Download Islam in the Diocesan Guidelines for RE

IslamintheDiocesanGuidelinesforRE
Whatarethe‘bigideas’inIslam?
Theword‘Islam’means‘peace’,‘harmony’and‘submission’,
andaMuslim’slifeislivedinaccordancewiththeseconcepts,
insubmissiontoAllah(God).Muslimsbelieveintheonenessof
God,‘Tawhid’,whichisstatedintheshahadah,boththe
Muslimstatementofbelief,andthecalltopray.Muslims
believethattheQu’ranistheeternalwordofGod,the
completeandfinalrevelationofAllahtothelastprophet,
Muhammad(pbuh)ontheNightofPower.TheProphet
Muhammad(pbuh)isconsideredbyMuslimstobethebest
exampleofspiritualandmoralconductandisreveredaboveall
others.FivePillarsarecentraltothelifeofaMuslim,givinglife
shapeandstrength:to‘believeeverymoment;prayfivetimes
aday;givewhenyoudoyouraccounts;fastforamonthoutof
theyear;andtraveltoMakkahonceinalifetimeifyoucan.’
Prayer(salah),performedatfivedailyprayertimesmeanthat
Muslimsprayasacommunity,eveniftheyarenotphysically
together.Mosquesimplymeans‘placeofprostration’,whichis
howMuslimsexpresssubmissiontoAllahduringprayer.
InformationforKS2teachers
WhatdoIneedtoknowaboutIslam?
The word ‘Islam’ comes from the Arabic root, SLM, which means peace, purity, submission and
obedience.Itisthereforefoundinotherkeywordsinthereligion:‘Muslim’–afollowerofIslam–and
‘sallam’,peace,oftenusedasagreeting.
Islamisacomprehensivewayoflife,andisbasedontheOnenessofAllahandtheroleandstatusoftheProphet
Muhammad*(pbuh)asanexampletohumankind. [*AfterthenameoftheProphetMuhammad,oranyotherprophetof
Islam,Muslimssayorwrite,‘Salla’llahualaihiwasallam’(peaceandblessingsofAllahuponhim–oftenreducedto‘pbuh’)].Itis
not required that non-Muslims do this, but it is suggested that teachers, as part of learning about Islam in their
classrooms,modelthisconceptofrespecttopupils.
TheIslamicwayoflifeencompassesallaspectsofaperson’sdailyexistence,andisbestbedescribedasastateof
peaceattainedthroughwillingobediencetoAllah’sdivineguidance.Muslimsstrivetoachievethisbyfollowingall
theQur’anicinjunctionsregardingbehaviourandworship,forexamplethefivedailytimesofsalah(prayer),fasting
duringRamadan,actsofcharityandconstantconsciousnessoftheirrelationshipwithAllah.LifeisshapedbytheFive
Pillars,whichstrengthenandsupporttheMuslimcommunity(Ummah).
An important part of Muslim community life for men and women in Europe is the Mosque.
Friday is the day for congregational worship, but many Muslims attend the Mosque daily.
However, ‘mosque’ simply means ‘place of prostration’, so in actual fact, Muslims can pray
anywhere,aslongasitisclean,whichiswhytheymightuseaprayermat.Theactofpraying,
incompletesubmissiontoAllah,makesthewholeworldamosque!MostMuslimswillkeep
oneroomintheirhomeespeciallycleanforsalah.
Whilstimagesoflivingbeings,andespeciallyanyrepresentationsofAllah,theprophetsor
angelsareforbidden,therearemanyotherwaysinwhichmosques&sacredtexts
aredecorated,usingpatternandArabiccalligraphy,oftenexpressingtruthsabout
Allah. The concept of tawhid (the oneness of God) is often illustrated through
elaboratelyintricateandinterlacedpatterns,andinmosquegardens.
lāʾilāhaʾillā-llāh,
muḥammadur-rasūlu-llāh
WhatdoMuslimsbelieve?
