I saw a schoolteacher in a western land, with a sour face, bitter words, bad temper, tormenting people, miserly and unrestrained, so that Muslims' joy was ruined by seeing him and their hearts darkened by his recitation of the Quran. A group of pure boys and virgin girls were caught in his cruelty, having neither the courage to laugh nor the power to speak. Sometimes he would slap one's silvery cheek and sometimes torture another's crystal leg.

In short, I heard that they discovered some of his inner wickedness, beat him, and drove him away, and gave his school to a reformer, a pious, wise, good, and gentle man who spoke only when necessary and whose words never caused anyone harm.

The children's fear of the first teacher vanished, and they saw the second teacher's kingly manners and each one became a devil. Relying on his gentleness, they abandoned learning. They often gathered together to play and broke slates on each other's heads without completing their lessons.

When the teacher is harmless

Children play knucklebones in the market

After two weeks, I passed by that mosque and saw the first teacher, whom they had appeased and brought back to his place. Honestly, I was annoyed and said 'There is no power and no strength except with God' (a phrase expressing disapproval) why did they make the devil a teacher of angels again?

A king sent his son to school

He placed a silver tablet beside him

On his tablet was written in gold

A teacher's harshness is better than a father's love