Advice for Teachers: Fear of Allah in Their Teaching.

The Shaykh : As for the professors: I advise them to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in performing the task for which they were appointed in this school, or this institute, or this college. They should avoid idle talk that has no benefit, but rather causes harm. Some professors—and, praise be to Allah, they are few—when they enter the class, they start talking about idle matters unrelated to what was assigned to them. This is forbidden for them, because it is engaging in a task that was not entrusted to them while they are engaged in a task that was entrusted to them, and this causes the latter to be neglected. My statement does not mean that it is permissible to say, "Sit down, boy," or "Sit down, you are annoying the people," or "Sit down." My statement does not mean that the professor is prohibited from saying a kind word—sometimes—directed at the students, because the professor must, in reality, be both a teacher and a moral guide. If we assume that he has allocated a specific amount of the curriculum for this hour or session and finishes before the session ends, then it is time for guidance and counseling. He should direct them to what is good for their religion and their worldly affairs, and leave the idle talk that has no benefit.
Likewise, it is incumbent upon him—meaning the professor—not to distinguish between the noble and the lowly, the close and the distant, or the rich and the poor. The students must be equal in his eyes, because the teacher is like a ruler, like a judge; he must make people equal in his regard. He should not say, "This is my relative," or "This is my friend's son," or "This is the prince's son," or "This is the minister's son," or "This is the president's son." Everyone must be equal in his eyes . I advise the professors on a very important matter, which is establishing their authority before the students, meaning that the professor should show the students that he has authority over them so that they fear and respect him. Let him know that authority is established from the very first moment; meaning, if the professor loses his authority at the beginning, he will not be able to regain it at the end. But if he shows the students his authority from the start, they will fear him, and he will be able to control them in terms of their mental presence in the class or their absence. We are informed of some professors who were lax with the students at the beginning and then were unable to achieve what they wanted from the students. You find the students treating them with the utmost contempt because they did not see any authority in them at the beginning. The common people say: "The first spear—what is it?—is for the first thrust". If the authority is in the students' hearts from the beginning, then the professor will have complete control over the students.
I also advise the school principals and those responsible for them, such as secretaries or others, to monitor and follow up on the studies and work between the professors and the students, meaning they should not say, "We rely only on the professors." A professor may fall short. You may find some professors who are late to arrive at the start of the workday, or leave early, or do similar things. The important point is that the principals—principals of schools, institutes, and deans—must follow up on those under their supervision, including professors, students, secretaries, and others, so that they cooperate in righteousness and piety.
As for negligence, and the principal remaining in his office, in his administrative place, without asking or investigating, this is a shortcoming. The principal should go himself and inspect the classrooms, the students, the professors, and their dealings with their students, especially if the professor is new, so that he can identify any shortcomings and try to make up for them.
Then I advise the students—I advise them, especially those who have advanced in knowledge—to have good intentions and purposes. They should intend by seeking knowledge to revive the Shari'ah and defend it, to guide creation, and to clarify the truth, so that Allah places a blessing in their knowledge. They should be the first to act upon their knowledge so that they do not become among the first for whom the Fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection—may Allah protect us and you from it. Students of knowledge should strive to implement what they have learned so that their time is not wasted. By doing so, they will acquire knowledge. Indeed, whoever learns and acts upon it, Allah will teach him what he did not know. Therefore, it was said in wisdom: "Knowledge calls out to action; if it responds, it stays, otherwise it departs". And indicating this is the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): . And His saying (Exalted is He): .
I ask Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) to make this year of ours a year of good, blessing, beneficial knowledge, and righteous deeds, and to make us among the callers to the truth and its supporters. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.

The questioner : And now, we have the questions for this meeting, which is the forty-eighth.