Yasar Ikram Ferozi

Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan (Lahore Campus)

 Topic: A complete plan to be implemented in the classroom

Many educationists, like Gerry Abbot, have suggested several plans to be implemented in
the classroom. They give explanation in much detail. Usually this plan consists of three stages;
beginning the lesson, middle of the lesson and ending the lesson. It is the best division of a
classroom teaching plan. I also agree to their proposals but I explain it in a different way.

STAGE-1

The Beginning (Like the Last Prophet Muhammad ‫)ﷺ‬

In the beginning of prophet hood the holy Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬invited the Quraish and
declared his prophet hood in front of them. He began his address with these words, “O people!
If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you
believe me?” On this point I want to be focused.

All the prophets were the best teachers of their times. To spread the message of Allah’s oneness
the techniques they used were not humanly derived techniques. They were all the Divine
techniques which were innately bestowed upon them. And the prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬was the
best one of all of them. He ‫ ﷺ‬practiced many techniques but the technique he mostly used was to
ask a question. In his first address to the Makkans he used the same technique and asked them
the question mentioned above. Asking this question he got following benefits;

Got his listeners’ silence

When some people gather at some place, it is common, they talk to one another. Their
conversation has no specific topic. They talk about everything. They discuss people; they
comment on social events, they talk about crops, etc. To talk is natural to humans. So they would
also be talking among themselves. When, in the beginning, the Rasool ‫ ﷺ‬asked them the
question it made them silent. They were wondered and became quiet. It is the first and foremost
thing a teacher needs.

Attract the listener’s attention

His question made them silent and unconsciously they all became attentive to him. They
became eager to listen to him. It is the second important thing a teacher requires.

Provoke the listener’s interest

When he asked the question, willingly or unwillingly, their minds of the listeners began
to race in search of an answer to that question, irrespective of right or wrong. A question
provokes the listeners mind. When a teacher asks a question to his students, they begin to think
about the question and unleash their minds to run in search of an answer to that question.
They were geared up and eager to know

The Rasool’s question geared the people up and they were eager to know the answer. If
the students are eager to learn, it is very beneficial for students and teacher both. A teacher can
explain well and students can learn well without wasting any time.

Effective learning

Effective learning is based upon the listeners’ silence, interest, attention, provocation and
eagerness. The Rasool got all these essentials only by asking a question. This type of learning is
very effective and long lasting

STAGE-2

The Middle/Explanation (Like the prophet Ibrahim A.S.)

In the Holy Quran, one of the events from Ibrahim’s (A.S.) life is narrated,

“When the night grew dark upon him he beheld a star. He said: this is my Lord. But when
it set, he said: I love not things that set.” Surah Al-Anaam: 76

But when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: “This is my Lord. But when it set, he
said: unless my Lord guide me, I surely shall become one of the folk who are astray.” Surah Al-
Anaam: 77

And when he saw the sun uprising, he cried: “This is my Lord! This is greater! And when
it set, he exclaimed: O my people! Lo! I am free from all that ye associate (with Him)” Surah Al-
Anaam: 78

Step down to the students’ mental level

A good teacher steps down to the student’s level and always speaks according to their
learning capacity. Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. did not directly nullify his people’s notion that
“the star is our god”. Despite he waited for the setting of the star and then argued with them that
the star had set, and he did not like the things (as god) which set. In fact he said that God must
not be imperfect. His logic provokes their minds and they were convinced that the star must not
be their God. Then, his people claimed the moon to be their god. After that, they claimed the sun
to be their god. But Ibrahim (A.S.) never negate their idea straight way. He listened to them,
waited for the setting of the moon and the sun and then put the other question with a simple logic
that this object had a fault, it is imperfect, and God must be perfect.
Urge the students to think themselves

He urges the people to think themselves, decide between right and wrong and try to find
out the truth themselves. He listened to them, waited for the setting of the moon and the sun and
then put the other question with a simple logic that this object had a fault, it is imperfect, and
God must be perfect.

Make the students concentrated

He did not ask a counter question promptly, but waited for the proper time when his
people could understand him well and recognized their mistake easily. During this time of wait
their minds would constantly remain thinking about the topic. A teacher also can follow it very
well.

Create interest and eagerness

Hazrat Ibrahim’s logical conversation and rationale behavior compelled them to think
and be in search of the truth about God. And definitely, when they could not find out the truth,
ultimately they had to ask Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. about it.

Don’t negate whatever the answer is given by the student

Your straight way negation will choke his creativity and he will not try for the next
time... If his answer is wrong, give him some initiative in the form of question, let him realize his
mistake himself in result.

STAGE-3

The Ending (Like the Holy Quran)

The Holy Quran begins with Surah e Fatiha, consists only of seven ayahs. It is followed
by the longest surah al-Baqra, then Aal-e-Imran, and so on. In the end, the holy Quran again goes
brief and consists of many brief surahs. This is a guideline to a teacher that how a lesson should
be divided into three parts; beginning, middle and end. So, in the beginning, there is the
announcement of the topic, in brief. Afterward, there are lengthy details and in the end, again it
goes brief. It may be the same main idea in different wording.

CONCLUSION

The Holy Prophets were the best teachers. Their teaching techniques are divine. These
techniques are the most suited and appropriate for the humans. In the beginning of class, tossing
a question toward the students gets a lot of the teaching benefits like; it quietens the students,
draws their attention, provokes their thoughts, force them to think and makes them eager to learn.
A teacher should not negate his student straight way either his answer is partially incorrect or
totally wrong. He should talk to his students in accordance of their learning capacity. In the
beginning he should introduce the topic briefly, then explain it in detail and then in the end he
should sum up the whole lesson with brevity.