Lesson 7 - the basics of Islam

• Levensbeschouwing
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

Lesson 7

The basics of Islam

Lesson goals & lesson structure

Goals

• Knowledge: the basics of Islam: the Five Pillars and Six Articles of Faith
• Skills: able to sum up some basic facts about Islam

Structure

1. Video + quiz questions
2. Explanation: basic acts and beliefs
3. Assignment: read a text
4. Quiz questions: true or false?
5. Reflection: what do we know now?
   

00:52

Muhammed rejected a certain religious practice. What exactly?

1. Circumcision.
2. Sabbath.
3. Praying for the sick.
4. Idolatry (the worship of an idol as though it were God (Allah)).

02:20

What does the word 'Muslim' mean?

1. Submission to God.
2. Rejection of God.
3. Cursing to God.
4. Praying to God.

03:28

Which subject marks the difference between Sunni en Shia?

1. The question whether they were allowed to eat meat.
2. The question who succeeded Muhammad as a spiritual and political leader.
3. The question whether Jesus was the Son of God.
4. The question on the origins of the universe.

What was the Arabic word for 'community'?

Did you notice anything about the face of Muhammad?

Five Pillars (basic acts)

The Five Pillars are fundamental practices in Islam, considered to be obligatory acts of worship for all Muslims. 

1. Shahada (Declaration of Faith)
2.  Salah (Prayer)
3. Zakat (Almsgiving)
4. Sawm (Fasting)
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Six Articles of Faith (basic beliefs)

1. Belief in the existence and oneness of God.
   
2. Belief in the existence of angels.
   
3. Belief in the existence of the books of which God is the author: the Quran (revealed to Muhammad), the Gospel (revealed to Jesus), the Torah (revealed to Moses), and Psalms (revealed to David).
   
4. Belief in the existence of all Prophets: Muhammad being the last of them, Jesus the penultimate, and others sent before them [like Moses, Abraham, David, Joseph, Jacob].
   
5. Belief in the existence of the Day of Judgment: in that day, humanity will be divided into two groups: that of paradise and that of hell. 
6. Belief in the existence of God's predestination due to God's omniscience, whether it involves good or bad.

Assignment

• Read this webpage.
• Reads the text carefully, stop at the heading 'Muhammad'.
• You have five minutes.

The word “Islam” means “submission to the will of God.”

1. True
2. False

Islam teaches that Allah’s word was revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Cupid.

1. True
2. False

The Quran (or Koran) is the major holy text of Islam. The Hadith is another important book.

1. True
2. False

A central idea in Islam is “jihad,” which means “struggle.” Muslims believe it refers to internal and external efforts to defend their faith.

1. True
2. False

Muslims contend that Muhammad was the first prophet.

1. True
2. False

Reflection: what do we know now?

• Islam is, just like Judaism and Christianity, Abrahamic and monotheistic religion. The all believe in the God of Abraham, though they understand him in radically different ways. The Qu'ran calls Abraham Ibrahim.
• Islam started in the year 600 to 700, in a country we now call Saudi-Arabia. Mecca is its most holy place.
• Muslims, followers of Islam, are judged upon their acts and beliefs. Being a good Muslim minimally requires good acts, but being Mumin is even better (acting good but believe it with your whole heart as well).