Some students, particularly in the Department of Shari'ah, embarrass their teachers by asking them to omit parts of the curriculum and rejoice when their professors are absent. What is your guidance for them?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : May the Shaykh be respected, there is a matter that pains me greatly, and I ask you to guide me and my brothers in it. Some students, especially those in the Department of Shari'ah or Usul al-Fiqh, embarrass the Shaykhs and their teachers by saying, "Omit some of the curriculum for us; lighten the load for us." You also find that a student is happy when one of his professors is absent, because the curriculum is reduced in that case. And Allah knows that this pains me. Is there a basis for this pain of mine? I ask for guidance for myself and my brothers in this matter.
The Shaykh : Yes, your pain is justified. It is not befitting for a serious student to put his teachers in an embarrassing position; rather, he should have proper conduct and avoid this trait. Furthermore, the professor does not have the authority to omit anything from the prescribed curriculum. The regulations state that the examination is based on the curriculum and the prescribed syllabus, not on what was actually taught. This is also a problem; that is, the system requires the examination to be based on the prescribed syllabus, not on what was read. Therefore, the professor should not waste study time on research outside the subject, causing the students to lose their prescribed syllabus for something they do not need. When the end of the year comes and they have only covered eighty percent or less of the syllabus, either he or the students will be in a difficult position. If he limits the exam to what was read, he will be in a difficult position because the authorities above him will say that the exam must cover the entire syllabus. If he does not do that, the students will be in a difficult position because questions will be asked about things they have not read. This is undoubtedly a difficult situation. Therefore, the result is that we advise the students not to put the professors in a difficult position in this matter, and we advise the professors to strive to complete the syllabus without causing harm.
The Shaykh : Yes, your pain is justified. It is not befitting for a serious student to put his teachers in an embarrassing position; rather, he should have proper conduct and avoid this trait. Furthermore, the professor does not have the authority to omit anything from the prescribed curriculum. The regulations state that the examination is based on the curriculum and the prescribed syllabus, not on what was actually taught. This is also a problem; that is, the system requires the examination to be based on the prescribed syllabus, not on what was read. Therefore, the professor should not waste study time on research outside the subject, causing the students to lose their prescribed syllabus for something they do not need. When the end of the year comes and they have only covered eighty percent or less of the syllabus, either he or the students will be in a difficult position. If he limits the exam to what was read, he will be in a difficult position because the authorities above him will say that the exam must cover the entire syllabus. If he does not do that, the students will be in a difficult position because questions will be asked about things they have not read. This is undoubtedly a difficult situation. Therefore, the result is that we advise the students not to put the professors in a difficult position in this matter, and we advise the professors to strive to complete the syllabus without causing harm.