Knowledge in Islamic thought (part 2)

Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan

Knowledge in Islamic thought (part 2)

Teacher

Since the central focus of this research is to explain the status of knowledge—and one of the key terms in this field is the word Mu‘allim (teacher)—it is necessary to examine this term from both its lexical and terminological perspectives, provide a modern academic definition, and clarify some related common terms.

1. Lexical Definition

Lexicographers of the Arabic language have stated the following about the word Mu‘allim:

1. Teacher (Mu ‘allim) (with the “mim” dhammah, “ʿayn” fathah, and doubled “lam”) is an active participle, meaning “one who teaches” or “an instructor.” [1]

2. It also means an inspirer or one who guides others to the right and good path. [2]

3. A person who is engaged in teaching a science, profession, or skill to others. [3–4]

4. A Mu ‘allim is a person whose occupation is teaching. [5]

5. The word Mu ‘allim refers to an educator or instructor and is synonymous with Mudarris (teacher), Amuzgar (instructor), and Ustad (professor). From the perspective of classical scholars, a Mu ‘allim is someone who possesses comprehensive knowledge of the sciences of his time and is even the founder of certain disciplines. [6]

From these linguistic definitions, it can be concluded that the broadest meaning of Mu ‘allim encompasses “teacher,” “educator,” and “instructor.”

1. Terminological Definition

The technical meaning of Mu ‘allim closely aligns with its linguistic meaning. Scholars in this field have defined it as follows:

1. A Mu‘allim is one who possesses great virtue, around whom people gather to benefit from his knowledge and character. [7] This meaning may have been derived from the word Maʿlam (a place of gathering, such as during Hajj), where Muslims from all corners of the world assemble for material and spiritual benefit. [8]

1. A Mu ‘allim is a key and foundational individual in the process of education, influencing students through both speech and behaviour. [9]

2. A Mu ‘allim is one who teaches at the primary, intermediate, or secondary levels of education. [10]

3. Some researchers in the field of education and pedagogy have written that a Mu ‘allim refers to men and women who, after meeting certain qualifications and assessments, engage in teaching at public or private schools. [11]

4. A group of educational theorists, with a deeper perspective, state that a Mu‘allim is one who, through knowledge and understanding, lays the foundation for intellectual awakening, awareness, and insight among students, nurturing their behaviour, emotions, and character in accordance with the teachings of Islam. [12]

5. Dr. Ali Akbar Saif defines a Mu ‘allim as:

“A person who interacts with one or more students with the goal of creating change in them. This change—whether cognitive, attitudinal, or psychomotor—is an intentional and goal-oriented transformation brought about by the teacher.” [13]

7. The Specialized Dictionary of Education and Training (Terminology) defines teacher as:

“An individual qualified through successful completion of academic and professional training at a teacher education institute (Dar al-Muʿallimīn) or related university, who has obtained a valid teaching certificate or professional license, and whose main occupation is teaching and educating others in a classroom setting.” [14]

This final definition appears to be the most comprehensive and academically sound for the following reasons:

• It recognizes teaching as a professional qualification achieved through formal training and assessment.

• It specifies that an individual becomes a teacher upon successfully completing a recognized teacher education program.

• The statement “teaching in the classroom is his/her primary occupation” clarifies that the title Mu‘allim is directly linked to the practical act of teaching and its continuous pursuit as a professional duty.

1. Related Terminology

The word Mu‘allim often overlaps with several academic and educational terms. This overlap has led some to use these words interchangeably, though they carry distinct nuances. It is therefore necessary to clarify these related terms:

1. Ustadh (Professor)

In Dari (Persian usage), Ustadh means “skilled,” “expert,” or “master.” [15]

In Arabic usage, the final letter “dal” changes to “dhal,” forming Ustadh (أستاذ).

This word is originally non-Arabic, since in classical Arabic no word combines “dhal” and “sin” when the initial hamzah is dammah. [16]

The author of Taj al-ʿArus writes that Ustadh is not an Arabic term, as it does not appear in pre-Islamic poetry. [17]

The term became common when people began using it as an honorific title for those they respected. [18]

In some Arab countries, Ustadh is a formal academic rank given to university professors involved in teaching and research. [19][20]

In Afghanistan, however, beyond its academic application, the term has a broad colloquial meaning—any person skilled in a craft or trade may be addressed as Ustadh.

2. Mudarris (Instructor or Lecturer)

The word Mudarris is an active participle (ism fāʿil) from the Arabic verb darrasa (to teach repeatedly). Lexically, it means “teacher” or “one who frequently studies and teaches books.” [21]
In modern academic use, Mudarris is an academic title awarded to qualified individuals who have earned a master’s or doctoral degree and successfully passed the required examinations. [22]
In many Islamic countries, especially Afghanistan, anyone engaged in teaching at religious schools (Dar al-ʿUlum), whether formal or informal, may be referred to as Mudarris or Ustadh.

Hence, it can be concluded that the word Mu ‘allim, in its linguistic sense, has a broader meaning than Ustadh or Mudarris. [23]

However, in academic and professional usage, each term refers to a distinct role and field of specialization.

