For levels 1 & 2 For levels 3 & 4 For levels 5 & 6 For levels 7 & 8 Glossary for Islam up

 

Islam 1 & 2

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 1 and 2 to Muslim experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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  • Muslims believe there is only one true God, who created the world and provides all the things his creatures need. Nobody is equal to God or as great. Muslims use the Arabic word for God - Allah.

  • Prayers (salah) are important to Muslims and are said five times a day at home or at work, or at the mosque. Before praying Muslims wash carefully in a prescribed manner (wudu). A set sequence of movements accompanies the prayers, which are said in Arabic. A clean place is essential for prayer and many Muslims use a mat for this purpose. Children learn wudu and the set actions and words for prayer from an early age. By seven, they should be saying the prayers with help. By ten, prayers are obligatory.

  • Muslims believe Allah has sent messengers or prophets to tell people how to live. They believe Prophet Muhammad was the last and greatest of God's messengers. They believe he received messages from God to give to the world and these are recorded in the Qur'an. When. Muslims mention Muhammad's name, or that of any other prophet, they add the words 'Peace be upon him' out of respect, and they try to follow the example and teaching of Muhammad. Muslim children are told many stories about the life of the Prophet.

  • Muslims meet for worship in a mosque or masjid (place of prostration). Shoes are removed on entering the mosque and prayers are normally said in a carpeted prayer hall. A small archway or niche indicates the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah (Mecca). No statues or pictures are allowed in a mosque but it may be beautifully decorated with patterns or Qur'anic texts. Men attend the mosque more often than women, who tend to pray at home with their children, but there are women's sections in most mosques and children are also brought to the mosque. Muslim men make a special effort to attend the midday congregational prayers at the mosque on Fridays and to hear the Imam's sermon. The Arabic word for Friday means 'day of assembly' but it is not seen as a holiday and Muslims may return to work after prayers.

  • Muslims have a holy book called the Qur'an. It is written in Arabic and treated with great respect, because Muslims believe it reveals God's words for the guidance of human beings. They make wudu (wash their hands) before handling the Qur'an. It is stored on the highest shelf in a room, sometimes carefully wrapped. Muslims learn to read the Qur'an in Arabic.

  • Muslims celebrate two major festivals called Ids (Eids). Id-ul-Fitr comes at the end of the month of Ramadan when Muslims fast during daylight hours. It celebrates the completion of a successful fast. Muslims attend the mosque for special Id prayers. They give money and food to the poor. They have a holiday, visit friends, wear new clothes, give presents and cards and eat special food together.

  • Home and family life are very important to Muslims. The birth of a baby is seen as a blessing. The 'call to prayer' is whispered in the new born baby's ear so that the word 'Allah' is one of the first he will hear. The baby is later named, possibly after one of the Beautiful names of Allah (e.g. Abdul Rahman - servant of al-Rahman) or after the Prophet or one of his family. Children are brought up to respect each other, their parents and elders. They are taught the importance of good manners, kindness and honesty. They join in daily prayers at home or in the mosque and may go to Madrassah or mosque school to read the Qur'an in Arabic and learn the instructions it contains.

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Islam 3 & 4

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 3 and 4 to Muslim experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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  • Islam is an Arabic word which means 'submission' or 'wholehearted acceptance'. Muslim means 'one who submits' to or 'accepts wholeheartedly' the will of Allah, the one true God. Muslims state their belief by repeating the Shahadah, the declaration of faith: 'There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger.' This is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam which summarise a Muslim's main religious duties. The second is Salah or prayer five times daily. The third is Zakah, giving money, or other items of property, to those in need. Sawm, the fourth pillar, involves fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan; it teaches self-restraint and an appreciation of suffering. The fifth pillar is Hajj, a pilgrimage to the Ka'bah and other holy places around Makkah (Mecca) to perform certain religious duties.

