Is it permissible for a teacher to test his students on the interpretation of a verse if he knows its interpretation?
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The questioner : May Allah protect you, O Shaykh. Is it permissible for a teacher to ask his students about the interpretation of a verse from the Qur'an, knowing the answer himself, but only to see whether his students...?
The Shaykh : Understand it or not?
The questioner : Understand it or not?
The Shaykh : And what is the question?
The questioner : The question is: Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : Is it permissible? Well done. Yes, it is permissible for a teacher to test a student on what the teacher knows, and there is no harm. Did not Jibril (peace be upon him) ask the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about Islam, faith, and excellence in worship, while he knew the answer? Did Jibril know or not?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, he knew. That is why he said, "You have spoken the truth," even though Jibril intended for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to explain the religion—namely Islam, faith, and excellence in worship—in the form of a question and answer so that it would be more firmly established. Therefore, it is permissible for a teacher to ask a student about something the teacher knows. Now, in this case, if he asks him about the interpretation of a verse, it is well known that it is not permissible for a person to interpret the Qur'an except with knowledge. But if the student interprets it with what he has, and does not know whether it is correct or not, is it permissible or not? The answer is: it is permissible. Why? Because he has someone to correct him and verify his words. However, if the student interprets it for a person who does not know, on the assumption that he is seeking a ruling from him and he has issued a ruling, and that is the end of it, then this is not permissible. Is that clear, everyone? Likewise, if the teacher asks him, "Is this forbidden or not?" and he says, "It is forbidden," though he does not know, but he thinks it is forbidden, is that permissible or not? It is permissible. Why? Answer, everyone. Because he has someone to correct his words and verify them. No, no, that is not right, that is not right. One person cannot be both the teacher and the student. Come, the one after him, on the left?
The Shaykh : Understand it or not?
The questioner : Understand it or not?
The Shaykh : And what is the question?
The questioner : The question is: Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : Is it permissible? Well done. Yes, it is permissible for a teacher to test a student on what the teacher knows, and there is no harm. Did not Jibril (peace be upon him) ask the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about Islam, faith, and excellence in worship, while he knew the answer? Did Jibril know or not?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, he knew. That is why he said, "You have spoken the truth," even though Jibril intended for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to explain the religion—namely Islam, faith, and excellence in worship—in the form of a question and answer so that it would be more firmly established. Therefore, it is permissible for a teacher to ask a student about something the teacher knows. Now, in this case, if he asks him about the interpretation of a verse, it is well known that it is not permissible for a person to interpret the Qur'an except with knowledge. But if the student interprets it with what he has, and does not know whether it is correct or not, is it permissible or not? The answer is: it is permissible. Why? Because he has someone to correct him and verify his words. However, if the student interprets it for a person who does not know, on the assumption that he is seeking a ruling from him and he has issued a ruling, and that is the end of it, then this is not permissible. Is that clear, everyone? Likewise, if the teacher asks him, "Is this forbidden or not?" and he says, "It is forbidden," though he does not know, but he thinks it is forbidden, is that permissible or not? It is permissible. Why? Answer, everyone. Because he has someone to correct his words and verify them. No, no, that is not right, that is not right. One person cannot be both the teacher and the student. Come, the one after him, on the left?