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S3 Islam Workbook Introduction Islam is an Arabic word which means ‘submission or surrender’. A follower of Islam is known as a Muslims which means ‘one who submits’. This is because Muslims are expected to submit or surrender their lives to God who they call Allah. When Muslims bow down during prayer it is symbolic of their submission to Allah. They believe that Allah has spoken to them through the prophet Muhammad. They believe their sacred book, the Koran (Qur’an) contains the actual word of Allah which the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) spoke on to Muhammad. This is the same Angel Gabriel that appears in the stories about Jesus birth. For Islam, the story of God’s contact with us begins with people important to Christianity and Judaism – people such as Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, are seen as prophets of Allah. Muhammad is the last of the prophets sent by Allah to fully reveal the words of God. Islam is a way of life. The Koran instructs the people of Islam how to live their lives. The Five Pillars of Islam (which we will study more closely later) give them some basic elements of their religion. The Shiriah law deals with all areas of life, from marriage to family, social oppression and lack of equality. Task 1 1. What do the following words mean? a) Islam b) Muslim 2. What is the name of the sacred book of Islam? 3. What angel is believed to have spoken the Qur’an to Muhammad? 4. What people from the Christian faith are important to Muslims? 5. What 3 things help guide a Muslim person’s life? The Life of Muhammad Muhammad was born about 570 AD into the Koreish tribe in Mecca. He was always interested in religion and was familiar with some of the teachings of Judaism and Christianity. He would listen to preachers in Mecca who spoke about God, the last judgement and the punishment of sinners in everlasting fire. By the time he was 18 he had picked up the nickname Al Amin, which means ‘the faithful’. What he saw in Mecca disappointed him. People were worshipping all sorts of gods and goddesses. He was unhappy with their drunkenness, adultery and the injustices the poor suffered. He realised that the religion of the preachers was corrupt and not having any effect on the people’s bad behaviour. At the age of 25 Muhammad married a woman named Khadijah and they had six children. Over the years Muhammad would often go off to a cave near Mecca to pray. In 610 AD, when he was on one of his visits to the cave he heard the voice of God telling him that he was to be the prophet of Allah. This night is known as the night of power and excellence. Over the next 10 years Muhammad received more revelations through the Angel Gabriel which were eventually written down in the Koran. Muhammad began to preach in Mecca. He told the people that there was only one God, Allah. He told the people to act justly and to give to give generously to the poor. He told them not to worship false god, goddesses and idols. This made him enemies among the merchants who made their living from selling statues and idols to the people in Mecca. Muhammad was bad for their business and threats to kill him became frequent. Pilgrims who had come to Mecca from Medina heard Muhammad preach and were impressed. In July 622 they invited him to go and live in Medina, a city about 400 kilometres north of Mecca. Muhammad was still receiving death threats and so he left Mecca and journeyed across the Arabian desert to Medina. This journey is called the hijra meaning the departure or exodus. It was in Medina that the Muslim community was born under the leadership of Muhammad. Here he built the first mosque and became recognised as the rasul or messenger of Allah. He also became their political and military leader. Muhammad began trying to convert Mecca from its evil ways and by 630 he had conquered Mecca. People soon began to convert to Islam and Muhammad became their prophet-king. He died in 632. 1. Where and when was Muhammad born? 2. What does the nickname ‘Al Amin” mean? 3. What do Muslims call the night when Muhammad received his first vision? 4. Where did Muhammad live and where did he move to in 622 AD? 5. Why was Muhammad displeased with the religion in Mecca? 6. What was Muhammad doing that made the people of Mecca threaten to kill him? 7. Why was Muhammad’s move from Mecca to Medina a turning point for him and for Islam? The Five Pillars of Islam The main practices of Muslims can be summed up in the Five Pillars of Islam. The Pillars are so called because they support the Muslim way of life. They outline the most important actions of the followers of Islam as follows. Shahadah: Declaration of Faith Salah: Prayer Zakah: Giving to People in Need Sawm: Fasting Hajj: Pilgrimage Task: As you work through the various tasks on the 5 Pillars of Islam you should also build up an illustration of five pillars of Islam that contains the following elements. 1. 