What is Islam?

For some people, ‘What is Islam?’ is one of the most important questions facing humankind at the beginning of the 21st century CE. This resource seeks to provide accurate information to students so that they can make their own informed judgements about matters of religion and affairs of state. Consequently, it has attempted to present Islam factually and objectively.

A word of advice is perhaps worthwhile here. In schools where Muslim students represent a significant majority, it is worth working with the local community to establish what their particular traditions say about their religion. For example, in London, it is possible to visit two mosques in one morning – one in Regent’s Park and the other in Brick Lane (a very old and famous place of worship which was once a synagogue) – but the communities these two mosques serve could not be more different. The challenge for the RE teacher is to communicate to non-Muslims that the Ummah (worldwide community of Islam) is comprised of a variety of different cultures and social groupings. The mosque in Brick Lane is used, in the main, by Bangladeshi Muslims, whereas the one in Regent’s Park tends to be used by British and visiting North African followers of Muhammad (pbuh).

By the end of this unit:

• most of your students will know about the shared historical and religious heritage of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• some students will be able to explain the historical conditions that gave rise to the birth of Islam
• a few students will be able to explain the universality of Islam as expressed through the Ummah.

Prepare by reading the support material below. (You may also wish to provide this material for your more able learners.)

Essential facts

Starter

Show the map of Saudi Arabia from the Sacred Sites Web site, using the link below. You will need to download this map and print it out if you do not have access to the Internet in your classroom. Point out the key places of Makkah and Madinah. Also show the relationship to Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock using a bigger map if you can.

Sacred Sites of Saudi Arabia

Activity

Use the activity sheets below as the basis for the lesson. Make sure that you target your differentiation strategies appropriately. Encourage students to imagine what life would have been like before Muhammad (pbuh).

Islam activity sheet

Essential facts activity sheet

Plenary

Check that students have understood the geographical and political background to the emergence of Islam.

Homework activity

Ask your students to choose a selection of newspapers, either from home or from the school library, and to find examples of how Islam is presented in the media. If they can cut out the articles, encourage them to bring them to school and then set out a display with positive references to Islam set alongside negative or critical coverage. If students use an exercise book, they could create their own positive and negative contrasting displays.