Islam About the topic In this topic pupils will learn about their Islamic sisters and brothers, how they live as a family and how they worship Where this topic fits in This topic will be taught discretely but will follow two of the CHURCH topics: domestic family, and either local community or universal world Key words journey, Hajj, pilgrimage, Mecca, Ka bah, souvenirs, Hajji, Hajjah, commitment, Zakat, pillar of Islam, diet, Haram, Halal, Khalifa, guardian, creation ing outcomes One Prayer is important Muslims pray five times a day, Prayer is important for they call God Allah and respect his Muslims name Two (a) Some aspects of worship Friday is a day of special prayer, Worship in the mosque call to prayer. Inside the mosque decorations with patterns and texts, no pictures. Men and women pray separately. The holy book is called the Qur an, how it is treated Two (b) We respect and value Muslims pray often, 99 beautiful The values important, others names of God qualities and attributes. to Muslims Values; good manners, kindness, honesty and respect for others is important Three (a) Special people Who Muhammad was. Stories of Muhammad is a Muhammad born in Mecca, special person the final prophet, why he is an example. What he taught about God. Guidance given by the Imam Three (b) We remember important Fasting and Festivals: Ramadan, Muslims remember special events Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha events Four (a) Journeys we have made Pilgrimage to Mecca. A time of renewal Life as a journey renewal of devotion Four (b) Belonging means Islamic commitment: What commitment means commitment Zakat caring for the community, diet, Khalifa Four: Other faiths: Islam 1
ISLAM Four (a) Lesson 1 Key words: journey, Hajj, pilgrimage ing intentions Journeys we have made What is the longest journey you have made? How did you prepare for it? How did you travel? What do you remember about it? Pilgrimage to Mecca; life as a journey; renewal of devotion All Muslims who have enough money make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life time. This is an important part of their faith: it is the fifth pillar of Islam, it is called Hajj. First of all there is day of preparation when the pilgrims have a thorough bath. Then all the male pilgrims put on the ihram, two seamless white sheets one of which covers the head. Special shoes are worn with no back to them. Women cover their body except for hands, face and feet. The dress is a symbol of peace, self-denial and obedience to Allah. All distinctions of nationality, wealth and status are set aside; everyone is equal before Allah. up the pillars of Islam and explain to a friend what they about, make a chart of them on a map and find out where Mecca is, work out a route you might take to get there Find a picture of Muslim pilgrims at Mecca, if possible use a CD Rom or the internet, or a video Why do pilgrims wear a special garment? What does this symbolise? A pilgrimage to Mecca is important for Muslims A pilgrimage to Mecca is important for Muslims; it is the duty if they can afford it. 2 Four A: Other faiths: Islam
ISLAM Four (a) Lesson 2 Key words: Hajj, Mecca, Ka ba ing intentions Journeys we have made What do you do as a family or a class when you go for the day or away for a holiday? Do you have a special routine, things you always do? Pilgrimage to Mecca; life as a journey; renewal of devotion There are seven special stages of the pilgrimage, spread over three days. The first is the day of preparation, which is not included in the actual Hajj. On this day pilgrims walk seven times round the holy house known as the Ka bah, which Muslims believe Ibrahim built. As the pilgrims walk, they say the following prayer: Here I am at your service, O God, here I am! Day one The pilgrim go to Mina, three miles (4.8km) from Mecca and say prayers in the Mosque there. Day two On the second day, stage four; the pilgrims journey to Arafat to pray. This was where Ibrahim took Isma il for sacrifice and where Muhammad preached his last sermon. This is the main part of the Hajj. They then travel to Muzdalifa, five miles (8km) away and spend the night there. Day three Pilgrims collect pebbles at Muzdalifa, this is stage five. They return to Mina where they throw the pebbles at three pillars to remember that Ibrahim and Isma il threw stones in their rejection of the devil. Finally the pilgrims return to Mecca, for the feast of Id ul-adha. A goat or sheep is sacrificed. The pilgrims circle the Ka ba again. There are three days of relaxation before they return home. Imagine you are a pilgrim. Describe what you did and how you felt. How is Hajj like our journey through life? In a group, some children draw the stages of Hajj, some children write sentences about the stages and then try to match them. Research Hajj further using ICT, or a video, or the library A time of renewal Hajj is a time when Muslims renew their belief Four A: Other faiths: Islam 3