Learner (Mutʿallim)

Although the discussion centers on the concept of knowledge, the term Mutʿallim (learner/student) is directly related to it. Therefore, it is briefly defined here:

In contemporary usage in Afghanistan, Mutʿallim refers to an individual—usually within a specific age group—who is enrolled in a government or private school (primary, middle, or secondary) and receives education based on the approved curriculum and regulations of the Ministry of Education. A similar definition is also found in the Dictionary of Education and Training. [24]

Continues…

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References:

[1] Al-Fayoumi, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali. Al-Misbah Al-Munir, edited and researched by Yusuf Al-Sheikh Muhammad, n.p.: Al-Maktabah Al-Asriyah, entry (ʿIlm), vol. 2, p. 427.

[2] Al-Zabidi, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abdulrazzaq. Taj al-‘Arus min Jawahir al-Qamus, entry (ʿIlm), vol. 33, p. 137.

[3] Abdul Hamid ‘Umar, Ahmad Mukhtar. Al-Mu‘jam al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah al-Mu‘asirah, Cairo: ‘Alam al-Kutub, 1st ed., vol. 1, p. 89.

[4] For this reason, the person who teaches the pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah (Hajjaj al-Bayt al-Haram) how to perform the rites of Hajj is called a “Mu‘allim” (teacher).

[5] Mustafa, Ibrahim et al. Al-Mu‘jam al-Wasit, n.p.: Dar al-Da‘wah, n.d., vol. 2, p. 624.

[6] Dehkhoda, Ali Akbar. Dehkhoda Dictionary, Tehran: University of Tehran Publishing and Printing Institute, 2nd ed., 1998, no. 14, p. 21178.

[7] Al-Nawawi, Abu Zakariyya Muhyi al-Din Yahya ibn Sharaf. Tahdhib al-Asma’ wal-Lughat, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, n.d., vol. 4, p. 192.

[8] Ibid., vol. 4, p. 192.

[9] Zaydan, Muhammad Mustafa. Al-Kifayah al-Intajiyyah lil-Mudarris (The Productive Efficiency of the Teacher), Jeddah: Dar al-Shuruq, 1st ed., 1981, p. 46.

[10] Abdul Hamid ‘Umar, Ahmad Mukhtar. Al-Mu‘jam al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah al-Mu‘asirah, Cairo: ‘Alam al-Kutub, 1st ed., 1429 AH, vol. 2, p. 1544.

[11] Magdi Aziz, Ibrahim. Mu‘jam Mustalahat wa Mafahim al-Ta‘lim wa al-Ta‘allum (Dictionary of Educational and Learning Terms and Concepts), Cairo: ‘Alam al-Kutub, 2009, p. 939.

[12] Rifai, Ma’mun Wajih Ahmad. Mulakhkhasat Hawl al-Tadris wa Asalibihi (Summaries on Teaching and Its Methods), Palestine: An-Najah National University, n.d., p. 1.

[13] Safi, Ahmad. Simay-e Mo‘allem (The Teacher’s Image), Tehran: Association of Parents and Teachers, 2019, p. 21.

[14] Abedini, Ahmad. Specialized Glossary of Education, Tehran: Sadas, 1st ed., 2014, entry “Teacher”, p. 34.

[15] Dehkhoda, Ali Akbar. Dehkhoda Dictionary, vol. 2, entry “Ostad” (Professor).

[16] Al-Fayoumi, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali. Al-Misbah Al-Munir, entry (S-T-TH), vol. 1, p. 14.

[17] Al-Zabidi, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abdulrazzaq. Taj al-‘Arus min Jawahir al-Qamus, entry (S-T-TH), vol. 9, p. 418.

[18] Ibid., vol. 9, p. 418.

[19] For example, in some Arab countries, the academic ranks of university professors are “Assistant Professor (Ustadh Musaid),” “Associate Professor (Ustadh Musharik),” “Chair Professor (Ustadh Kursi),” “Distinguished Professor (Ustadh Mubarriz),” and “Visiting Professor (Ustadh Za’ir).” (Al-Mu‘jam al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah al-Mu‘asirah, Abdul Hamid ‘Umar, Ahmad Mukhtar, vol. 1, p. 89.)

[20] Ibid., vol. 1, p. 89.

[21] Ibn Manzur, Muhammad ibn Mukarram al-Afriki. Lisan al-‘Arab, entry (Dars), vol. 6, p. 79; Mustafa, Ibrahim et al. Al-Mu‘jam al-Wasit, vol. 1, p. 279.

[22] Abdul Hamid ‘Umar, Ahmad Mukhtar. Al-Mu‘jam al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah al-Mu‘asirah, vol. 1, p. 738.

[23] Nimer, Ali al-Sayyid Isma‘il. Ahkam al-Mu‘allimin fi al-Shari‘ah al-Islamiyyah (The Rulings of Teachers in Islamic Law), Egypt: Kafr al-Sheikh University, 1441 AH, p. 55.

[24] Abedini, Ahmad. Specialized Glossary of Education, entry “Student”.