I am a teacher at the elementary level. How should I deal with pupils in a way that revives the spirit of Islam and uses the stories of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, to make them role models for pupils to follow?May Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Teachers have their own role and a great status if they do their job, perform Da‘wah, and guide people in the best way. In doing so, they bear the standard of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; hence, they would be carrying out a job that is similar to that of the Prophet’s. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): {Certainly did Allaah 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]

In a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “I have been sent as a teacher.” [Ad-Daarimi and Ibn Maajah]

In another Hadeeth on the authority on Abu Umaamah Al-Baahili the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said:

Allaah, His angels, the residents of the heavens and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the whale in the sea do pray for the one who teaches people good things. [At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and At-Tabaraani]

Teachers should bear in mind that people have given them their children to mold their minds and rectify them. As such, teachers have been assigned a great task, because they are competent by the Will of Allaah to implant purity, chastity, courage and love of religion and its followers. Conversely, they can promote lowliness, cowardliness, treachery, and deviation – Allaah forbid. The following are tips to help teachers undertake their task:

1-      Having a good intention and sound feelings.

2-      To frequently supplicate Allaah to grant them success and help to guide people.

3-      To always read different books of Fiqh, Seerah, biographies, and so on.

4-      To prepare and deliver lessons well.

5-      To be good role models, because actions influence people more than words do.

6-      To communicate with the pupils’ parents.

7-      To be wise in their actions and thus be harsh and lenient with students when required.

8-      Connect pupils with the best role model, namely the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions.

We supplicate Allaah to guide you to what is good.