Key beliefs in Islam are expressed in the shahadah, the Muslim declaration of
faith:‘ThereisnogodexceptAllah,MuhammadistheMessengerofAllah’.Aperson
Thereisnogodexcept
becomes a Muslim not by race, nationality or culture, but by professing belief in that
Allah,Muhammadisthe
statementandbyreflectingitinthepracticeoftheIslamicwayoflife.Theshahadahis
MessengerofAllah.
alsocontainedwithinthecalltoprayer,theadhan,whichfirststatesthat‘Godisgreat’
(inArabic,‘AllahuAkbar’)andthencontinueswiththeshahadah.TheAdhanisthefirstthingthatiswhisperedinto
theearofanewbornbaby,andthelastthataMuslimhopestohearbeforetheydie.
AllahistheArabicnameforGod.MuslimsbelievethatGodisOne(tawhid),andhasnoequal;that
his existence is revealed within nature, and through his prophets.Muslims believe that Allah sent
manyMessengersandProphetstowhomHerevealedHisdivineguidance.TheseincludedIbrahim
–Abraham(peacebeuponhim),Musa–Moses(peacebeuponhim),Isa–Jesus(peacebeupon
him) and the last and greatest prophet Muhammad*, who was born in Makka, Arabia in 570 CE. They therefore
affirmthewritingsoftheTawrah(Torah),theZabur(PsalmsofDawud,David)andtheInjil(Gospelsoftheprophet
Isa,Jesus),butbelievethemtobecorruptedversionsoftheoriginalrevelation.
Muhammad (pbuh) is not the founder of Islam, but is the last and greatest of all the Prophets,
describedinIslamasthe‘sealoftheprophets’.Muhammadisreveredasthemostperfectexampleofa
man,onwhomMuslimswillmodeltheirownlives.StoriesabouthimcanbefoundintheQur’an,and
manyotherofhiswisesayingsarecollectedintextsknownashadith.Itisimportantthatstoriesabout
prophetsinIslam,especiallyMuhammad,arehandledappropriately:pupilsshouldnotbeencouragedtoactthem
out,asthiswouldbeconsidereddisrespectful,buttherearemanyotherwaysofworkingwithMuslimstories,such
asreflectivestorytellingusingobjects.
The Qur’an is the final revelation of Allah’s guidance for mankind, and is a
copy of a book that is kept in heaven. The Qur’an was revealed to
Muhammad* in a cave on Mount Hira by the angel Jibra’il – Gabriel – in
610CE,whenMuhammadwas49yearsold.Thisnightisknownasthe‘Night
‘Bismillaahar-Rahmanar-Raheem’
InthenameofGod,theinfinitely
CompassionateandMerciful.
Qur’an,openingsurah
of Power’ (Laylat al-Qadr) and is one of the odd-numbered nights in the last week of
Ramadan: it is believed that prayer on this night is worth 1000 months of worship. The
revelations continued over the next 23 years of his life and were learned by heart and
dictated to scribes. The revelations were also recited and proclaimed by him to his
companions. The Qur’an gives detailed guidance on how humankind should behave, in
terms of moral conduct and family relationships as well as the treatment of animals and
thenaturalworld.WhateverthelanguageoftheMuslim,theQur’anisrecitedin
ToHimisduetheoriginof
the Arabic language of its revelation, in its purest form. Muslim children will
theheavensandtheearth.
often attend madrassah (mosque school) each day for up to 2 hours after
WhenHedecreesamatter,
school, where they will learn portions of the Qur’an and what it means. The
Hesaystoit‘Be’,anditis.
Qur’anisdividedinto114surahs(chapters)andayahs(verses).Arabiccopiesof
Qur’an,surah2:117
the Qur’an are treated with the highest respect, because it comes from the
highestauthority,whichiswhyitiskepthighonashelf,coveredwhennotinuse,andhandledwithcleanhands.
Whilst it is important that pupils get to see a ‘real’ Qur’an (especially if it can be read from by someone who is a
Muslim),itisrecommendedthatanEnglishversionoftheQur’anisusedasthebasisforlearningaboutIslaminthe
classroom.Itensuresthatthecontentsaremoreaccessibletopupils,andislesslikelytocauseanyoffencewithin
theMuslimcommunity.SuggestionscanbefoundwithintheResourcessectionbelow.
Awindowon…..theFivePillars
What gives strength and shape to our lives? Family?....