  • Muslims believe that Allah alone is God, he has no partners, no-one who is equal to him. Traditionally there are 99 names of God which describe his qualities and attributes e.g. the Compassionate. Muslims believe Allah created the universe; there are signs of this all around us in nature. Humans are given a position of honour by Allah. He also created angels, who are always obedient to him but unlike humans have no free will. Allah has sent humans guidance through many prophets e.g. Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Isa (Jesus) and the books associated with them (the scrolls of Ibrahim, Tawrah (Torah), Zabur (Psalms) and the Injil (Gospel).

  • Muslims describe Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets, the final messenger. Muhammad was born in Makkah in 570 CE. He hated the corruption and idol worship in Arab society. When he was 40 he received the first of many revelations from Allah. These are recorded in the Qur'an. In later years Muhammad's own sayings and actions were gathered together in books (Hadith) which Muslims use as a guide, next to the Qur'an.

  • Muslims believe the Qur'an contains the actual words of God and so treat it with great respect, storing and handling it in special ways. Although Muslims recognise other books of guidance, the Qur'an is the most important. It teaches Muslims the purpose of life and guides them on the right path. The opening Surah or chapter, AI-Fatihah, is said many times a day in prayers. Muslim children learn to 'recite' the Qur'an in the original; the beauty and accuracy are lost in translation, yet it is very useful to those who do not understand Arabic. Many Muslims try to learn the Qur'an by heart; if they do they are awarded the title 'hafiz'. Some mosques are decorated with beautiful writing from the Qur'an.

  • A mosque is designed as a building for prayer. It provides facilities for ritual washing before prayer as Muslims must be clean to approach God. The prayer hall carpet may incorporate a pattern to help people line up side by side for prayers, pointing to a belief in brotherhood. A mihrab indicates the direction of Makkah. A minaret may be used to give the call to prayer. Muslims try to pray at the mosque, especially on Friday at midday. They use set prayers in Arabic, accompanied by various positions, standing, bowing, kneeling, and prostrating. Mosques may also be used as community centres. Children may attend Madrassah (mosque school) each night to learn the Qur'an. Adults may come for advice or language classes. Families may arrange weddings on the premises and some mosques have facilities for funerals.

  • Muslims celebrate two major festivals: Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha. Id-ul-Fitr marks the successful completion of fasting during Ramadan. Id-ul-Adha celebrates the end of the annual Pilgrimage to Makkah. Both are occasions for congregational prayers as well as special festival food, presents and family gatherings. Because Muslims work to a lunar calendar the moon plays an important part in determining when festivals start. A crescent moon forms part of the Islamic symbol used on mosques and the flags of Islamic nations.

  • The teachings of Islam include guidance on all things that Muslims do in their daily life. They also include matters of general conduct and good manners. Muslims are advised to follow these teachings strictly and remain determined not to follow the suggestions of Shaytan (the Devil) as these lead people astray.

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Islam 5 & 6

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 5 and 6 to Muslim experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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  • Muslims believe Allah is the one true God (Qur'an Surah 112). The practice of Shirk, regarding anything as equal to, or a partner to, Allah is forbidden in Islam (Surah 31:3; 4:48); Allah is the Alone, the Absolute. In the Qur'an the '99 beautiful names' for Allah (Surah 59:22-24 & Surah 17: 10) reveal further attributes of Allah e.g. ar-Rahman (all Gracious), ar-Rahim (all Merciful). Human beings can only know God because he chooses to reveal himself through creation and the Prophets. Muslims believe human beings attain peace in life through obedience (submission) to Allah. They also believe that the human soul is immortal and will be questioned in the life to come about its beliefs and deeds on earth.

  • The Qur'an mentions 25 prophets, chosen to reveal God's message to people and set them an example. Muslims believe Muhammad was the final Prophet, chosen and moulded to be a suitable bearer of Allah's final revelation to all people. He was born in Makkah (Mecca) in 570 CE, brought up by relatives and married a wealthy widow, Khadijah. In 610 CE he received his first revelation from God and began preaching in Makkah 3 years later. The date of the Hijrah, Muhammad's emigration to Madinah (Medina), in 622 is regarded as the beginning of the Muslim era and the Muslim calendar starts from this year. In Madinah, the Prophet was welcomed and established an Islamic state. He returned to Mecca in 630, winning the city over to Islam and cleansing the Ka'bah from idols. He died two years later and was buried in Medina.

