It is not (permitted) for teachers to divide people into factions or to do what sows enmity and hatred among them. Rather, they should be like brothers cooperating in righteousness and piety, as the Exalted said: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (5:2-).

No one among them has the right to exact a pledge from another requiring agreement with everything he desires, or demanding loyalty to his allies and hostility toward his adversaries. Indeed, whoever does this acts like Genghis Khān and his likes, who treat those who agree with them as friends and allies, while regarding those who disagree with them as transgressing enemies.

Rather, they and their followers are (only) bound by the covenant of Allāh and His Messenger to obey Allāh and His Messenger, to do what Allah and His Messenger have commanded, to consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful, and to maintain the rights of teachers as Allāh and His Messenger have commanded.

If a teacher is wronged, they should come to his aid. If he is an oppressor, they should not aid him in his oppression but rather restrain him from it as established in the Ṣaḥīḥ (of al-Bukhārī) that he said: “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or the oppressed.” It was asked: “O Messenger of Allāh, I can aid him if he is oppressed, but how do I aid him if he is an oppressor?” He replied: “You restrain him from oppression, that is how you help him.”^[2]

If a dispute or friction occurs between one teacher and another, between one student and another, or between a teacher and a student, it is not permissible for anyone to aid either party until the truth is known. One must not aid (either party) out of ignorance or whims.

Rather, one should examine the matter. Once the truth becomes clear, one should support the party that is in the right against the party that is in the wrong regardless of whether the one in the right is from one’s own associates or those of another, and regardless of whether the one in the wrong is from one’s own associates or those of another. The ultimate goal is the worship of Allāh alone, obedience to His Messenger, the following of the truth, and the establishment of justice.

The Exalted said: “O you who believe, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allāh, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allāh is more worthy of both. So follow not (personal) desire, lest you not be just. And if you distort (your testimony) or refuse (to give it), then indeed Allāh is ever, with what you do, Well-Acquainted.” (4:135-).