Etiquettes of Students

If you are a student, then you should observe the praiseworthy rules of a student's dealing with a learned man. These rules are:

1. to greet the learned man first
2. to speak little in his presence
3. not to speak much so long as his teacher does not ask him anything
4. not to ask him questions before receiving his permission
5. not to say, by the way of objection to his words, "So-and-so said contrary to what you have said."
6. not to argue against his opinion in such a way as to show that he knows the truth than his teacher
7. not to argue against his companions in his meetings
8. not to look around but to sit with downcast eyes, quietly and courteously as if he were engaged in ritual prayer
9. not to speak to him much when he is tired
10. not to follow him speaking and questioning and asking him questions along the street until reaches home
11. not to imagine evil of him in regard to those of his actions which appear abominable. The teacher knows better concerning his secret affairs
12. When some actions of the teacher appear abominable, the student should recollect the complaint made by the prophet Moses to Al-Khidr (may peace be on them both):
    "Have you made a hole in the boat to drown the people in it? You have indeed, done a strange thing"(Qur�an 18:71)
    In fact Prophet Moses was wrong in his complaint, which he made relying upon the outward appearance (of what al- Khidr did).

From The beginning of Guidance (bidayat al-hidaya) p. 77 from Imam Ghazali translated by Mashhad Al-Allaf