5 columns to represent the 5 pillars 2. The name of pillar in Arabic and English 3. Some key information about each of the five pillars Shahadah I Salat S Sawm L Zakat A Hajj M Quick Revision 1. What does the word Islam mean? 2. What is the name of the Muslim holy book? 3. Where was Muhammad born? (city) 4. Where did escape to before starting Islam? 5. What was the name of the angel who spoke to Muhammad? 6. What is the Muslim word for God? 7. Name the 5 pillars of Islam 8. Now give their Arabic names? The Five Pillars of Islam When you think about the 5 pillars of Islam you have to imagine them as the things that support the whole Islamic way of life. They are all very important to Muslims. We are now going to look at each of them in a little more detail. 4 of them focus the attention of a Muslim on their duties towards God. Shahadah Salat Hajj Sawm - the need to believe in Allah the need to pray to God the importance of Mecca and the life of Mohammad fasting reminds them of their dependence on God’s creation for food Zakat - giving to charity remind them of their duty to look after those in need. Very often these activities have complicated routines or rituals attached to them. These show the importance that they have for the Muslims people. If something is important, you take your time over it, you do it properly. Shahadah – Creed The first pillar is called ‘Shahadah’. This is a declaration of faith. It outlines what Muslims believe as follows. There is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Allah This is a very strong statement of belief in one God. The Muslim word for God is ‘Allah’. There are many names for God to be found in the Qur’an. These names describe attributes of God, for example ‘AllMerciful’, but Muslims believe in only one God. Task A 1. What word do Muslims use for God? 2. Why do you think Muslims refer to Muhammad as God’s messenger or prophet rather than as the leader of Islam? 3. Do you think it possible that there could be lots of gods, or no God at all? Give reasons for your answer. The Shahadah in Arabic Salat – Prayer The second pillar is called ‘Salat’. It refers to the duty of Muslims to pray at certain times of the day. The prayers are said in Arabic, the language of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims pray at five set times each day, but are encouraged to pray at other times as well. The prayer can be said anywhere that is clean – and a special mat is often used. In preparation for prayer Muslims wash; as they pray Muslims are expected to concentrate their mind on the prayer. The prayer times are set and have individual names. Below is a chart that outlines the names and the times for prayer. Muslims also will pray at special occasions and use various other methods of praying. One is a litany or lists of names for Allah that can be recited with the help of prayer beads. The Call to Prayer In Muslim countries followers of Islam are called to prayer in a public way. Each day everyone can hear the call to prayer. The translation of the Arabic is: God is Greatest I bear witness that there is no other object of worship but God. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Come to prayer. Come to Success. God is Greatest. There is no other object of worship but God. The Times of Prayer The following table shows the times of prayer each day. Prayer Time Fajr Between first light and sunrise Zuhr Straight after the sun has passed its highest point Asr Between mid-afternoon and sunset Maghrib Between sunset and the last light of day Isha Between darkness and dawn Preparing for Prayer A ritual washing called Wudu, which is both symbolic and a sign of respect to God, comes before the prayer sessions. In the Mosque there are separate washing facilities for men and women. Prayer Rituals When Muslims pray they must follow a set pattern of movements (or ritual) called Rak’Ahs. Each movement is connected to a section of prayer. Muslims always turn to face Mecca when praying. You can see the prayer positions in these pictures. Task B 1. How often should a Muslim pray each day? 2. In which direction should Muslims face when they pray? 3. Why do Muslims clean themselves before they pray? 4. How many positions are there in the prayer ritual? 5. Imagine you are a young follower of Islam. Write a few paragraphs for your school magazine entitiled ‘My Daily Prayer Routine’. Use the information contained above to assist you. Try to imagine and include any difficulties you might encounter (e.g. when you are taking part in an all-day event as part of a team). Zakah – Giving to Charity The third pillar is called ‘Zakah’. This refers to the fact that Muslims believe it is very important to care for others, so much so that they set aside an agreed percentage of their savings to be donated to charities. Traditionally this is 2½%. This is normally done through the local Mosque, and in some wealthier Islamic regions these donations will fund the building of Mosques in poorer areas. Task D 1. How do Muslims show care for others? Do you know of any examples of this? 2. What charities does your school support? 