It is a well-known truth that teachers are the builders of a nation and the guiding light of society. Every person who achieves greatness in life, and every nation that reaches the heights of progress, owes it to its teachers. A teacher teaches people how to live, how to think, and how to face the challenges of life with wisdom and courage.
The True Role of a Teacher
A teacher’s duty is not only to teach lessons from the book but also to shape the minds and hearts of students. A true teacher is always organised in his work, innovative in his classroom, and acts as a role model for his students. His behaviour, discipline, and conduct should inspire those who learn from him. He must connect every concept with the real-life experiences of children, so that learning becomes meaningful and alive. A teacher’s real success lies in taking his students and his school to new heights of excellence through his knowledge, creativity, and sincerity.
A true teacher is not one who only teaches what is written in books, but one who teaches from the heart. He links every concept to life, so that children see learning not as a burden but as a joy. He understands their psychology, their needs, their dreams, and shapes them into confident human beings. A teacher like this builds character, not just careers.
Teachers Who Inspired the World
History is full of teachers who were not known for their degrees but for their wisdom and influence. Socrates, a Greek thinker, had no formal degree, yet his way of asking questions is still used in schools today. Rabindranath Tagore, the great poet, did not finish his formal education, but his ideas gave birth to Shantiniketan, a school that joined learning with life and nature. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, even after becoming the President of India, always called himself a teacher first. He loved to meet students and encouraged them to dream big and work hard. Anne Sullivan, the teacher of Helen Keller, showed how patience and love can do wonders. She helped Helen, who was deaf and blind, to learn to read, write, and speak. These teachers showed that true teaching does not come from certificates, but from understanding, care, and the wish to bring out the best in every student.
Allama Iqbal’s great regard for teachers
Allama Iqbal, the great poet and philosopher, known not only for his wisdom but also for the deep respect he showed to his teachers. When Iqbal was a student at Government College, Lahore, one of his teachers was Professor Arnold, who guided and inspired him to go for higher studies in England.
Many years later, when Allama Iqbal had become a famous poet and thinker, he attended a public gathering where Professor Arnold was also present. Iqbal had been given a special seat of honor in the front row. But as soon as he saw his teacher entering, he immediately stood up, greeted him with great respect, and offered his own seat to Professor Arnold.
Everyone present was deeply touched by Iqbal’s humility. Despite all his fame and greatness, he never forgot the respect due to his teacher.
This story teaches us that no matter how high we rise in life, we should always remain grateful and respectful toward our teachers, because they are the ones who light the path of knowledge for us.
On another occasion, when Allama Iqbal was once asked by a British governor about his teacher Mir Hassan’s publications, Iqbal famously replied, “He has not written books, but you can see his book in the form of me, standing before you.”
This powerful statement reflected Iqbal’s deep gratitude and respect for his teacher, proving that a teacher’s real work is not in pages, but in the lives they shape.
“Sheikh-e-maktab hai ek imaarat ghar,
Jis ki fitrat hai rooh-e-insaani.”
This couplet of Allama Iqbal, beautifully reminds us that a teacher’s institution is like a sacred building whose spirit gives life to humanity.
The Teacher’s Status in Islam
In Islam, the position of a teacher is very high and respected. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “I have been sent as a teacher.” This beautiful saying clearly shows the importance of this noble role. In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best among you is the one who learns and teaches.” These sacred words are the best definition of a teacher, one who learns constantly and passes that knowledge on to others. A teacher, therefore, is not just a professional; he is performing a sacred duty, a duty of building minds, spreading light, and shaping lives.
Hazrat Ali (R.A) says, “He who taught me a single word has made me his servant.”
This saying shows the immense respect Hazrat Ali (R.A) had for teachers and scholars, emphasizing that even a little knowledge from a teacher deserves great honor and gratitude.
The Decline of Respect
Sadly, today’s world often forgets this sacred role and does not hold the same respect for teachers that it once did. The deep love and reverence people had for teachers in earlier times have faded. In the past, people spoke less but respected their teachers more through action. Now, in many modern institutions, a teacher is often seen only as an employee. The honor that once came with this noble profession is slowly being lost.
The reality is that true respect for teachers now remains mostly within religious institutes (madrasas). In these institutions, students lower their voices before teachers, and even carrying a teacher’s shoes is seen as an act of respect. Where as, in many modern schools, teachers face painful experiences, from verbal abuse to even physical assaults. Society must learn the real meaning of teacher’s respect from these religious institutions where the teacher’s position is still sacred.
A Fading Light
It is painful to see how far we have fallen. Students sometimes mock their teachers instead of respecting them. Parents, just to hide their children’s mistakes and their own neglect, blame the teacher and humiliate them over small issues. They often, degrade the teacher’s personality before the children, who is not only their guide but also a role model, without considering its repercussions on the child’s learning. When a teacher’s respect is diminished in the eyes of a child, the bond of trust and discipline breaks. The child stops listening, and learning loses its meaning.
On social media, anyone who manages to write or speak a few words often finds teachers an easy target for criticism. Many individuals, without verifying facts or understanding the complexities of educational issues, hastily blame teachers for every problem related to schools and learning. They attempt to resolve critical matters of education through uninformed opinions, overlooking the roles of parents, students, administration, and the system itself. Such reckless commentary not only spreads misinformation but also creates serious obstacles to educational progress. In this way, social media has, unfortunately, become a dangerous tool in tarnishing the image and dignity of teachers.
Such attempts not only weakens the foundation of education but also damages the moral fabric of society. If this continues, we will raise a generation that lacks respect, values, and wisdom. Respecting teachers is not merely a matter of manners; it is the lifeline of a nation’s progress. History bears witness that societies which disrespected their teachers were soon lost in darkness.
If we look inside a classroom, we will see a teacher standing before his students, puts in place every effort and ability with patience and seriousness. His voice may be calm, but his eyes often carry a silent fatigue, a kind of tiredness that no one notices. It is not only from long working hours; it comes from emotional struggles, from feeling unvalued despite giving his best.
This fatigue grows when a teacher spends all day teaching but still faces complaints. It grows when he leaves behind his personal problems, maybe any family issue, an ill parent, or his own worries, to give lessons with a smile. And when a student succeeds, everyone celebrates, but no one remembers the teacher who made it possible.
Yet, the teacher continues. Every morning, he enters the classroom again, full of hope that maybe today, one child will understand something new, or one heart will be inspired. He hides his pain behind his dedication and works silently for the progress of others.
The Call for Renewal
It is time we realise that if the light of a teacher fades, the whole nation falls into darkness. We must protect this light with respect, care, and gratitude. If we want our children to have a bright future, we must first honor the hands that hold the chalk and guide them toward the light of knowledge.
When a teacher stands tall, the nation stands taller.
When a teacher’s spirit shines, society moves forward.
And when a teacher is respected, the entire nation becomes a classroom of wisdom and peace.
Let us, as a society, revive the true spirit of respect for teachers. Parents, students, and community members must come together to restore the dignity of this noble profession. At the same time, teachers must also maintain their own dignity by keeping alive the good habits, values, and skills that make their work sacred. They should continue to learn and grow, upgrading themselves with new trends and pedagogical skills, so that they remain effective and inspiring guides for the new generation.
As the saying goes: “If you are teaching today what you have been teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.”
This reminds every teacher to stay professionally alive, active, and evolving, because the teacher’s growth ensures the growth of the nation.
The writer is resident of Arin Bandipora and can be reached at njfirdous090@gmail.com
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