What is your opinion of a teacher who says to his students, "O brother so-and-so"?
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The questioner : I work as a teacher.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : I have young students in the first grade of elementary school. I call them "O brother so-and-so," "O brother so-and-so," and "O brother so-and-so." Is there any harm in that?
The Shaykh : There is no harm in it, because they are your brothers in faith. However, I think it is better for you to say "O my son" or "O my boy," so that the young one gets accustomed to respecting the elder. If you say "O my brother," it implies that you and he are on the same level. It is what we should do to raise our children to respect the elder with the respect due to him. Brother Musa is indicating that the time has ended because the call to prayer has been made. We should hasten so that we do not keep our brothers in the mosque, and so that people do not say that the students of knowledge in this house are late for prayer.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : I have young students in the first grade of elementary school. I call them "O brother so-and-so," "O brother so-and-so," and "O brother so-and-so." Is there any harm in that?
The Shaykh : There is no harm in it, because they are your brothers in faith. However, I think it is better for you to say "O my son" or "O my boy," so that the young one gets accustomed to respecting the elder. If you say "O my brother," it implies that you and he are on the same level. It is what we should do to raise our children to respect the elder with the respect due to him. Brother Musa is indicating that the time has ended because the call to prayer has been made. We should hasten so that we do not keep our brothers in the mosque, and so that people do not say that the students of knowledge in this house are late for prayer.