Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge in the Quran & Sunnah
Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge in the Quran & Sunnah
Sincerity, respect for teachers and manners of the student.
Part 1: Etiquette of Learning from a Teacher in the Light of the Quran
1. Seek knowledge from the teacher with permission and courtesy.
Allah says:
قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا
Musa said to him: May I follow you on the condition that you teach me from what you have been taught of right guidance? (Surah al-Kahf 18:66)
Lesson: Even Musa (peace be upon him), a noble prophet, asked permission with great courtesy to learn from Khidr (peace be upon him). The verse shows the humility, gentleness and good manner with which a student seeks knowledge from a teacher.
2. Value the people of knowledge.
Allah says:
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. (Surah al-Mujadilah 58:11)
Lesson: Knowledge is a great blessing, and Allah raises the ranks of the people of knowledge. Valuing a teacher of true knowledge, benefiting from his knowledge and treating him with respect is part of good Islamic etiquette.
3. Ask Allah for an increase in knowledge.
Allah says:
وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge. (Surah Ta-Ha 20:114)
Lesson: The verse teaches that a seeker of knowledge should not rely on the teacher alone, but should also ask Allah for beneficial knowledge.
Part 2: The Status of the Teacher and the Virtue of Knowledge in the Light of Hadith
1. The virtue of learning and teaching the Quran.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ»
The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it.
Lesson: This hadith shows the great virtue of teaching the Quran, and the value of the blessed work of learning and teaching it.
2. Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for the seeker of knowledge.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ»
Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah makes easy for him by it a path to Paradise.
Lesson: Taking time to seek knowledge, going to a teacher and striving in learning is a great good deed.
3. The honour of the student of knowledge.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«وَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ»
And indeed, the angels lower their wings in approval for the seeker of knowledge.
Lesson: Striving with sincerity to acquire knowledge from a teacher is a valued act; education is not to be taken lightly.
4. Thank the one who does good to you.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ لَا يَشْكُرِ النَّاسَ»
He does not thank Allah, who does not thank people.
Lesson: When a teacher teaches, corrects a student or explains a difficult matter, thanking him, praying for him and valuing his effort is part of good character.
5. Adopt gentleness.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فِي الْأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ»
Indeed, Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness in every matter.
Lesson: This teaching is also important for the teacher’s own conduct: explaining to the student gently, correcting his mistakes with wisdom, and not making him averse to knowledge.
Adab No. 14 — all evidences for this entry, taken from the DeenHub Global library. Open any link to read the original hadith or ayah in full.
- Part 1, Point 1: Surah Al-Kahf (18), Ayah 66
- Part 1, Point 2: Surah Al-Mujadila (58), Ayah 11
- Part 1, Point 3: Surah Ta-Ha (20), Ayah 114
- Part 2, Point 1: Sahih al-Bukhari 5027 (Sahih)
- Part 2, Point 2: Sahih Muslim 2699a (Sahih)
- Part 2, Point 3: Sunan Abu Dawud 3641 (Sahih (Al-Albani))
- Part 2, Point 4: Sunan Abu Dawud 4811 (Sahih (Al-Albani))
- Part 2, Point 5: Sahih Muslim 2165a (Sahih) and Sahih al-Bukhari 6927 (Sahih)