MILESTONE 5: TEACHING BY EXAMPLE

Mankind tend to learn by example. Abstract knowledge evades shortly if not supported by practical illustration of that knowledge. The worse happens when a knowledge is given by a person, who himself contradicts that knowledge through his actions. A smoking parents contradict themselves when asking their kids not to smoke.

The Prophet Shuaib told his people:

 قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىَ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّي وَرَزَقَنِي مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَى مَا أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الإِصْلاَحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلاَّ بِاللّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ (88)

 He said: "O my people! see ye whether I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me sustenance (pure and) good as from Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look. [Surah Hud (11): 88]

Abdullah ibn Abbas -who was a kid- once stayed overnight at the house of the Prophet. In the middle of the night he noticed the Prophet raising from his bed, making wudu (ablution) and standing for night prayer. Eventually, this kid joined the Prophet in the night prayer. That was teaching by example. Lots of other similar teachings can be taken from the glorious biography of our glorious Prophet -peace be upon him.