The Sacred Bond — And the Modern Teachers Who Betray It
By Tajamul Nazir Dar
My respected teacher, Engineer Zahoor Ahmad (hafizahullah), whose influence continues to
shape my life, would often remind us:
> “If Allah has granted humanity the greatest profession, it is the profession of teaching.”
This is no exaggeration. Countless Prophetic traditions emphasize the nobility of teachers, and
our pious predecessors elevated their rank to the highest of honors. Their words carried
wisdom, their presence radiated dignity, and their lives reflected sincerity. Sadly, in today’s
world, such examples are becoming increasingly rare.
We now live in an era where those who fail in their personal or professional lives often adopt the
title of “teacher,” thereby dragging this sacred profession to the edge of disgrace.
The Real Duty of a Teacher
The role of a teacher has never been limited to delivering lessons or preparing students for
exams. Rather, it was to nurture an entire generation through amr bil ma‘ruf (enjoining good)
and nahi ‘anil munkar (forbidding evil)—producing men and women who could succeed in
worldly fields while remaining a source of pride for their faith.
One of the gravest mistakes of our age is that we have reduced this sacred relationship into
mere friendship, stripping it of its original spirit.
Classical teachings remind us:
> “When your teacher stands, you must not remain seated;
and when he walks, you must not walk ahead of him.”
But today, that respect is fading fast. The collapse of morals in social media, educational
institutions, and public life all testify to this decline.
The Silence of the “Modern Teacher”
The so-called teachers of today often hesitate to correct their students. Their fear is not of Allah
but of losing popularity:
“What if the student dislikes me? What if my respect suffers? What if my praise and following
decrease?”
A teacher who thinks like this is not just weak—he is guilty of betraying an entire generation.
A student may earn degrees and titles, yet if he lacks wisdom, respect, and faith, he remains
hollow within. The ultimate blame lies with the teacher who failed to shape his character.
True teachers are those who worry about their students’ Hereafter, not just their worldly grades.
As Imam Ali (RA) famously said:
> “The one who teaches me even a single word—I remain his servant for life.”
Sadly, today this sacred bond has been reduced to a mere formality. Respect for teachers, the
dignity of students, and the very foundation of education—all are eroding.
A Warning From History
Many students now promote teachers on social media whose character lacks sincerity and
honesty. They must realize: on the Day of Judgment, they will share in the burden of this
corruption.
And many others choose silence. But silence in the face of evil is itself a crime.
A narration in al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat offers a chilling reminder:
> Allah commanded Jibreel (AS), “Do punish this town.”
Jibreel replied, “But in it lives one of Your righteous servants.”
Allah responded, “Begin with him first, for he witnessed evil and remained silent.”
So too, the teachers who stay quiet today in the face of immorality will be the first to be held
accountable.
Two Paths Ahead
Every teacher today stands before two choices:
1. To sincerely labor for the moral and spiritual growth of their students—regardless of whether it
earns them praise or not. For such sincerity, Allah promises a reward beyond measure.
2. Or to pursue shallow popularity by lowering boundaries, masking discipline with “friendship,”
and sacrificing respect, modesty, and faith at the altar of acceptance.
Our predecessors warned:
> “If you wish to destroy a nation without war, corrupt its youth with immorality and ruin its
education.”
Sadly, this prophecy has found life in our society, with many so-called teachers playing the role
of willing agents.
A Prayer for Students
In such times, the responsibility of students becomes even greater. They must continually pray:
> “O Allah, make us true seekers of knowledge.
Grant us the insight to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between genuine teachers and false ones, and between religion and mischief