  • Muslims believe the Qur'an is God's revealed truth; it was revealed to Muhammad and set down as an exact message from Allah. This gives it great authority. Muslims believe it is the only scripture uncorrupted by human interpretation. In 114 surahs, the Qur'an speaks of the reality of God's existence, gives guidance to Muslims on all matters and tells of the prophets before Muhammad. It is recited daily and shown great reverence. It preserves God's own words and to avoid altering them Muslims learn to recite it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed. Translations are sometimes read but are considered approximations at best. The Prophet's actions and teachings are also of great interest to Muslims because of his position as Allah's Messenger and exemplar. They are recorded in the Hadith, which have great status, but are not considered to be revealed truth. Sunnah are model practices, customs and traditions of the prophet Muhammad, which are used as a guide by Muslims. The Qur'an and Sunnah are the major source of Islamic law (Shariah).

  • There is no specific ceremony associated with joining Islam. Every day is a commitment to fulfil certain religious duties, especially the 5 Pillars of the faith. A person only becomes a Muslim when he has said the Shahadah with intention to act on it. After 12 years of age one has no right to call oneself a Muslim without saying the 5 daily prayers (Salah) or fasting during Ramadan (Sawm). Commitment also involves Zakah (almsgiving) and Hajj (pilgrimage). As a Muslim one is also committed to honesty, good manners, modesty, hygiene, particular dietary laws and rules regulating private and public life. Muslims belong to a world-wide community of believers (Ummah) which stresses social justice, equality and the right to stand up for their faith.

  • Regular prayer is a fundamental requirement for a Muslim; without it he may lose his true perspective on life and sense of relatedness to his creator. Salah is prescribed in the Qur'an and, since the manner of its performance comes from the Sunnah of the Prophet, Muslims world-wide perform prayers as Muhammad did 1400 years ago. Salah may be performed in any clean place but congregational prayer in the mosque is preferred because of its aspects of brotherhood and solidarity. Women generally pray at home because of the difficulties of leaving children 5 times a day. Prayers are preceded by ablutions (wudu) and then, facing Makkah, a Muslim performs several sets (rak'ahs) of movements, accompanied by recitations in Arabic. The number of rak'ahs varies for the 5 obligatory prayer times: sunrise, midday, late afternoon, sunset and about 2 hours after sunset. A Muslim may stay sitting after Salah to offer personal prayers (du'a) using prayers of the Prophet or his own words and language.

  • Hajj is the annual pilgrimage when some 2 million Muslims travel to Makkah to fulfil a command given in the Qur'an. Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, may be made at any time, but is not a substitute for Hajj which must be made at a particular time. There are many rules to be observed e.g. making provision for one's family and wearing ihram. On arrival in Mecca, pilgrims perform many rituals such as circling the Ka'bah, rebuilt originally by prophet Ibrahim and rededicated to Allah by Muhammad many years later. Other activities are also powerful reminders of stories and beliefs important to Muslims. Many pilgrims visit Madinah too but this is not obligatory.

  • Id-ul-Adha is the greater of the two major Islamic festivals. It marks the completion of Hajj. While Muslims on pilgrimage may be sacrificing an animal in Mina, others around the world also commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice of a sheep in place of Isma'il (Ishmael). Many slaughter an animal, the meat being divided between family, friends and the poor. In some places it is the only time the poor have meat to eat. Ibrahim's total obedience and surrender to God is central to the festival; he is a model for Muslims to follow. Thousands gather for special Id prayers. New clothes are worn, friends are visited and special food is eaten.

