Teachers and Educators in Islam: The Honored Pillars of Civilization
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (QS. Al-Mujadilah: 11)
In the midst of today’s glittering materialistic civilization, there is one profession whose fate is often marginalized: The Teacher. In the capitalist system, the teaching profession is often looked down upon. Teachers are frequently paid an inadequate salary, burdened with piles of exhausting administrative tasks, and demanded to produce graduation numbers on paper. Consequently, many educators have to find side jobs just to make ends meet, sacrificing the quality of teaching and mental development of their students.
However, let us briefly turn our gaze towards the fold of Islamic civilization. Through the lens of Islamic sharia applied by the Khilafah state, a teacher is not merely an “honorary worker” or “academic service provider.” The teacher is the main pillar of civilization, the heir of the Prophets, and the architect who shapes the souls of future generations.
This article will thoroughly examine the position, rights, and obligations of teachers in the Islamic education system, purely extracted from the tsaqafah of Hizbut Tahrir, referring to the principles of statehood in the book Nizhamul Hukm fil Islam (The System of Government in Islam) and the concept of development in Mafahim Hizbut Tahrir.
1. Definition and Position of the Teacher in the Islamic View
In the Islamic intellectual tradition, teaching is not an ordinary profession. It is a prophetic mission. When Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala sent the Prophet ﷺ to this world, his main task was not to amass wealth or build palaces, but to become a great educator.
The Prophet ﷺ proudly affirmed his status:
إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ مُعَلِّمًا
“I was sent only as a teacher (educator).” (HR. Ibnu Majah)
Therefore, every person who takes on the role of mu’allim (teacher) or murabbi (educator) is essentially participating in the prophetic mission.
الْعُلَمَاءُ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، إِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلَا دِرْهَمًا، إِنَّمَا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ
“Indeed, the scholars (people of knowledge/educators) are the heirs of the Prophets. Indeed, the Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, but they left behind knowledge.” (HR. Abu Dawud and Tirmidzi)
In the Khilafah system, the position of a teacher is equal to that of scholars and qadhis (judges) in terms of honor in the eyes of society. They are not seen as “factory workers of education,” but rather as Guardians of the Mind and Soul of the Ummah. If a doctor is tasked with maintaining the physical health of the people, then a teacher is tasked with maintaining the health of the mind (aqliyyah) and soul (nafsiyyah) of the Islamic generation.
2. Fundamental Difference: Teaching (Ta’lim) vs Educating (Tarbiyah)
Hizbut Tahrir in the book Mafahim provides a very clear demarcation line between merely transferring information and educating personality. A teacher in Islam is required to do both simultaneously.
A. Ta’lim (Teaching)
Ta’lim is the process of transferring knowledge (tsaqafah or science) from teacher to student. This process demands that the teacher have competent scholarly qualifications.
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا
“And He taught Adam the names of all things.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 31)
B. Tarbiyah (Personality Development)
Tarbiyah is far heavier than Ta’lim. Tarbiyah is the process of shaping the Syakhshiyyah Islamiyyah (Islamic Personality) of the student so that their pattern of thought and pattern of attitude are subject to Allah’s sharia.
التَّرْبِيَةُ هِيَ بِنَاءُ الشَّخْصِيَّةِ الْإِسْلَامِيَّةِ
“Tarbiyah is the process of building the Islamic personality.”
| Aspect | Ta’lim (Teaching) | Tarbiyah (Education/Development) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Target | Mind (Cognitive understanding) | Soul and Mind (Syakhshiyyah Islamiyyah) |
| Method | Explanation, discussion, demonstration | Role modeling (qudwah), advice, habituation of action |
| Success Indicator | Student memorizes and understands the material | Student practices the knowledge in their life |
| Teacher’s Character | Intelligent, masters the material | Righteous, God-conscious, a role model |
In the Khilafah, a teacher must not only be good at teaching mathematics but neglect the prayer of their students. The teacher is required to be a true Murabbi.
3. The Obligation of the State (Khilafah) Regarding Teacher Welfare
How can a teacher focus on educating the souls of their students if their mind is preoccupied with debt for rice and overdue rent? Islam deeply understands human nature. Therefore, the Khilafah places the responsibility for teacher welfare entirely on the shoulders of the state.
In the book Nizhamul Hukm fil Islam, it is explained that education is a basic public need that must be provided by the state for free. The logical consequence of free education is that the state must finance all educational infrastructure, including paying the salaries of its teachers.
الإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
“An Imam (Caliph) is a shepherd (guardian of the people’s affairs), and he will be held accountable for the flock under his care.” (HR. Bukhari)
Teacher salaries in the Khilafah are taken from Baitul Mal (State Treasury). The state must not let teachers live in poverty. The Caliph is obliged to provide a very decent salary (ujrah), sufficient to meet:
- Primary needs (clothing, food, shelter) of the teacher and their family.
- Secondary needs that support their scholarship (such as buying books, research costs, and transportation).
History records in golden ink how Caliph Umar bin Khattab radhiyallahu ‘anhu paid teachers who taught the Qur’an to children in Madinah 15 Dinars every month. (One dinar is equivalent to 4.25 grams of gold. If gold is Rp 1,000,000/gram, then the teacher’s salary in Umar’s era was equivalent to approximately Rp 63,750,000 per month!).
This is tangible evidence of how the Khilafah greatly honored this pillar of civilization.
4. The Rights of Teachers in the Islamic System
In addition to a generous salary, a teacher in the Khilafah system has special rights guaranteed by sharia and state law.
| No | Teacher’s Right | Explanation of Implementation in the Khilafah |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right to Salary from Baitul Mal | Paid at the highest standard, exceeding the minimum wage, so they do not need to seek side jobs. |
| 2 | Right to Absolute Respect | The state instills a culture of adab before knowledge. Students who disrespect teachers will receive educational ta’zir sanctions. |
| 3 | Right to Scholarly Facilities | The state provides large libraries, laboratories, and free literature access to support the quality of teachers’ teaching. |
| 4 | Right to Focus on Educating | Teachers are freed from burdensome bureaucratic administration. Their task is purely in the classroom: teaching and educating. |
| 5 | Right to Protection | The state protects teachers from foreign intervention or parties trying to impose a secular curriculum. |
لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يُجِلَّ كَبِيرَنَا، وَيَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا، وَيَعْرِفْ لِعَالِمِنَا حَقَّهُ
“He is not of us who does not respect our elders, have mercy on our young, and recognize the rights of our scholars (teachers/scholars) among us.” (HR. Ahmad)
This hadith becomes a cultural foundation in Islamic society. Respecting teachers is not merely social etiquette, but part of faith.
5. Obligations and Requirements of a Noble Teacher
With such great rights, Islamic sharia also establishes heavy obligations and requirements for someone who wishes to take the path of an educator. Not everyone can become a teacher in the Khilafah system, especially for Tsaqafah Islamiyyah subjects.
Main Requirements for Educators:
- Possess Syakhshiyyah Islamiyyah: The teacher must have an Islamic pattern of thought and attitude. They must not be a fasiq (open sinner), because they will be a role model for their students.
- Kafa’ah Ilmiyyah (Scholarly Competence): Deeply master the material to be taught.
- Amanah (Trustworthy) and Ikhlas (Sincere): Teaching with the intention for Allah’s sake, not solely for the salary from Baitul Mal.
مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ عَلِمَهُ ثُمَّ كَتَمَهُ أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ
“Whoever is asked about knowledge that he knows, then conceals it, will be bridled on the Day of Resurrection with a bridle of fire.” (HR. Tirmidzi)
Teacher’s Obligations in the Classroom:
| Obligation | Description |
|---|---|
| Maintain the Purity of Aqidah | Must connect every lesson (including science) with the greatness of Allah. Strictly prohibited from teaching disbelieving ideologies such as secularism or Darwin’s theory of evolution as truth. |
| Practice the Talaqqiyan Fikriyan Method | Teaching not merely for memorization, but connecting knowledge with reality to become action (will be discussed in a separate article). |
| Compassion Like a Parent | Educate with gentleness, patience, and not use physical violence beyond sharia limits. |
6. Student’s Adab Towards the Teacher: The Key to Blessed Knowledge
In Islamic tsaqafah, knowledge will never bring blessings if the seeker of knowledge does not have adab towards the source of knowledge (the teacher). The Khilafah education system greatly emphasizes the teaching of this adab before students learn science and technology.
Imam Malik rahimahullah was once advised by his mother when he was about to seek knowledge:
تَعَلَّمْ مِنْ أَدَبِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَتَعَلَّمَ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ
“Learn his (your teacher’s) adab before you learn his knowledge.”
Pillars of Student Adab:
- Tawadhu’ (Humility): Students must not be arrogant even if they feel smarter than their teacher. Arrogance is a barrier to the entry of the light of knowledge.
- Husnudzon (Having Good Assumptions): Always think well of the teacher’s methods and reprimands.
- Praying for the Teacher: Always pray for goodness, forgiveness, and blessings for their teachers, both while they are alive and after they have passed away.
