One of the beneficial methods of imparting knowledge- Tips for Teachers
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
In his introduction to the explanation of Umdatul Ahkaam, Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him) spoke about a very beneficial method of imparting knowledge found in ‘Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldoon’, which is as follows:
The First Stage:
Know that teaching the sciences to the students only becomes beneficial when carried out gradually and bit by bit. In the beginning the teacher imparts (knowledge) to him (beginning) with the fundamental principles in each chapter. He familiarizes him with (those fundamental principles) by explaining them in a general manner and examines the strength of the (student’s) intellectual ability and his readiness to comprehend what he is about to come across up to the end of his studies. The student is then (enabled) to settle in that knowledge (he pursues), even though it may be partial and weak. And the most this does is that it enables him to comprehend the science he is studying and to be acquainted with its issues.
The Second Stage:
The teacher then returns him to the subject a second time and (teaches) him at a level higher than the first level. He now gives him a full explanation and clarification and not the general (explanation and clarification employed in the beginning). He informs him of the differences of opinion and the direction (of their arguments) up to the end of the subject—so the student realises his potential (in what he is studying).
The Third Stage:
Thereafter the teacher returns him again after he has acquired a solid foundation, and (this time) he does not abandon making clear anything that is obscure, important or complicated. The teacher opens up all the locks in the subject for him to be well established upon it.
This is the direction of beneficial teaching–and as it can be seen, it is reached in repeating (the process) three times. And indeed, some (students) can reach (their potential) in lesser than these (three stages) in accordance with what they (possess) of natural ability and what is made easy for them.
[For further details, see Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldoon: page: 604]
To be continued…In-Shaa-Allaah