Is it permissible for a person to say about himself: "I am a student of knowledge or a teacher, but not an educator"?
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The questioner : We often hear thatThe Shaykh : Al-Albani says aboutThe Shaykh : Al-Albani that he is a teacher and not an educator. If this statement is confirmed from you, O Shaykh, how do we reconcile it with your slogan between purification and education?
The Shaykh : Purification and education are not carried out by one person; rather, they are carried out by a group of scholars and people of virtue. This is the first point. Second, as for me, I do not wish to be otherwise, and my reality testifies that I do not go beyond being a student of knowledge. If I am asked about an issue and I have knowledge of it, I answer. But as for appointing myself to the position of the shaykhs around whom those called muridin (disciples) gather, and who educate them under their eyes as they please—first, my reality testifies that I am not like that, and second, I do not wish to be like that, because I believe that what I am engaged in regarding knowledge is sufficient for me, and even more than that. So this is the answer to the question you asked just now, and may it be clear, if Allah wills.
The questioner : ... this statement is confirmed from you, that you say, "I am a teacher and not an educator."
The Shaykh : If it were not confirmed, I would not have answered you with what you heard.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
onAl-Halabi : O Shaykh, on one point here, excuse me if you allow me.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
'Ali: Of course, our brother Mustafa, may Allah reward him with good, is conveying what is mentioned about others, meaning
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
'Ali: And otherwise, we consider him to be on good, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : If Allah wills.
'Ali: The point I want to mention is that separating teaching from education is actually an incorrect separation, in the sense that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was teaching the Companions, did he teach them and then say to them after teaching, "I want to educate you"? Knowledge itself is education: that you refine yourself with knowledge, obey the commands, and refrain from the prohibitions. This is the greatest education.[An-Nur 24:54] And obedience to him is by following his command and avoiding his prohibition, let alone the verses of the Noble Book and the other hadiths reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and so on. And Allah knows best.
The Shaykh : This is correct speech, and may Allah reward you with good. However, education today has a specific meaning in the understanding of scholars and shaykhs, different from what our brother Professor 'Ali indicated, and may Allah reward him with good. So this is correct speech, because beneficial knowledge must necessarily be accompanied by righteous action. If one of them is separated from the other, it becomes barren. So we teach, but we do not aim to guide people and educate them, and so on, because we do not have such free time, as you indicated just now. But when we say this is permissible and this is not permissible, the intention is to obey what Allah has commanded and to refrain from what Allah has forbidden. Please proceed.
The Shaykh : Purification and education are not carried out by one person; rather, they are carried out by a group of scholars and people of virtue. This is the first point. Second, as for me, I do not wish to be otherwise, and my reality testifies that I do not go beyond being a student of knowledge. If I am asked about an issue and I have knowledge of it, I answer. But as for appointing myself to the position of the shaykhs around whom those called muridin (disciples) gather, and who educate them under their eyes as they please—first, my reality testifies that I am not like that, and second, I do not wish to be like that, because I believe that what I am engaged in regarding knowledge is sufficient for me, and even more than that. So this is the answer to the question you asked just now, and may it be clear, if Allah wills.
The questioner : ... this statement is confirmed from you, that you say, "I am a teacher and not an educator."
The Shaykh : If it were not confirmed, I would not have answered you with what you heard.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And you as well.
onAl-Halabi : O Shaykh, on one point here, excuse me if you allow me.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
'Ali: Of course, our brother Mustafa, may Allah reward him with good, is conveying what is mentioned about others, meaning
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
'Ali: And otherwise, we consider him to be on good, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : If Allah wills.
'Ali: The point I want to mention is that separating teaching from education is actually an incorrect separation, in the sense that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was teaching the Companions, did he teach them and then say to them after teaching, "I want to educate you"? Knowledge itself is education: that you refine yourself with knowledge, obey the commands, and refrain from the prohibitions. This is the greatest education.
And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided
وإن تطيعوه تهتدواThe Shaykh : This is correct speech, and may Allah reward you with good. However, education today has a specific meaning in the understanding of scholars and shaykhs, different from what our brother Professor 'Ali indicated, and may Allah reward him with good. So this is correct speech, because beneficial knowledge must necessarily be accompanied by righteous action. If one of them is separated from the other, it becomes barren. So we teach, but we do not aim to guide people and educate them, and so on, because we do not have such free time, as you indicated just now. But when we say this is permissible and this is not permissible, the intention is to obey what Allah has commanded and to refrain from what Allah has forbidden. Please proceed.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.