Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad Ibn Khaldun stated in his book “Al-Muqaddimah”: Know that conveying knowledge to learners is only beneficial when it is done gradually, step by step, little by little. They must be introduced to the main issues from each section of the subject first and presented with an overview of their explanation, considering the learner's capacity. The purpose is to prepare them for grasping the subject and acquiring its issues. Then the teacher returns to the subject again, elevating their students' knowledge to a higher level. They then illustrate further, moving beyond the generalities and clarifying the disagreements until reaching the end of the subject. They sharpen their intellect, leaving no single detail unexplained. (1)
Then he said: This is the method of beneficial teaching, and, as I have seen, it takes three stages, and it may take less for some. We have witnessed many ignorant teachers in this era about the methods of teaching and their effectiveness. They present to the learner initially the sealed matters of knowledge, demanding they solve them. They confuse the learner with the goals instead of the principles before they are even prepared to understand. Acceptance of knowledge and the readiness to comprehend it come gradually. Initially, the learner is incapable of understanding most of the subject in general except through parallels, generalizations, and sensory examples. They become ready little by little through repetition. When the goals are presented to them at the beginning and the learner is then incapable of understanding and is far from being prepared for them due to the difficulty of the subject, they will deviate from accepting them and will keep avoiding them. All of this results from poor teaching. The teacher should not overwhelm their learners with a deeper understanding of the book beyond their capacity or their acceptance of education, whether they are beginners or advanced. The teacher should not mix the issues of the book with others until the learner fully understands it, grasps its purposes, and acquires a wit that helps them understand other matters. Thus, the learner becomes prepared to accept the rest, active in seeking more, and advancing to higher levels. If matters are mixed up for them, they become incapable of understanding, and their mind gets blocked, losing hope of ever understanding. Allah guides whom He wills. Similarly, you should not prolong one subject by dividing the sessions and extending between them because it becomes a means of forgetting and mixing the issues altogether. One of the most beautiful and necessary approaches to teaching is not to mix two sciences together. The learner rarely succeeds in mastering either of them, causing confusion and divergence. If the mind is devoted to learning one thing at a time, it may be more beneficial. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted, is the One who guides to the right path.
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(1) The twenty-ninth chapter of “Al-Muqaddimah” by Ibn Khaldun: (pages 533-534).
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