Friends?.....Faith?...ForaMuslim,itisthefivepillarsof
their faith: five big concepts that pupils should consider
in their learning about and from Islam. The often-misunderstood word ‘Jihad’ has two different meanings for a
Muslim:thegreater(internal)jihad,whichisconcernedwiththestruggleeveryMuslimfacestoliveouttheirfaithto
the best of their ability, and to build a good Muslim society. Lesser jihad is the struggle to defend Islam, using
warfare only if nothing else has worked. Military jihad is permitted in
certaincircumstances,andasalastresort,butisnotatruejihadifit
believeeverymoment;prayfivetimesa
forcespeopletoconverttoIslam,conquersothernationstocolonise
day;givewhenyoudoyouraccounts;fast
them or for economic gain, to settle disputes or display a leader’s
foramonthoutoftheyear;travelto
might.TheProphetMuhammadsaid,onreturningfromabattle‘We
Makkahonceinalifetimeifyoucan
returnfromthelesserjihadtothegreaterjihad.TheFivePillarscan,
therefore, be seen as way of helping Muslims, through greater jihad, to get closer to Allah and become better
Muslims.Thefivepillarsare:
1. Shahadah:seesectionaboveWhatdoMuslimsbelieve?
2. Salah(prayer):atfivedifferenttimesduringtheday.Whereverpossible,thesettimesfor
prayer (early morning, just before sunrise; midday; in the afternoon; in the evening just
aftersunset;duringthenight,butbeforemidnight)arefollowed,asitjoinsMuslimswith
theworldwideMuslimcommunity(ummah).However,attimeswhenit’snotpossible,two
or more of the set prayers may be joined together. Before praying, Muslims perform wudu, which is both a
physicalandspiritualact.Therearesetpositionsforprayer(rak’ah)whichhavesymbolicmeanings.Youcanfind
outmoreat:www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/salah/
3. Sawm (fasting during Ramadan): Muslims fast during daylight hours for the month of Ramadan, which marks
thegivingoftheQur’antotheProphetMuhammad.Thefastisnotjustaphysicalact,butdeeplyspiritual,and
thedisciplinelearnedduringthefastshouldhelpaMuslimtoliveabetterlifeafterthefast.DuringRamadan,
thereisoftenanextracongregationalprayertimeatnight,taraweeh,duringwhichportionsoftheQur’anare
read,theaimbeingtohavereaditentirelyduringthemonth.
4.
Zakat (giving / charity): all Muslims should give 2.5% of their surplus savings
annually,whichisthensharedamongstthepoorandneedy,andaswellasanobligation,is
consideredanactofworship.ThecharityIslamicReliefhasanannualincomefromZakatof
over£40million.OthercharitiesarelistedinResources.
5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah): Makkah (Mecca) is Islam’s holiest site. It is the
birthplaceoftheProphet(pbuh),butalsothesiteoftheKa’bah,theblackstonewhich
Muslims believe fell from heaven as a sign of the first covenant between God and
humankind, and which Adam made into a shrine. On Hajj (in the 12th month of the
Muslim calendar), pilgrims circle the Ka’bah anti-clockwise seven times, symbolising
the unity of the ummah, kissing it, if possible, or saluting it. Pilgrims all dress the
same, in simple white clothes called ihram, expressing simplicity, unity and equality, regardless of economic
status,race,cultureorgender.DuringHajj,pilgrimswillalsosipwaterfromthesacredwellofZamzam(which
savedHagar(wifeofIbrahim)andIsma’il’slife),walkbetweenthetwohillsofSafaandMarwa,seventimes,and
throwstonesatthe‘devil’(seeResourcesforinfo.)
“TheTwoIds”:Id-ul-FitrmarkstheendofRamadanandisatimeforMuslimstoaskforforgiveness,and
to give thanks. Presents are given and new clothes bought. Id-ul-Adha commemorates the devotion of
theProphetIbrahim(Abraham)insacrificingIsma’il.
Whatmakesamosqueamosque?
ThehomeoftheProphetMuhammad(pbuh)(diagram,right)isconsideredthefirst
mosque.Hishouse,inMedinainmodern-daySaudiArabia,wasatypical7th-century
Arabianstylehouse,withalargecourtyardsurroundedbylongroomssupportedby
columns.Thisstyleofmosquecametobeknownasahypostylemosque,meaning
“manycolumns.”MostmosquesbuiltinArablandsadoptedthisstyleforcenturies.
Findoutmoreat:
www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/beginners-guide-islamic/a/introduction-to-mosque-architecture
Althougharchitecturalstylemaybeaffectedbyregionalandculturaltraditions,most
mosqueswillretaincertainfeatures,whichinclude:
1.
