7. Education through story telling

The Prophet used to tell stories of the past Prophets and their nations and sometimes of some individuals of such nations in certain contexts in a way to teach Muslims through using interesting stories from which they can derive lessons and admonition. This can be clarified by referring the reader to the story of the People of the Ditch, the Magician, the Monk and the slave (boy) as mentioned in Sahih Muslim.

8. Education through setting parables

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to set parables for the Companions to teach them and draw abstract concepts nearer to their minds on his way of getting them from the darkness of ignorance into the light of faith and belief. The following famous hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah can be cited here as a good example on this. Allah’s Apostle said,

“My similitude in comparison with the other prophets before me, is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a place of one brick in a corner. The people go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say, ‘Would that this brick be put in its place!’ So I am that brick, and I am the last of the Prophets.” (Al-Bukhari)

9. Education through practical application

This can be shown in the following story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asking about the time of Salah and the how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) responded.

Sulaiman b. Buraidah narrated on the authority of his father that a person asked the Apostle of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the time of prayer. Upon this he said, “Pray with us these two, meaning two days.” When the sun passed the meridian, he gave command to Bilal who uttered the call to prayer.

Then he commanded him and pronounced Iqama for noon prayer.

(Then at the time of the afternoon prayer) he again commanded and Iqama for the afternoon prayer was pronounced when the sun was high, white and clear.

He then commanded and Iqama for the evening prayer was pronounced, when the sun had set.

He then commanded him and the Iqama for the night prayer was pronounced when the twilight had disappeared. He then commanded him and the Iqama for the morning prayer was pronounced, when the dawn had appeared.

When it was the next day, he commanded him to delay the noon prayer till the extreme heat had passed and he did so, and he allowed it to be delayed till the extreme heat had passed.

He observed the afternoon prayer when the sun was high, delaying it beyond the time he had previously observed it.

He observed the evening prayer before the twilight had vanished; he observed the night prayer when a third of the night had passed; and he observed the dawn prayer when there was clear daylight.

He (the Prophet) then said, ‘Where is the man who inquired about the time of prayer?’

He (the inquirer) said, ‘Messenger of Allah! Here I am.’

He (the Prophet) said, “The time for your prayer is within the limits of what you have seen.” (Muslim)