International Teacher Education Conference 2014 1

International Teacher Education Conference 2014
The Characteristics of the IKRAM-MUSLEH Teacher
Based on the principles of Islamic education, we believe that the teacher should possess the attributes and the
values embedded in the qualities of a murabbi. Subsequently, we present the qualities associated with murabbi
which are mudarris, mua’alim, muaddib and mursyid.
The Teacher as a Murabbi
The term murabbi is specially chosen as it represents someone who not only teach and educate, but also
someone who will guide his students in their capacity building as a confident muslim in the context of our
contemporary world. A murabbi is a social agent in developing strong muslim individuals who is
knowledgeable, strong in their faith and above all, be a truly practicing believer of the Islamic faith who is able
to contribute for the betterment of our shared humanity. (Megat Mohamed Amin, Mahani Mokhtar. 2006).
In the context of teaching and learning situations, the teacher must fulfil certain minimum requirements as
stipulated in the manhaj tarbiah and thus enhance his ability to guide, inspire and motivate the students under
his care to become good knowledgeable muslims. (IKRAM-MUSLEH, 2013a). In short, the teacher as a
murabbi possess the qualities of a muallim, mudarris, muaddib and mursyid (Jawatan Kuasa Pendidikan
IKRAM. 2012). All these are arabic words which essentially means the same; but there are some distinct
differences between them which will be elaborated.
Murabbi is from an arabic word rabba which means to administer, manage, to reform and to lead. Also,
rubbiya means who is being mentored or coached. (IKRAM-MUSLEH, 2013a)
A murabbi does all that is done by the mudarris, muallim and muaddib. But he does more that that. A
murabbi habitualises and personifises Islam as a way of life. He is examplary to the students. He develops the
affective, cognitive and psychomotor aspects of his student but his focus is on developing the affective aspect of
the student so that his student practise Islam as a complete way of life. Allah s.w.t. says in Surah al-Isra:24 “..
And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought
me up [when I was] small.”
A murabbi teaches, educates, inspires and guides his students. He manages the school biah (environment) so
that it becomes conducive for an effective and efficient teaching and learning process to take place. He ensures
that the school biah includes not only the physical aspect of the school but also the school culture. Significant
school culture includes strengthening team work, mastering knowledge and practising Islam as a way of life.
A murabbi looks after his student like the farmer who looks after the seedlings he planted. He does research
work to upgrade his skills, always innovative and creative in pedagogy, feels accountable, makes reviews and
reflections. His centre of value is to seek the pleasure of Allah s.w.t. Rasulullah s.a.w. and the Prophets (peace
be upon them) are excellent role models for him.
He is fully aware of the trust given to him, not only by the management of the school, but more importantly,
the trust given by Allah s.w.t to educate the students.. He therefore has a sense of guilt whenever the educational
objectives are not achieved and a sense of sin whenever he deviates from being a role model.
A murabbi is not only a teacher of knowledge, in school or elsewhere, but also someone who educates a
person holistically – intellectually, physically and spiritually – so that the person will habitualises and
personifises his knowledge and understanding. A murabbi therefore focusses on developing the character,
attitude and behaviour of a person so that he practises Islam as way of life.
The Teacher as a Mudarris
The word mudarris comes from the arabic root word darrasa which means to teach. A mudarris is a teacher
who teaches in school as a profesion and divulges in lessons and instructions in classrooms. He imparts
knowledge, based on the school curriculum, to his students via appropriate pedagogy, utilising teaching and
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