وَقُلْ رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
“And say: ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them (my parents) as they brought me up when I was small’.” (QS. Al-Isra’: 24)
Although this verse was revealed for biological parents, scholars agree that the teacher is a “spiritual parent” whose services save students from ignorance and the fire of hell, so they too deserve the same prayers.
7. Analogy: The Teacher as Architect and Farmer of Civilization
To understand how central the teacher’s role is, let us use two powerful visual analogies:
Analogy 1: Architect of the Building of Civilization
Imagine the Khilafah is a magnificent skyscraper.
- Islamic Aqidah is its concrete foundation.
- The Caliph/State is the owner funding the project.
- The Teacher is the Architect and Builder. No matter how much funding the state pours in, if the architect is ignorant or the builder is lazy, the building will collapse in the wind. The teacher is the skilled hand that arranges the bricks of thought (Aqliyyah) and the cement of character (Nafsiyyah) into the souls of students, layer by layer, until a sturdy civilization stands.
Analogy 2: Farmer in the Garden of Knowledge
A teacher is like a Farmer tending a garden.
- Students are superior seeds.
- Knowledge is water and fertilizer. A good farmer will not just brutally pour water onto the seeds. They will drip just enough water, pull out weeds (foreign thoughts/sins) that hinder growth, and ensure the seeds get enough sunlight (guidance). This is how a teacher cares for the souls of their students with gentleness and precision.
8. Non-Muslim Teachers (Ahl al-Dhimmah) in the Khilafah
The Islamic system is a just and rational system. The Khilafah distinguishes between Tsaqafah (ideologically related) knowledge and Science/Madaniyah (universal) knowledge.
For Tsaqafah Islam subjects (such as Aqidah, Fiqh, Sirah, Arabic), the teacher must be a God-conscious Muslim. However, for Science, Technology, and Skills subjects (such as mathematics, medicine, mechanical engineering, or foreign languages), the Khilafah permits employing teachers or experts from among non-Muslims (Kafir Dhimmi), even bringing in experts from abroad (Mu’ahid).
أَنْتُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاكُمْ
“You are more knowledgeable about your worldly affairs.” (HR. Muslim)
Throughout history, the Caliphs often employed Christian or Jewish doctors to teach at Islamic universities or translate science books from Greek into Arabic at Baitul Hikmah. The state paid them professionally from Baitul Mal, as long as they obeyed Khilafah laws and did not spread their religious propaganda to Muslim students.
9. Comparative Welfare: Islam vs Capitalism
Let us look at the contrast table of how these two ideologies treat their pillars of civilization:
| Assessment Aspect | Secular Capitalist System | Islamic System (Khilafah) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of Teaching | Earning a living, worldly profession, transfer of job skills. | Worship, da’wah, building Syakhshiyyah Islamiyyah. |
| Social Status | Depends on salary amount and level of school where teaching. | Very noble, heir of the Prophet, equal to scholars. |
| Source of Salary | Student tuition fees (commercialization) or state budget often cut here and there. | Absolutely from Baitul Mal (State Treasury) from Public Ownership/Kharaj. |
| Salary Amount | Often minimum wage or even below (as in the case of honorary teachers). | Very high, guaranteeing absolute welfare without needing side jobs. |
| Work Focus | Chased by national exam score targets and piles of administrative burden. | 100% focus on understanding and behavioral change (action) of students. |
In capitalism, education is a business field. The teacher is a laborer. The student is a consumer. In Islam, education is a state obligation. The teacher is the spearhead. The student is a trust of civilization.
10. Conclusion: Awaiting the Return of Honor
The position of the teacher in Islam, as explained in the tsaqafah of Hizbut Tahrir, is a reflection of how highly Islam values knowledge.
- ✅ Heir of the Prophet: Carrying the noble mission of bringing people out of darkness into light.
- ✅ Prosperous under the State: Paid at the highest standard from Baitul Mal to focus on educating.
- ✅ Building Personality: Their main task is not merely transferring knowledge, but molding the Syakhshiyyah Islamiyyah.
- ✅ Honored Throughout Time: Receives absolute respect from the state, society, and students.
إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ
“When a human being dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (HR. Muslim)
A true teacher in the Khilafah obtains two things at once from the hadith above: the reward from beneficial knowledge that they teach, and the reward from a righteous child (student) who continues to pray for them.
This great system will never be perfectly realized under the grip of the capitalist-democracy system. It will only be re-established when Muslims unite to restore Islamic life within the framework of Daulah Khilafah Rasyidah. At that time, teachers will rediscover their true honor, and Islamic civilization will once again lead the world.
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