Who is our first teacher? Have we ever thought about this question? Yes, sometimes. I know that my mother, or my father, or my brother or my sister, or my primary school teacher who taught me how to write and read, was my first teacher. But is this answer correct? Do I know with certainty that this is the correct answer?
Why are we asking this question at this stage of our life? Why do we all need to take a moment and ask ourselves this question? Because, it is an important question. Knowing the correct answer to this question affects the way in which we live our lives. So, could it be wrong that my mother or father or primary school teachers are my first teachers?
Yes, it is wrong. We have read several times the correct answer, but we did not notice it. We read in the Qur’ān that it is Allah, the Exalted, Who is the Creator of the entire universe, All-Knowledgeable, All-Wise, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, Self-Existent, Ever-Living, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, who taught us that which we do not know especially the Right Way of life.
He said: “He teaches you the Right Way and has full knowledge of everything” [2: 283]; “He taught you what you know not. Great indeed has been Allah’s favour upon you” [4: 113]”. He taught us many things. Referring to the Prophet Isa, He said: “…recall My favour…when I taught you the Book and Wisdom [5: 110]”. Allah, the Exalted, taught to the Prophet Yousuf how to comprehend the deeper meaning of things [12: 21]. He taught us about the truth and reality of life, society and the world. He has said this repeatedly in the Qur’ān.
Allah, the Exalted, taught man about all necessary things of this world so that we can deal with them properly. It is said in the Qur’ān:
Then Allah taught Adam the names of all things. [2: 31]
He taught us to read in the name of our Lord and Cherisher, Who created us and taught us the use of the pen. Allah taught us that which we knew not. He taught us that we should know our limit and should not transgress it [96: 1, & 4-6]. He also taught us the Right Way of life as He has full knowledge of everything [2: 282]. No one is equal to Him in this regard. We acknowledged this fact and said:
Glory to You! We have no knowledge except what You taught us. You, only You, are All-Knowing, All-Wise. [2: 32]
Whatever was taught to us by Allah, the Exalted, is recorded in the Qur’ān. The Qur’ān was introduced as the BOOK which contains in it that knowledge which was taught to us. There is no doubt about it; it is not only the book of knowledge but also of guidance and a mercy for all humankind [2:2]. Through His teachings He granted us the Criterion by which we can distinguish truth from falsehood [3:3-4].
This Book, beyond all doubt, was revealed by the Lord of the Universe…It is the Truth from your Lord [32: 2-3].
These are the ayats of a Book that clearly expounds the Truth. [12: 1]
Allah, the Exalted, taught us through the Qur’ān about the Truth and Reality of life and the world. He guided us so that we can understand and make our life, society and the world meaningful and worthy of living [16: 64]. He guided us to the Way that is the Most- Straight so that we can do righteous deeds. He taught us about the Truth and Reality of the Next world. He taught us beyond any doubt that in the Next world, He will take the account of this worldly life and grant us the best and greatest reward. He also taught and warned us about the grievous chastisement that waits us [17: 9-10]. It is taught to us in the Qur’ān:
He who follows the Right Way shall do so to his own advantage; and he who strays shall incur his own loss. No one shall carry another’s burden. And never shall We punish any until We send a Messenger [to make the Truth distinct to them from falsehood]. [17: 15]
Hence, Allah, the Exalted, invited humankind through the Qur’ān to understand the Truth and Reality of life and this world.
O mankind, serve your Lord Who has created you as well as those before you; do so that you are saved. It is He Who has made the earth a resting-place for you, and the sky a canopy, and sent down water from above with which He brought forth fruits for your sustenance, Do not, then, set up rivals to Allah when you know [the truth]. [2: 21-22]
The Qur’ān presents a challenge to the thinking minds of all ages and urges them to disprove the claims of the Qur’ān. It is again and again contended that Allah, the Almighty, is the only Creator of man and the universe Who revealed to man the True, Authentic, and Universal Knowledge [Islamic Revealed Knowledge] of the physical and metaphysical world. Therefore, shouldn’t this knowledge revealed by Him occupy the central place in the scheme of production of further knowledge and education? As Allah, the Exalted, is our First Teacher and the one Who revealed the Qur’ān to us, it is the content of the Qur’ān, the overall teachings, the morals, the values, the laws, and the principles that should be our guide in the development of people and societies.
If the Knowledge-Giver’s Book is practised and followed sincerely by people, individually and collectively, everyone can live a peaceful and happy life. Yet, so many of us have forgotten that Allah, the Exalted, and His Book should always be our first source of knowledge and guidance. How many times we have turned to others around us rather than the Qur’ān? We pursue our education and make choices in our lives, unguided by the First Teacher. Isn’t this a form of ingratitude? This is the reason that Allah is asking people how we can be ungrateful to Him.
How can you be ungrateful to Allah who bestowed life upon you when you were lifeless, will later cause you to die and will again bring you back to life so that you will be returned to Him. [2: 28]
Whether we like it or not, surely we all will return to Allah, the Exalted, to give an account of our life spent here. This is the truth of our life which He has informed us about. In fact, one of the most important lessons from our First Teacher which we must never forget: “There is no god but Allah. To Him are all destined to return [40: 3].
This lesson about the Next Life is to guard us from all evils and to remind us to always turn to Him. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur’ān that on the Day of Resurrection and Judgement all people will see and confess the Truth and Reality of the Next world [40: 11]. On that Day Allah, the Exalted, will ask: “Whose is the Command today?” All the people of the entire generations would say: “It is Allah’s, the One, the Overpowering” [40: 16]. On that Day of Judgement, which we have forgotten totally, Allah, the Almighty, would say: “Today shall everyone be fully recompensed for his deeds. None shall be wronged today. Surely Allah is Swift in Reckoning” [40: 17].
On that Day the hearts of the people who fail to recognise the Truth of the Next world in this world would be full of suppressed grief with leap up to the throats and they would not find any sincere friend nor intercessor whose word would be headed by Allah, the Exalted [40: 18]. Allah, the Almighty, would reveal all the secrets that hearts of people had concealed and would make His judgement. Allah would judge with justice and no one can escape on that Day from His justice. Whosoever would have committed any wrong in this world would see the result of it. Allah, the Almighty, is indeed Strong, Terrible in Retribution [40: 22]. We would cry out to one another for help [40: 32]. We would turn around to retreat; there would be none to protect us from Allah, the Exalted [40: 33]. Just as there will be no saviour but Allah in the Next Life, in this life too our True Saviour and Guide is Allah and His Book. These are the fundamental life lessons which we have been taught by Allah, the Almighty. Living by these teachings, and turning to Allah, the Almighty, for knowledge and guidance can alone save us from walking blindly in the alleys of falsehood, pride, and gloom.
There is no compulsion in Din [accepting Truth]. The right way now stands clearly distinguished from the wrong. Hence, he who rejects the evil ones and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle. And Allah [Whom he has held for support] is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. [2: 256] Allah is the Guardian of those who believe, and brings them out of every darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, their guardians are the evil ones; they bring them out of light into all kinds of darkness. These are destined for the Fire, and there they shall abide. [2: 257]
[The writer is Professor in Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia]