Download Year 7: Islam: exam help sheet

Introduction to religion Year 7
Introduction to religion:
What the word 'religion' means. To discuss religious experience.
That most people in the world are in some sense religious. (1/3 are Christians 1/5 Muslim
1/5 atheist or non-religious)
Because religion addresses important issues in life it is important to think and talk about
religious matters even if one isn't religious
To know the names of the 6 world religions and know where they originated. To have an
idea of the age of religions
Multicultural Britain:
Britain is a multicultural country. Many different religions are well represented
How different cultures came to Britain
Optical Illusions:
There are different ways of seeing the same event
People are bound to have different views because no one can grasp the whole truth and
everyone approaches life from their own standpoint
Our views depend on our experience, where we live, how brought up. RE helps
understand how other people see and understand the world
God:
What is God not like? What is God like?
The Genesis Story of Creation
Different levels of interpretation
Creation stories:
To understand that different religions have different stories about how things began.
Science and religion:
Some scientists are religions and don't find it a problem. Other scientists are not religious
for many different reasons.
Science asks 'What?' questions and religion asks 'Why?' questions
Suffering and evil 1:
Part of life. No easy answers. No escaping
Two types of causes of suffering:
human made evil - caused by humans being selfish or cruel
natural evil - caused by natural phenomena
Why questions? Why me? Why them? Why does God allow it? Why do some people do
evil things? Why is there so much suffering in the world?
Christian responses
Islam Year 7
Introduction to Islam:
Allah is the Muslim word for God
Islam means peace or submission (giving in) to the will of Allah.
Freedom of choice in Islam. Our choice or Allahs'?
The Prophets.
Story of Muhammad:
He reacted to selfishness and corruption around him. He cared about the poor.
He was also concerned about religious corruption. e.g. Worship of Idols.
He began to spend time in prayer and meditation.
During month of Ramadan angel Jibril appeared and Muhammad was given the first
words of the Qur'an. The angel returned several times.
The Qur'an:
Muslims have no visual image of Allah
Allah has revealed everything they need to know about himself in words of holy Qur'an.
Muslims believe that every word of the Qur'an is the word of Allah.
The Qur'an is a symbol of Allah's great love and kindness towards men and women and it
is therefore treated with great respect.
The five pillars:
Muslims think of their faith as a kind of temple for God held up by five pillars called
arkan
These pillars are the five basic duties: Shahadah (creed), Salah (prayer x5), Zakah
(money for the poor), Sawm (fasting during month of Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to
Makkah if possible).
Understanding the fast of Ramadan
Shahadah:
Creeds in Christianity. The value of a creed: Shahadah
Eid Ul Fitr:
Ramadan (during which Muhammad received the Qur'an) involves difficult fasting and
ends with the arrival of the new moon.
Eid ul Fitr is the first day of the new month and means 'the festival of fast-breaking'. It is
a time for thanksgiving and joy.Presents are given. Some Muslims call it 'our Christmas’.
Prayer Salah:
Muslim prayer begins with a ritual washing called Wudu. The place where they pray
must be clean, they must be attentive, their bodies and clothes should be clean. Their
bodies should be covered.
Preparation for prayer involves finding a clean place, making the mind attentive, ensuring
clothes are clean and cover well and not wearing perfume or makeup.
I understand some of the reasons why people pray.
Muslims face Makkah for prayer (the direction is called qiblah) and take their shoes off.
Some prayer mats have a compas to help find this direction. An alcove in the wall of all
mosques (called a mihrab) indicates this direction.
Hajj project:
Hajj means 'to set out with a definite purpose'
It is the duty of every Muslim who can aford it and who is physically fit to visit the
Ka'bah and stand before God at Mount Arafat (once in lifetime)
Muslim dress:
I understand the aims of Muslim clothing. Both men and women Muslims dress
modestly.
Covering the face is a matter of local tradition in certain countries, and is not actually part
of Islam.
Haddiths:
These are the recorded words, actions and instructions of the Prophet Muhammad.
'haddatha' means 'to recount' or 'to tell'. These writings are greatly respected but are
separate from the Qur'an.
Two types: sacred (can be traced back to God) and prophetic (from Muhammad).
Reliability of a Haddith based on tracing back through reliable people ('chain').
If no answer to a question in the Qur'an then Muslims turn to the Haddiths.
Mosque design and function:
Why a place to pray might be important
What it is like inside a mosque (mihrab shell shaped, no pictures…). Behaviour inside.
How a muslim community uses their mosque.