3. How important do you think it is that pupils and staff in schools support charities? Give a reason for your answer. Sawm – Fasting The fourth pillar of Islam is called ‘Sawm’. It is the practice of fasting. For Muslims fasting takes place during the month of Ramadan. All fit and healthy adults should fast during this month. Fasting begins at sunrise and finishes at sunset each day. Since Muslims follow the lunar calendar, the date of Ramadan varies from year to year. The days of fasting, therefore, can be shorter or longer depending upon the time of year and the country in which the Muslim community lives. It is usual for the local Mosque to set the time for the beginning and end of the fasting period. During this time they remember God’s gift of the Qur’an or holy book. For Muslims it is important to use Ramadan as a period of reflection about their life and an attempt to improve how they behave and act. At the end of Ramadan Muslims celebrate a major festival called Eidul-Fitr or Festival of Fast Breaking. Task E 1. How long is the fasting period for Sawm? 2. What is this period called? 3. When does the fast time begin and end each day? 4. Give two reasons why Muslims fast. 5. How do Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan? 6. What do you think Muslims are saying to God by fasting during Ramadan? 7. ‘Fasting does a lot of good for my waistline, but not much else’. Do you think that a Muslim would make this flippant statement? Why/why not? 8. Can you think of any similar periods of reflection in the Christian calendar? You should be able to name two periods and the feasts associated with them. Pilgrimage to Mecca - Hajj The sacred place of Islam is Mecca. Travelling to Mecca on pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of Islam and is known as the Hajj. Every Muslim who can afford to is expected to make the pilgrimage at least once is his or her lifetime. During the festival of Ramadan, which is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic year, Muslims travel to The crescent moon over the tented village at the hajj Mecca. The Hajj lasts for five days. When they arrive in Mecca, before going into the city, the male pilgrims change into long white robes. This is a symbolic gesture to remind them that they should be prepared to give up everything for God and that everyone is equal in God’s sight. The Hajj begins when the pilgrims walk seven times round the Ka’bah. The Ka’bah is a simple cube shaped building which the Muslims believe is built on the site where Abraham first built an altar to God. In one corner of the Ka’bah there is a meteorite believed to have been given to Abraham by God. Pilgrims who can get close enough try to touch this stone as they circle the Ka’bah. Next the pilgrims go to two nearby hills each of which they climbs seven times. They do this in memory of the time that Abraham’s wife Hagar searched between these to hills for water for her suffering child, Ishmael. Eventually she found a spring and the water saved their lives. After climbing the hills the pilgrims drink from the well of Zam Zam. On the next day the pilgrims walk 23 miles to Mount Arafat. Most of the day is spent praying to Allah. The next day they set out for the small village of Mina where they assemble at about middy round three pillars. Animals – usually sheep, goats or cows are sacrificed. This reminds the pilgrims that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son for God, and when God spared him he sacrificed a ram instead. The stone pillars mark the place where Muslims believe that the devil tried to make Ishmael disobey Abraham. Ishmael drove the devil away by throwing stones at him. Pilgrims throw stones at the pillars to show that they reject evil and want to follow God. The pilgrims finally return to Mecca where they walk round the Ka’bah one last time to complete the pilgrimage. Questions about Hajj 1. During which festival do Muslims normally make their hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)? 2. How long does the hajj last? 3. What do the white clothes they wear on pilgrimage symbolise? 4. What ritual do Muslims perform to begin their hajj? 5. What do Muslims believe about the black stone on the Ka’bah? 6. What is the story about Abraham’s wife connected with the two hills Muslims visit while on hajj? 7. What do pilgrims do at the village of Mina and why do they do it? 8. What do pilgrims do at the stone pillars and why? The Qur’an (Koran) As we have seen already Muhammad received the word of Allah during a series of revelations when he went into the mountains to meditate. The first night he received one of these revelations is called the Night of Power and Excellence. What Muhammad heard from God was the The word Qur’an comes from the Arabic word for recite command to ‘RECITE’. He was told… “Recite! In the name of the Lord who created man out of a mere clot of blood. “Recite! The Lord is most generous, he who taught by