The Ikhwan explain that the supreme purpose of this life is for the individual soul to rejoin its Divine Origin, and the process of unification and purification of the soul begins with Ma’refat and Walayat/Muhabbat (recognition and love) for the representative of the Divine in this world, the Imam uz Zamaan. After Ma’refat and Muhabbat (recognition and love) of the Imam and his Dai, for the further purification of the soul the following virtues are required:
- Acquisition of knowledge – ‘ilm
- Good actions in accordance with this knowledge – ‘amal
- Good character traits and virtues – akhlaaq.
This week’s article is the eighth article in a 10-part-sequence of articles on ‘ilm. This article explains the necessity of a good teacher and mentor for excellence in learning. The article highlights the role of the teacher as an interpreter of texts, especially divine texts. It also emphasizes the role of parents as the first teachers and role models for their children. The article also recognizes the role of Prophets as the primary tutors and teachers for mankind. Finally, the article discusses in relative detail the distinction between “good teachers” (mufeed-e-haqq) and “bad teachers” (mufeed-e-batil).
