To take simple basic lessons (for which Qur’an is easy). That too, we will not go for more than 2, 3 minutes per ayah in a class… using a simple Tafseer.
Example: Qul huwallau ahad: Say He is Allah, the one and only.
NO FIQHI OR TAFSEERI DISCUSSIONS (Unless you are a scholar and that too in another class)
Teach whom?
Group learning. Nobody is a teacher (unless you are a scholar)
The continuing reward (after your death) – Among the 3 things
Pious children
Sadaqah jaariyah
Knowledge – And what knowledge? The best one
AN EXCELLENT CHANCE TO MULTIPLY LIVES (AND MORE GUARANTEED INSHA-ALLAH THAN OTHERS)
2. Prophetic work!
4 tasks of the Prophet (pbuh)
TILAWAT
Tazkiah (purification)
TEACHING THE BOOK
Teaching the Wisdom
3. Following the Advice!
Remember the advice / order of the Prophet pbuh:
بَلِّغُوا عَنِّي وَلَوا آيَة
Convey from me even if it is one verse!
4. Among the best!
Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The best among you are those who have learnt the Qur’an and TEACH IT (to others)” [Bukhari].
5. Be the starter and get the blessings!
On the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “… No people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, without tranquility descending upon them, Mercy (of Allah) enveloping them, the angels surrounding them, and Allah making mention of them amongst those who are with Him” [Muslim].
6. To learn (for yourself)!!!
The best way to learn is to teach it!
Some people say: I am still learning…
I say: IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN, THEN TEACH IT!!!
If you don’t teach (while you can), you are not really interested to learn (fast enough)!!!
Do’s and Don’ts
To start with…
Intention – for the sake of Allah alone
Many people may praise, thanks, but always remember the intention and correct it.
Ask Allah to help you! (After prayers and …). Is it not one of the best job?
You are a da’ee (not a teacher!)
A da’ee goes to people, whereas students come to the teacher
Those people are your investment. If some people are ready to come to you, treat it as an excellent opportunity / reward-earning gift from Allah.
You are a da’ee (not a teacher!)
Treat them preciously.
Never criticize
Always encourage
Evaluate your performance FIRST and always before you do theirs
Pray for them regularly
Ask them to pray for you
Ask them to pray for each other (8th HW?)
Try your best to get those 7 HWs enacted! Why? Next…
Simple basic explanation only; not a tafseeri level of explanation.
In this class, please do not ask…
Any deeper interpretation of the verse
For this, you can ask any scholar near your house.
We would love to go deep but then one can talk about one verse for one hour and still it may not be enough.
This is not a Tafseer class. This class is just for basic understanding. We want to work on basic meanings first.
In this class, please do not ask…
Any fiqh issues such as:
Is photography right or wrong?
Should we say Aameen loudly or not?
Where to put our hands in Salah?
These questions should be asked to scholars
In this class, please do not ask…
We don’t want to create any problems because different students may follow different schools of thought such as Hanafi, Shafa’ee, ahl-hadeeth etc..
In this class, please do not ask…
Any advance grammar questions
They will come at their own time.
Ex: You don’t ask how a TV works in your 3rd grade science book. Even if it is explained, you can not understand. Just be patient and inshaAllah you will understand when you enter advanced grades.
In this class, please do not ask…
Any Tajweed related questions
We would love to answer them but because of lack of time, it is advised that you ask any scholar or Qari near your house.
Ex: You don’t ask English grammar and pronunciation questions in a Science class; even though science is explained using English language.
Excuses
for not coming forward to teach
1. Don’t know enough knowledge…
You don’t have to know enough.
Just being knowledgeable about the lessons is enough
We are KG teachers of Qur’an. (Ex: If you want your child to be an engineer, you don’t look for a KG teacher with an engineering degree!).
2. Can’t answer Tafseer questions…
You don’t have to know it all!
Teaching basics of Qur’an does not mean that you have to know enough
Example: A physics teacher (electricity, magnetism, wave motion?...) can not repair an electronic watch.
Example: A Biology teacher does not have to give medicine to a sick student
Will you blame those teachers? So, why blame yourselves?
3. Can’t answer Fiqh questions…
You don’t have to know them!
Even a simple graduate from an Islamic school may not be able to answer them
They should be referred to a fiqh scholar
So, don’t feel embarrassed for not being able to answer his question? It is not your area.
Ask him politely to ask these questions to a scholar
4. Will not be able to Cover!
With experience, inshaAllah you will be able to do that.
Just compare it with your English or Hindi or Science subject and inshaAllah you will be confident that you can cover it.
5. Handling Adv. grammar questions
Appreciate his/her interest and knowledge (Masha-Allah you have …)
Don’t answer advanced grammar questions it even if you know! It will scare others. It will distract them too! Ask them to avoid …
If you don’t know, then politely ask them to avoid advanced issues in this class.
Example: Will you allow someone to discuss “Differential equations” in a simple math class?
Just tell them that the time will come soon inshaAllah (or after the class).
What you are teaching are not your ideas but that of Allah (Qur’an and Sunnah). You are putting them directly in touch with Allah’s words. So, they should be told to look at the Messenger (pbuh) as an example.
If it were your ideas, they can say that why don’t you follow what you say. That is not the case here at all.
Guidelines for Every Class
When you enter the class!
For yourself:
Make Du’aa to Allah that he makes it easy for you; make it a means to forgive the sins, and to get his pleasure. (O Allah, I am doing it solely for Your pleasure. PLEEEEEEEASE MAKE IT EASY FOR ME).
Ask it after EVERY PRAYER!!! WHY NOT? The more you ask, the better the chance is that you will be granted! Remember: astajib lakum.
O Allah! You guided me without asking, so please give me …
When you enter the class!
For Students
Remind students (once in every 3 or 4 classes) that this is the most rewarding class in the sight of Allah. That they will get the reward for every moment. The 4 fadha’il will be there. In the sight of Allah, they will be best…
Remind Students about HW
Tell them to start their HW (with just 5 min or at least 3 min.) with this subject
Tell them to practice understanding in their Salah