the pen, taught men that which they knew not.” Qur’an 96, 1-5 The book is treated with great respect and in Muslim homes it is often wrapped in cloth to keep it clean. When read over a period of time it is usually placed on a stand. Here we see an extract from ancient copy of the Qur’an, written in Arabic. Muslim children learn Arabic from a young age so that they can both read the Qur’an and say their daily prayers. The lessons for this are usually held in the Mosque as additional classes to the normal school day. Any person who has memorised the whole Qur’an is known as ‘Hafiz’. People like this have ensured the exact words have been handed down from one generation to the next before the invention of printing. The Structure of the Qur’an The Qur’an is divided into chapters called ‘Surahs’. There are 114 chapters. The first surah is called the ‘opener’ and has seven verses. The ‘Openener’ is recited in full or in part at each prayer service “In the name o f God, the merciful Lord of mercy Praise be to God, the Lord of all being, The merciful Lord of mercy, Master of the Day of Judgement.” The Mosque The place of worship for Muslims is called a Mosque (in Arabic ‘Masjid’). The word ‘masjid’ means ‘a place of prostration’. Each purpose-built mosque has the same features. Each has a dome or curve-shaped roof; and a Minaret or tower from which, in Islamic countries, the call to prayer is made five times each day. Inside each Mosque there is a wall marked by an alcove called a Mihrab. This wall faces Makkah and Muslims face in this direction to pray. Each Mosque has washing facilities to provide what is needed for Muslims to prepare for prayer (See section on Salah). A large hall is set aside for prayer and the floor is covered by a carpet. In some Mosques lines on the carpet make it easier for the men to gather for the set prayers of the day. Women usually pray in the upper sections of the Mosque, as it is the normal practice to keep men and women separate. All mosques are also seen as community gathering places for social functions and for education so they will normally have other rooms like community halls, classrooms and games rooms. As you enter a Mosque you are expected to remove their shoes as a sign of respect. Task A 1. Describe the main features that can be seen from outside a Mosque. 2. What is the Mihrab and which direction does it indicate? Explain why Muslims feel that the direction is important. 3. Give three things that the Mosque is used for. 4. What should you do when you enter the Mosque? 5. Why will you find washing facilities in the Mosque? Festivals - Eid-Ul-Fitr This festival marks the end of the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims have fasted each day during daylight hours. Now the fasting is over. It is a time of happiness, celebration and feasting. The new moon marks the end of the fasting month. Muslims will bathe and put on their best clothes. They gather to exchange gifts and Eid Mubarak (‘Happy Eid’) cards. They will normally take part in a celebration meal with their favourite foods. There will also be a special morning service in the Mosque. Muslims also feel that it is important to remember those in need and will give money to charity. The hope is that it will help the poor also to celebrate the festival. Task A 1. What does this festival celebrate? 2. Why would people look forward to this festival? Give two reasons. Imagine you are a young Muslim. Prepare a short talk to be given to non-Muslim pupils in your class saying why Eid-Ul-Fitr is such a happy occasion. Task B – Extension task Make or design an Eid card. (Note: it is not permitted in Islam to draw an image of the Prophet, Muhammad.) Eid-Ul-Adha This festival marks the end of the Hajj. Muslims who have not taken part in the Hajj also take part in the festival as it commemorates the testing of Ibrahim or Abraham. Muslims respect the Old Testament prophets and there are close links to the Jewish traditions. The sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, are seen as the founding fathers of the Jewish and Arab peoples. On the feast of Eid-Ul-Adha, Muslims remember that Ibrahim was asked by God to sacrifice his son. The story shows Ibrahim’s trust in God since he was willing to follow God’s instruction. (He was stopped in time and an animal was provided to take the place of his son.) In Muslim countries the normal practice is to sacrifice an animal. The meat is then used as part of a meal to celebrate the festival. Task C 1. In what way was Ibrahim’s trust in God tested? 2. In what ways can people’s trust in God be tested today? 3. Do you think having trust in God is important for members of a religious faith community? Give a reason for your answer. Discuss How important is it for members of religious faith community to celebrate together? Can a person be a member of a religious faith community and never meet with others of the same faith? What do you think members of a religious faith community gain from celebrating together?