Anoutercourtyard:withrunningwater,where
wudu,ritualwashing,willtakeplace
2.
Mihrab: a niche in one wall (the qibla wall), which
indicates the exact direction of Mecca, the location of the
ka’bah.Muslimsprayfacinginthisdirection.
3.
Minaret:thetalltower,oftendomed,fromwhichthe
adhan(calltoprayer)issung.Whilstpurelypracticalinaidingthebroadcastofthe
adhan,italsoservesasapowerfulvisualreminderofthelocalpresenceofIslam.
4. Qubba:mostmosqueswillhaveatleastonedome,symbolicallyrepresentingthevault
ofheaven,whichissitedintotheqiblawall.Thisdomewillusuallybethemostornately
decorated. Usefulweb-basedresourcesforteachersandclassrooms:
www.reonline.org.ukGreatforbackgroundknowledge,withlotsoflinkstoclassroomresourcesviaasearchtool.Usethe‘Knowing’tab
tofindoutwhatyouwanttoknow,ortryhere:www.reonline.org.uk/knowing/what-re/islam/
•
REOnlinealsohavesomelessonideas(searchfor‘REBanquet’),butensureyoumatchtotheDiocesanCoreKnowledgeobjectives.
•
InterfaithExplorerswebinars&resourcesforteachers/pupilsesp.webinarsareveryusefulforteacherknowledgeandsupport.
Virtualmosquetours:
•
ShahJahanMosque,Woking:www.surreyplacesofworship.org.uk/andhttp://www.shahjahanmosque.org.uk/
•
BBCiWondermosquetour:www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z297hv4#zwk2p39
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BoltonMosque:www.thebcom.org/mosquetour/index.htm
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LondonCentralMosque(KS3material):www.truetube.co.uk/film/holy-cribs-mosque
MyLife,MyReligion:ThereareclipsofMuslimworshipontheBBC‘MyLife,MyReligion’website.Youcanfindindividualclips,andcomplete
programmesathttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pc1c9Especiallyusefulare:Islam–Prayer;Islam–theMosque;Islam–Wudu
•
Greatphotosofmosquesfromaroundtheworld(HuffingtonPostisagreatresourceforpictures!)
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Ifyouwanttosee/hearwhatgoesoninamosqueasalivebroadcast,WembleyMosquehasafacilitythatenablesthis:
http://www.virtualmosque.co.uk/
•
SomesacredstoriesfromIslamfeatureontheBritishLibrarywebsite:www.bl.uk/learning/cult/sacred/stories/
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FurthersuitablestoriescanalsobefoundontheBBCSchoolspages:
www.bbc.co.uk/learning/schoolradio/subjects/collectiveworship/collectiveworship_stories
•
PillarsofIslaminsong!www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7pBGqMvN0o
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InformationaboutHajjcanbefoundattheBBCiWondersite:http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zgymxnb
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Muslimcharities:http://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/;https://muslimhands.org.uk/;http://www.nzf.org.uk/
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Eid–ul-Fitraroundtheworld:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-28544591,alsoHouseofOne,aninterestingconcept:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27872551
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ThereisacompleteglossaryofIslamictermsavailableontheDiocesanwebsite:http://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/education/our-schoolservices/re/new-guidelines/materials-for-re-subject-leadersScrolldowntofindtheglossary!
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Books:‘RamadanMoon’byNa’imaBRobert&ShirinAdl(ISBN978-1-84780-206-4)isalovelybook,withbeautifully-wordedtext
expressinglongingsduringRamadan.Alsousefulis:MyFirstQur’anStorybookISBN81-7898-554-3
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EmailcontactforKauserAkhtar,DiocesanInterfaithadvisor:[email protected]
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REMEMBER:Thisunitbuildsonchildren’sunderstandingfromKS1.IfyouareaJuniorschool,youmayhavereceivedpupilsfromVA,VCor
communityInfantschools,soit’sworthlookingattheKS1unitsfromeithertheDiocesanGuidelinesortheSurreyAgreedSyllabusinorderto
understandpupils’previouslearning.YoucanviewtheGuidelinesontheDiocesanwebsiteortheSurreysyllabusfromSCC’swebsite.