Does what the Sheikh did — simplifying the meaning of a verse to remind a student, or saying to one student, "O Yahya, take the Scripture with strength," or saying to another, "There is no compulsion in water" — contradict the glorification of Allah’s Book and His verses, and is the questioner's aversion to that considered extremism and fanaticism?

It is incumbent upon the student of knowledge to think well of his teacher and to interpret his actions in the best possible light, so that it may be more beneficial for him to learn from him and gain knowledge from him. The teacher's intention in doing so is to clarify the meaning for the student, so that it becomes more deeply rooted in his mind, and there is no harm in that. As for what was mentioned after that, it falls under the category of quotation, which is divided into what is praiseworthy and what is blameworthy. What is blameworthy is that which involves using the Qur'an out of its proper context, and it appears that the teacher's action does not fall into this category.