Treatment of children in a classroom environment as per the Prophetic way

Abstract

Abstract

طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ

“Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim – male and female.”

To attain knowledge is one of the fundamental rights of a child. The Shariah – in the light of the Quran and Sunnah - tells us how this knowledge should be imparted.

This paper emphasizes what kind of environment we should provide children so they can achieve the knowledge required by Islam. Moreover this paper addresses the expected exemplary behavior of the teacher towards children in the light of the Seerat-un-Nabi. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the rights of children in the classroom and how the Prophet (SAW) gave his example as a teacher towards his Sahabah while instructing them in the matter of religion. This paper also answers the basic questions about the methodology of teaching a child, the need for punishment and reward and how to provide encouragement for seeking knowledge through the life of the Prophet (SAW) and Quranic verses.

Towards the end, the paper brings to light the current situation and problems that children face in the classroom. The author attempts to propose a solution to the problems at hand – all keeping in mind the verses of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Keywords :education, children, Shariah, Seerat-un-Nabi, classroom environment, methodology, punishment, reward, Sahabah, knowledge