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Islam 7 & 8

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 7 and 8 to Muslim experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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  • Islam is strictly monotheistic. God (Allah) is one and indivisible. He has no family and nothing is comparable to him. He is believed to be merciful and powerful, omniscient and omnipresent and in control of laws regulating the order in the universe and will judge with justice will judge with justice on the Day of Judgement. Muslims believe God has prescribed the correct way of life for the people he has created. Tawhid (the belief in the one-ness of God) permeates all aspects of Islamic thought and practice. Human beings are granted special honour by Allah over a great part of his creation; they are also Khalifah (custodians), servants charged with caring for the world as Allah directs. Muslims believe this life is a preparation for life after death (Akhirah). Everyone is accountable for their actions, which are recorded by angels; on judgement day they will be rewarded with Paradise or punished in Hell.,

  • The Qur'an is the fundamental source of guidance for Muslims. They believe that it is the pre-eminent 'sign' or 'miracle' of God and as the final and ultimate source of guidance which is permanent and unchangeable. They believe Qur'anic guidance is suitable for all places and all times no matter how society might change in terms of values and standards.

  • Shari'ah is the framework of law within which Muslim life has developed. The sources of Shari'ah are the Qur'an, the Sunnah (see above), the ljma (the consensus of scholars on any particular issue of law) and Qiyas (the concept of reasoning by analogy). The Shari'ah is not only concerned with ritual matters but also governs and regulates conduct in all areas of life; for example, attitudes to prayer, economics, family life, and the behaviour of rulers. The influence of Shari'ah in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and lran is considerable, where state laws are almost wholly derived from the Shari'ah. In other Islamic countries (e.g. Turkey), the Shari'ah now applies only to family law. Criminal, civil and economic matters are allowed to have other influences.

  • There are two main traditions in Islam. After Muhammad died the Muslim community was led by a line of 'rightly guided' caliphs. After Ali, the fourth caliph, died the succession was disputed. The Shi'ah left the majority group. Those who remained became known as the Sunni. The Shi'ah believe that Muhammad intended the caliphate for Ali, his cousin and son- iii-law, and to remain within his family. They venerate Ali's successors and call them imams (who lead not just in prayer but also in political matters). Today nine in ten Muslims are Sunni. They reject the Shi'ah Imams. Like the Shi'ah, they rely on the Qur'an, the Sunnah and the community for the integrity and continuity of their Islamic faith. Both the Sunni and Shi'ah traditions contain many movements or groupings.

  • Muslims believe that the purpose of human life is to live in accordance with God's will and fulfil their duties and responsibilities to human beings and to the created world. This informs their dealings with others in all aspects of human life including commerce and economics, and with other forms of life (ecology). How human beings respond to the will of God is believed to determine not only their well-being and sense of peace, but also their eternal destiny. To Muslims death is the end of the present life, but it is not final. It is a parting from the life of this world but the dead will be brought back to life (akhirah) on the Day of Judgement.

  • Jihad (lit. 'striving' or 'holy war') is the personal individual striving against evil and to promote the faith. It can also be used to describe the collective defence of the Muslim community e.g. against polytheists (Surah 8.39). The Muslim Faith teaches that it should not include imposing Islam by force on non-Muslims. The Qur'an forbids compulsion in matters of religion. Jihad takes the form of fighting only in defence of self or faith, and only when this becomes absolutely necessary.

  • Food laws are an important part of Muslim values. Halal is an Arabic word meaning 'Lawful'. Muslims are permitted to eat only halal foods. Halal butchers are required to slaughter animals according to Islamic law. Haram foods includes pork products and carnivorous animals, alcohol and meats not slaughtered in the proper Islamic way.

  • Marriage is very important to Muslims. Celibacy is discouraged. Intimate physical contact with the opposite sex outside marriage is regarded as a major sin. They believe it is a duty to marry. Most Muslim marriages are arranged, the role of parents being that of guiding the inexperienced daughter. However, the final choice is that of the daughter, insofar as it is not an unlawful choice. Under Shari'ah law polygamy is considered lawful in certain circumstances. According to Muslim understanding Shari'ah law confers equal dignity to both women and men, though there are some gender differences with regard to social roles.

  • Islam has created its own styles of art and architecture. Because of the very strict nature of Islamic monotheism, and the condemnation of idol worship, Muslim artists are discouraged from making sculptures of people or animals lest sculptures become objects of worship in the future. They are also forbidden to make pornographic portraits or ones that may encourage any forbidden acts. Instead they use designs based on flowers and plants or geometric patterns.

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