ISLAM Four (a) Lesson 3 Key words: Souvenirs, hajji, hajjah ing intentions Journeys we have made Remember your journey you talked about last lesson. What do you remember about the journey? What souvenirs have you got at home to remind you of it? Recall the last lesson about Hajj. Pilgrimage to Mecca; Hajj and home; life as a journey; renewal of devotion Hajj helps pilgrims to feel a sense of community, of belonging to Islam, of everyone working together. Everyone who completes this pilgrimage may add the word Hajji to their name or Hajjah if they are a woman pilgrim. When they return home from this very special event in their lives, they often have a celebration with their friends and relations. In some countries they decorate the outside of their home with pictures of scenes from the Hajji, including the journey to Mecca. Many years ago the symbols of the journey might have been a camel. Now it is often a train or a jumbo jet. During Hajj it is a time of doing without everyday luxuries symbolised by the wearing of the ihram (remember the last lesson). At the end of Hajj there is a symbolic cutting of hair and nails to show a return to everyday life. Research and draw the kind of house you might expect to see in an Arab country. Decorate it with some of the things that might remind you of a pilgrimage to Mecca. (Remember that Muslims never depict people or animals.) Explain what Muslim pilgrims might have brought back with them from Hajj. Explain why Muslims would what to celebrate on their return from Hajj. How would the pilgrim feel? What might they tell other people about their experience? How do you think it might affect their belief? Hajj is a very important part of the life of a Muslim A time of renewal 4 Four A: Other faiths: Islam
ISLAM Four (b) Lesson 1 Key words: commitment, Zakat, pillar of Islam ing intentions Belonging means commitment There are many ways of giving; we can give care, time and money. Who do you help? Who does the school help? e.g. harvest festival, CAFOD, carol singing, helping younger pupils. Islamic commitment: Zakat, caring for the community, diet, Khalifah Zakat is the third duty or pillar of Islam. It is a compulsory annual welfare payment. Each year every Muslim works out what he/she needs and Zakat is paid out of what is left over. All Muslims pay it; parents pay on behalf of their children. 2.5% is paid out of what is left over. It is a sign of commitment to the will of Allah. The money is used to help any one who is in need, orphans, travellers, poor people, and students studying Islam. The Qur an says: Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with the Lord (2;277) How does giving Zakat make Muslims happy? How will Allah reward them? Could you work our what 2.5% is of what you might have left over from your pocket money? Make a poster for the mosque reminding Muslims to give Zakat (remember there will be no people or animals in the poster) What commitment means Commitment to Islam requires Muslims to think of others Four B: Other faiths: Islam 5
ISLAM Four (b) Lesson 2 Key words: diet, Haram, Halal ing intentions Choosing food Make a small survey in the class of foods you like, foods you don t like and foods you know are good for you and you know your parents would prefer you to eat. What has your survey found? Islamic commitment: Zakat, caring for the community, diet, Khalifah Muslim people consider food and drink to be gifts from Allah, to be used wisely and accepted with gratitude and thankfulness. Wasting food is thought to be wrong, if leftovers cannot be kept for another meal then it should be given to the needy or to the animals rather than be thrown away. Before Muslims eat they usually say In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. The meal will also end with a blessing. The Qur an gives guidance on the kinds of foods which are considered good and pure and those which are not. Halal food means food which is permitted, animal which are killed with one stroke of a very sharp knife, while the butcher says the words In the name of Allah, Allah the most great. It shows that the life of the animal belongs to God, and is only being killed because people need to eat. Pork, animals which eat other animals, carnivorous ones, an animal which has not been killed according to Muslim regulations, are called Haram and are forbidden. Alcoholic drink is also forbidden. Haram foods can also include foodstuffs, which contain animal fat, such as biscuits, ice cream and soups. Muslims families will try to buy food, which says Halal on the packet. Discuss why you think Muslims have these regulations? (Remember the Muslim faith began in the Near East in a very hot country). If possible talk to a Muslim person about it. Find out which foods are Halal and which are Haram by collecting wrappers and looking at the ingredients Plan a meal for some Muslims friends, what would you serve, what would your shopping list look like? What commitment means Appreciate the idea of obedience to a faith commitment 6 Four B: Other faiths: Islam
ISLAM Four (b) Lesson 3 Key words: Khalifah, guardian, creation ing intentions Belonging means commitment How do we care for the earth? Why does it matter how we treat it? Recall the last lesson how Muslims believe that our food and drink are all gifts from Allah. Islamic commitment: Zakat, caring for the community, diet, Khalifah The holy Qur an makes it clear that Allah is the owner and creator of the earth and that he made everything in order to provide for the needs of human people. It is He who has made you his guardian, inheritors of the earth (6:165) Then let humans look at their food and how we provide it. For we pour forth water in abundance and we split the earth in fragments and produce corn and grapes and nutritious plants, and olives and dates and enclosed gardens dense with lofty trees for use and convenience to you and your cattle (80: 24-32) Khalifa is an Arabic word meaning the shadow of God on earth, it is about responsibility and care. As humans we are privileged to be entrusted with the care of all living things. Collect some pictures of natural things, animals, flowers, sea, mountains etc. Who owns them? Whose job is it to look after them? Who has a right to use them? In groups make a charter saying how we might be responsible and careful in our use of the following: group 1, our world; group 2, our school; group 3, our local area; group 4, our homes Through your own research find out more about Khalifa What commitment means Muslims believe that people are guardians of the earth and have no right to destroy living or non-living things that belong to it. Four B: Other faiths: Islam 7