Lesson Plans Lesson # 1 Subject: History Date: Class: Form 3 Time and Duration: 7.30 8:10 am (40mins) Topic: Background of Arabia before Islam Rationale: This is an introductory lesson, which aims at exposing students to the geographical, socio-economic, political, and religious background of Arabia before Islam started. It is the foundation for understanding the whole unit. Most of the events, beliefs, culture and even practices to be dealt with in the next lessons have a bearing on the background covered in this lesson. For instance, students will be able to understand why the rich merchants of Mecca opposed and oppressed Muhammad when he started preaching and why Muhammad reacted against idol worship in the Kaaba through the knowledge learnt in this lesson. This lesson therefore will serve as prior knowledge for understanding the coming lessons. Prior Knowledge: Students have some knowledge of Arabia and the Arabs learnt in other subjects both at primary and junior secondary levels and, as well as from the mass media. Objectives: SWBAT: o place Arabia in its geographical location. o analyze the socio-economic, political, and religious background of Arabia before Islam. o appreciate the influence of geography on the socio-economic and political life of Arabs before Islam. Teaching Materials/Resources o A map covering Africa, Europe and Asia showing Arabia and its borders o Picture of the Kaaba shrine o Handouts of religious groups in Arabia before Islam Lesson Presentation 1. Anticipatory Set/Introduction (6 minutes) o Ask students to individually write down anything they know about Arabia. o After 2-3 minutes, ask students to share in pairs or in threes. o Ask some students to share with the whole class what they had discussed. o Introduce the unit topic and lesson topic 2. Development Step Teacher Activity Student Activity Materials Time 1. a) Ask students to form a) In groups studying the Map 10 groups of 5. map and discussing the minutes b) Hang map in front of the geographical location of class. c) Ask students to study the Arabia; also writing down their points. map and discuss the b) Taking note of important geographical position of towns of Arabia e.g. Arabia in relation to her Yathrib (Medina) and neighbors and write their Mecca. points. d) Ask students to take note c) Group presenting/sharing what they discussed.
of important places in Arabia in their discussion. e) Supervise group discussions f) Ask groups to share with the whole class. 2. a) Explain the socioeconomic life and political organization of the people of Arabia before Islam started and ask students to take down notes as they listen to the explanation -people were pastoralists and nomads. -moved in search of grass and water for their camels, goats and sheep. -some people lived on raiding -others were traders -most important centers of trade were Mecca with a good population of rich merchants. -Politically loosely organized under clan leaders. -Quraish clan more influential both religiously and economically. b) Ask questions in the course of the explanation to check whether students are following or not, e.g. -Why was the Quraish clan more important than other clans? -Why was Mecca the most important city? -Suggest reasons why the people were loosely organized. -If you were living in Arabia then, how would a) Listening to the explanation and taking down notes. b) Answering oral questions. 10 minutes
you earn your living? 3. a) Give out handouts on Four religious groups of pre-islamic Arabia and ask students to read in groups of 5 and discuss answers to questions on the handout. b) Supervise group discussions b) Go over the questions with students. c) Show students the picture of the Kaaba a) Reading and discussing in groups. b) Writing down the answers in their notebooks. c) Answering the oral questions. d) Looking at the picture of the Kaaba. Handouts The picture of the kaaba 12 minutes 3. Conclusion (2 minutes) Through a brief summary of the lesson by pointing out the geographical position of Arabia, socio-economic, political and religious life of pre-islamic Arabia. Consolidation/assessment As a homework assignment, students to write letters to their parents explaining what the situation in Arabia was like in terms of socio-economic, political and religious life before Islam. Evaluation Teaching Resources/materials for the lesson Handout: Major religious groups in pre-islamic Arabia Many religions were practiced in Arabia before the emergence of Islam. These included polytheism/paganism, Judaism, Christianity and Hanifism. Arabian Polytheism The Arabs worshipped many gods who were believed to dwell in sacred springs, trees and stones. Mecca was the center of the pagan religion. This was where the Kaaba, the Arabian Pantheon stood. The Kaaba was a black stone, which they believed fellow from heaven. The Kaaba was surrounded by 360 idols one for each day of the year. Everywhere in Arabia there were sacred stones, or stone heaps, where the Arabs gathered to worship to obtain special blessings from the gods. Arabs made annual pilgrimages to Mecca to worship in the Kaaba. They also believed in jinn, the supernatural beings who assumed earthly form to interfere in the lives of man, sometimes benignly but more often maliciously. Sacrifices were common but burnt not offerings. The blood of the offering was smeared over the stone altars and the worshipper ate the flesh. First fruits were also offered to the gods and libations were poured out. In addition, hair offering formed part of the ancient pilgrimage. Besides the other deities, Arabs believed in the supreme god, whom they called Allah. Allah was regarded the most divine of all deities and people united in the worship of this god. Muhammad did not introduce the idea of the unity of god among the Arabs. Nor did Muhammad invent the name Allah for the supreme deity. The idea was common and so was the name. Judaism
The Jews came to Arabia from the earliest times. Evidence shows that Jews settled in Arabia as early as the time of David, and that their settlements continued the 5 th century of the Christian era. A number of native Arab tribes also embraced Judaism and at the time of Muhammad, they were scattered all over the peninsula in small compact colonies. Judaism believed in One True God. The Jews had a strong influence in Arabia because they were believed to be descendants of Abraham whom the Quraish and other tribes claimed as their ancestor. Christianity in Arabia The question how early and from what direction Christianity first entered Arabia is difficult to answer. Christian communities were reported in Arabia as early as the 4 th Century AD. It was in Southern Arabia that the Christian faith exerted its greatest power and made largest conquest. Like Judaism, Christianity believed in One God. Hanifism Besides the Jews and Christians, there were the Hanifs. They were numerous in Arabia and they abandoned the worship of the pagan deities and they believed in one god though they were neither Jews nor Christians. The Hanifs expressed their piety in the words; We have surrendered to God (Islam). They prohibited the slaying of female infants, they acknowledged the unity of god and they rejected all idolatry. They also promised a future paradise for the believer and hell for the wicked and they used words the Merciful and Forgiving for the deity. These Hanifs were not found in Mecca and Medina alone, but they were everywhere in Arabia. (Source: Zwemer, S. M. (1907). Islam: Challenge to faith. New York: Student volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions). Questions for discussion 1. How many major religions existed in Arabia before Islam? 2. Of these, which one do you think was the most powerful religion in Arabia then? Why? 3. From what you know about Islam how do you think these religions influenced Islam? 4.Would you consider Islam as a totally new religion in Arabia? Support your line of thinking. 5. To which religious group do you think Muhammad belonged?
Map covering Africa, Europe and Asia showing Arabia and its borders
Source: humanheritage.glencoe.com
Picture of the Kaaba shrine Source:humanheritage.glencoe.com