The Grandeur of Respecting Teachers
The height and greatness of a human being are not solely dependent on knowledge and intellect; they are deeply tied to respect and reverence. In the history of Islam, all the revered scholars and saints shared a common trait: adab (respect). Whether it was respect for acquiring knowledge, honoring scholars, expressing love for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or even revering the dust of Madinah’s streets, it was all rooted in adab. A great personality like Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi (رحمہ اللہ), known as “Qasim-ul-Uloom wal-Khairat,” derived his stature from his unmatched reverence, his love for the Prophet ﷺ, and his deep respect for the learned. These anecdotes teach us that people become great not merely through learning, but through adab because it is adab that makes knowledge beneficial, illuminates the heart, and leads to true greatness.
Reverence Transcends Social Status
Once, Hazrat Maulana Qasim Nanotvi (رحمہ اللہ) needed to research a jurisprudential issue involving pigs. People suggested he ask the local sanitation workers (bhangis), who raised pigs and thus had practical knowledge about them. One day, he approached the sanitation worker who came to his home and inquired respectfully, “What do you know about pigs regarding this issue?” The man shared what he knew. From that day onward, Hazrat Nanotvi would rise in respect whenever the man visited. He would say, “Through him, I gained a piece of knowledge.”
Hazrat Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) once said:
“I am a slave to the one who teaches me even a single letter; he may sell me or free me.”
Yet we desire to gain knowledge while sitting at home, expecting it to flow into us effortlessly. This attitude contradicts divine order.
It was this reverence that earned Hazrat Nanotvi the title of “Distributor of Knowledge and Blessings” and “Proof of Islam.”
Love for the Prophet ﷺ and Respect for Madinah
Another incident: When Hazrat Nanotvi (رحمہ اللہ) would approach the Blessed Tomb in Madinah, he would avoid wearing shoes, choosing to walk barefoot out of reverence. This overwhelming respect stemmed from deep love, and such love naturally gives birth to adab.
During Hajj, he was accompanied by many eminent scholars like Hazrat Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi and Maulana Yaqub Nanotwii. As the caravan reached the final stop before Madinah, called Bir Ali, where the minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque became visible, Hazrat Nanotvi suddenly leapt from his camel. He placed his shoes in the camel’s saddle and began walking barefoot.
Overcome with love for the Prophet ﷺ, he walked bareheaded, reciting devotional verses, completely absorbed in his state. The pebbles of Madinah are sharp like thorns; they pierced his feet and caused them to bleed. Yet in his deep state of love, he remained unaware of the pain. Others, seeing him, dismounted too and started walking, but Hazrat Gangohi (رحمہ اللہ) said, “Why are these fools walking like this? Hazrat Nanotvi is in a state of deep spiritual ecstasy due to his love. How far can they imitate that?”
Some walked twenty steps, others a hundred, but the path was too painful. However, the one immersed in true love is unaware of pain, whether struck by arrows or swords.
Do We Uphold the Ethics of Learning?
When we seek knowledge, do we also uphold the manners that give it true value? Knowledge without adab (etiquette) loses its soul. If we disregard the respect due to teachers, books, and the process of learning itself, we turn a gift into a burden. True adab teaches patience in learning, humility before scholars, and gratitude for every insight gained. It is through respect that knowledge becomes a source of light for the heart and guidance for life.
Do We Respect the One Who Taught Us Even a Word?
Anyone who has ever taught us even a single word is worthy of honor. That person has shaped our understanding, even if only in a small way. In Islamic tradition, the status of a teacher is so high that scholars have equated it to spiritual parenthood. Disrespecting one’s teacher is not just bad manners; it takes away the blessings of knowledge and hardens the heart. Gratitude and humility toward our mentors keep knowledge alive and impactful.
Is the Love and Reverence for the Prophet ﷺ and Madinah Alive in Our Hearts?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the beloved of Allah, and loving him is the essence of faith. True reverence for the Prophet ﷺ means we honor his teachings, cherish his Sunnah, and treat everything associated with him, especially Madinah, ah with deep respect. Madinah is not just a city; it is a symbol of sacred history and divine love. When our hearts tremble in reverence at the thought of the Prophet ﷺ and his city, that is a sign of sincere love and connection. You can also read about the concept of a second marriage in Islam.
Are We Sincere in Action or Just Imitating?
Following others without genuine emotion is empty formality. Real actions are born from sincere intention and heartfelt conviction. Outward rituals have meaning only when fueled by inner love and reverence. The Companions and saints were not merely imitators; their actions sprang from a heart overwhelmed with devotion. Today, too, such sincerity has power. Let us act with purpose, not performance.
The Real Beauty of Knowledge is Respect
When we look at the lives of the great scholars and saints, one thing stands out: their respect was greater than their knowledge. Adab gave their words weight and their hearts light. Respect enhances knowledge, while pride diminishes it. Love matures into honor, and honor brings closeness to Allah. When knowledge, respect, and humility unite in a heart, it becomes a vessel of divine light. May our hearts also carry this blessed combination.
A Humble Prayer
O Allah!
Grant us the quality of adab.
Teach us to value every heart that has ever taught us.
Grant us the ability to honor our juniors, respect our elders, and revere our teachers.
O Allah!
Fill our hearts with the light of knowledge,
And brighten that light with respect, humility, and sincerity.
O Allah!
Take us to the depths of knowledge, but protect us from arrogance.
Raise us in deeds, but shield us from showiness.
Bestow upon us true love for the Prophet ﷺ
Such love that it binds our steps with reverence,
And fills our hearts with passionate devotion.
O Allah!
Grant us the ability to walk in the footsteps of those noble souls,
Who walked barefoot on sharp stones in reverence of Madinah’s streets,
Those who considered even one letter taught to them as a divine blessing.
Make us knowledgeable and respectful,
And include us among those whom You draw near to Yourself.
Ameen, Ya Rabb al-Alameen.
FAQs
Why is respect (adab) important in seeking knowledge?
Adab is the foundation that makes knowledge beneficial. Without respect for teachers, the learning process, and the knowledge itself, learning becomes hollow and ineffective. Respect polishes the heart, allowing knowledge to settle deeply and bear fruit.
Is it necessary to respect someone who teaches only a little?
Yes. In Islamic tradition, even a person who teaches a single letter deserves honor. Hazrat Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) emphasized this by saying he considered himself a servant to anyone who taught him even one word. Respect for knowledge begins with respect for those who share it.
What is the significance of showing reverence to Madinah and the Prophet ﷺ?
Reverence for Madinah reflects true love for the Prophet ﷺ. Loving the Prophet means cherishing everything connected to him, including his city, his Sunnah, and his teachings. This love and respect unlock spiritual blessings and deepen one’s connection with faith.
Can copying the outward actions of saints or scholars bring the same spiritual benefit?
Not necessarily. True benefit comes from sincerity and heartfelt devotion, not from imitation alone. External actions without internal intention may lack spiritual depth. The saints were absorbed in love and adab, something that must be felt, not faked.