Blessed Teachings with Mr. Abobakr

Blessed Teachings with Mr. Abobakr

Mr. Abobakr, Arabic and Islamic teacher at The Winchester School, Jebel Ali

"I am Abobakr Mohammed, a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo and a passionate Islamic and Arabic teacher. I believe in all my students equally and motivate them to change for the better. I am very keen on providing inspiration and love by letting my students feel secure and comfortable to learn."

WIN Times is proud to introduce our latest columnist, Mr. Abobakr Mohammed. Mr. Abobakr teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies, and is immensely loved and respected by his students for the sheer dedication he pours into each and every lesson of his. Mr. Abobakr believes that Islamic Education is not a subject, rather, it is a way of life, and his most important objective is that his students become good human beings, guided by values of humanity. In this very special column, Mr. Abobakr will talk of contemporary events and topics in light of Islamic teachings. We are very excited to have Mr. Abobakr on board, and look forward to all the wonderful inspiration we will gain from his writings in the months to come.

Mr. Abobakr seeks inspiration from this saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

“Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him without anything being diminished from their rewards.”

Islam and Seeking Knowledge

I asked one of my friends about the first Ayah (Quranic verse) revealed to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and he was surprised knowing that the first Ayah was the following:

“Read in the Name of your Lord Who created. created humans from a clinging clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen. taught humanity what they knew not.”

- Surah Al-Alaq (96:1-5)

The first Ayah was about reading and seeking knowledge at a time where the majority of the Arabs could not read nor write. They were fond of war for any reason, yet when Islam appeared, it really changed not only the Arabian Peninsula but also the face of the universe for the better.

Allah says, “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding" (Az-Zumar: 9)

This was emphasized by Prophet Mohammed’s saying: “Indeed Allah, His Angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earths — even the ant in his hole, even the fish — invoke blessings upon the one who teaches the people to do good"

So, Islam encourages and gives great importance to seek knowledge. It is considered Seeking knowledge with the intention of benefiting oneself and the people is rewarded by Allah and it’s also regarded to be a path to paradise.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

"Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to easy for him."

Allah Almighty commanded his prophet to increase in knowledge and He did not command him, the Almighty, to ask for more except in knowledge which is a clear indication of the virtue of knowledge.

Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an:

“And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge ."

– (Qur’an 20:114)