sahih International. (1997). Quran (English).
Siddiqui, A. (2009). Sahih Muslim (Vols. 1-43).
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