Guiding Teachers and Advising Their Students

Question:
Umm Ra'id sent this question to your eminence, saying: I hope that the Honorable Shaykh 'Ali (may Allah preserve him) will offer a word of guidance to the teachers regarding the virtue of their teaching and upbringing of the Muslim girls by all means, especially in the leadership class. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I have never regretted anything as much as I regret a day on which the sun set, in which my lifespan decreased, but my deeds did not increase."

Answer:
Yes, it is obligatory for the Muslim, whether male or female, to give advice to Muslims. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The teacher, in particular, whether male or female, bears the responsibility of advising his or her students, guiding them, and directing them to good. The greatest advice for them is to be sincere in their teaching and upbringing. Among the ways of advising them is to explain the prescribed curricula to them with integrity and clarity, and to protect their time from being wasted, for they are in a stage of education and formation. Their time should not be wasted in gossip, talking about people, or being raised on partisan politics and methodologies that contradict the methodology of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), whether from men or women. They are a trust in the hands of the teacher, male or female. He or she should guide them in the right direction, encourage them to do good, and keep them away from engaging in evil and backbiting about people. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh.