Illuminations from Islamic Educational Thought: Ibn Jama’ah and His Educational Views Between the Teacher and the Learner
Islamic educational thought is considered a knowledge treasure overflowing with views and directives that established an integrated educational system, based on deep moral and human foundations. Among the most prominent scholars who contributed to the building of this thought is Badr al-Din bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Jama’ah al-Hamawi al-Shafi’i, who was born in the city of Hama in the year 639 AH and died in the year 733 AH. Ibn Jama’ah left an immortal footprint through his book “Ticket of the Listener and the Speaker in the Etiquette of the Scholar and the Learner.”
The article focuses on the relationship between the two pillars of the educational process: the teacher and the learner.
First: Etiquettes of the Scholar (The Teacher)
- Sincerity of intention to God Almighty.
- Adopting virtuous morals such as patience, humility, and mercy.
- Justice among learners.
- Gradual progression in teaching according to students’ levels.
- Advice and compassion toward students.
Second: Etiquettes of the Learner
- Purification of the self and body.
- Prioritization in seeking knowledge.
- Respecting and honoring the teacher.
- Diligence, perseverance, and preserving time.
- Debate and collective study with proper manners.
Third: The Relationship Between the Teacher and the Learner
Ibn Jama’ah viewed this relationship as a moral and spiritual partnership rather than a merely functional one. He compared it to the relationship between a doctor and a patient, or a father and a son.
Among the etiquettes of this relationship:
- The teacher should pay attention to the conditions of students and listen to their concerns.
- The learner should not be ashamed to say “I do not know.”
- If the teacher makes a mistake, the learner should correct him politely and respectfully.
Conclusion:
The educational views of Ibn Jama’ah remind us that educational challenges are not merely technical or methodological, but fundamentally moral and value-based. Despite the development of educational technologies, there remains a need to revisit educational heritage and benefit from its principles in building human beings, not merely transferring information
