From shaping our minds to instilling moral values, teachers play a vital role in shaping our lives and our future

Alexander the Great, while highlighting the significance of a teacher, said, “I am beholden to my parents for my life, but for living a good life, I am beholden to my teacher.” This underscores the difference between our parents and our teachers: our parents are the source of our existence, while our teachers are the ones who refine and guide our lives, playing a vital role in shaping us into the successful individuals we become. When a person first opens their eyes to the world, they are unacquainted even with themselves. Their first school is their mother’s lap, who then entrusts her child to a teacher—a teacher who transforms this unpolished stone into a diamond, bringing out latent talents and making them the uncrowned kings of their time.

Behind every successful person, there is a teacher. A teacher doesn’t merely impart academic knowledge but also instills moral values. They nurture students with comprehensive development and social awareness. A teacher is like a lamp that illuminates dark paths with unwavering light. They are like flowers that spread the message of peace, love, and friendship through their fragrance. A teacher is a leader who guides a person from the confusing paths of life to their destination. They are an artist who liberates humanity from the clutches of ignorance by making individuals aware of the evils within and around them. Being a teacher is not as easy as it seems, for they are the architects of the nation, shaping its future through the education of its people.

Every religion in the world honours and extols teachers. Islam recognized the honourable status of teachers long ago. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) elevated the class of teachers by saying, “I am sent as a teacher.” Imam Ali once said, “If a person teaches me one single word, he has made me his servant for a lifetime.” This clearly signifies that the status of a teacher is the highest of all professions.

There is no bond as pure as the teacher-student bond; it is akin to the parent-child relationship. A teacher is considered a spiritual parent, one who must treat every student as their own child. Unfortunately, there are a few teachers who view this noble profession merely as a means of employment and have tainted this sacred bond with their irreverent actions. However, these few instances do not overshadow the nobility and sanctity of the teaching profession.

To conclude, it is the collective responsibility of society, teachers, and students alike to recognize the worth of this noble profession and to preserve the sanctity of the teacher-student bond. If justice is not done to this sacred profession, it will undoubtedly have adverse effects on society, hindering its progress. Therefore, it is imperative that teachers remain sincere to their profession and fulfill their role in shaping the character of their students so that they become valuable citizens. These same students will lay the foundation of a good society, raise the dignity of teachers, and use their energies for the betterment of their country and nation.

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Masroof Manzoor