Sharing My Thoughts on Teaching Qur'an and Islamic Studies

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Since I moved to a non-Muslim country, I've been involved in teaching the Qur'an and Islamic sciences. Alhamdulillah, this has been a big part of my life, but lately, I've been feeling quite frustrated with some experiences I've had with students and their families. I just want to share my thoughts, and please feel free to tell me if you think differently. From a young age, thanks to Allah and my mother’s encouragement, I started learning and teaching Islamic knowledge. Most of my time has been spent working with parents and students, but sometimes it feels like people follow someone just because they have a title like shaikh or aalim, without really checking their actual knowledge or where they learned from. Sadly, many of these teachers don’t provide what people truly need to understand about their deen. Some have knowledge but don’t know how to teach it well, while others need to start learning from the basics. I believe we need strong Imams who have knowledgeable wives to support them in women’s matters, and who manage their communities strictly by the Qur'an and Sunnah, even if it means some people don’t like it. Unfortunately, this advice often goes unheard. Nowadays, many seem to pick and choose what parts of Islam they want to follow, ignoring clear teachings from the Qur'an and Sunnah. When you bring proof from the texts, some just say, “Nah, that’s not for us.” I see a big problem with how people admire those who have memorized the Qur'an, which is great, but sometimes they get jobs teaching without enough knowledge in aqeedah or fiqh, leading to confusion and misguidance. Teaching deen isn’t just about being a hafiz; it’s about having solid knowledge backed by evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah. People focus too much on certificates, degrees, and ijazahs from various programs - some of which aren’t even recognized in most Muslim countries. While it’s important to show qualifications, what really matters is if the person’s knowledge strengthens your faith. Back in the days after the Prophet’s companions, people cared about who taught you and whether your knowledge was based on Qur'an and Sunnah. Now, many chase degrees and ignore true knowledge. Not everyone with a degree is fit to lead prayers, teach, or give khutbahs. Many parents focus only on their children memorizing the Qur'an and neglect other important Islamic studies. When you try to discuss this, they look at you like you’re suggesting something strange. They don’t try to teach their children themselves and leave everything to the teachers, but children need to see Islamic practice at home, not just from strangers. I’ve also grown tired of private teaching requests. Some ask for discounts, saying the price is high, even though it’s equivalent to a few burgers a month. Many of these families are well off professionals. Some want to pay only after months of lessons, which is hard since teaching the deen requires consistent effort. There are also people who say Islamic knowledge should be free, but for many teachers, this isn’t feasible as it’s their livelihood. Some mosque administrations encourage free classes, but then people don’t value the lessons as much. Students come inconsistently, then complain about falling behind. Many teaching jobs offer very low pay without benefits, as if teachers don’t have lives or financial needs. Of course, we should teach the deen as much as we can for Allah’s reward, and fees should be fair, with discounts or free lessons for those in need. Even when someone tries to do good in deen, many still follow hafizs blindly, even if they spread incorrect beliefs, while others who aren’t hafiz are told to go back and study more before they’re accepted. If Islam was only about memorization without understanding, we’d be in trouble. I’ve been to many mosques where whoever comes into leadership brings their own family and friends and pushes out others. When you try to advise them with Qur'an and Sunnah, it’s like talking to a wall. Many mosque leaders gang up on those who disagree, even with proof. Some mosques that avoid innovations isolate themselves so much that few people know about them and they get called weird. They don’t try to reach out or grow their communities. New Muslims often struggle too. Even after learning about creed, fiqh, hadith, and tafseer, many just follow the same mistakes as those born Muslim. I always remind people of the hadith: "Hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Cling to it tightly and bite onto it with your molar teeth." But sadly, many ignore this advice. People refuse to hold on to Allah’s rope and stay united, even though the Prophet said the Muslim community is like fingers tied together. I’m not trying to discourage anyone. I will keep doing my best in teaching, and I encourage all of you to do the same. May Allah guide us all and make us steadfast on the true path.