TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................................vii
Preface.......................................................................................................................................................vii
PART I: AQAID............................................................................................................................................ix
Chapter 1: Tawheed..................................................................................................................................10
Reading: Proving the Existence of Allah............................................................................................11
Worksheet 1.1....................................................................................................................................13
Lesson 2: Sifat ath-Thubutiyyah............................................................................................................14
Worksheet 1.2....................................................................................................................................20
Lesson 3: Sifat as-Salbiya.................................................................................................................21
Worksheet 1.3....................................................................................................................................23
Chapter 2: Adaaalah.................................................................................................................................24
Reading: Adaalah...............................................................................................................................25
Worksheet 2.1....................................................................................................................................27
Chapter 3: Nabuwwah.............................................................................................................................28
Reading: Nabuwwah..........................................................................................................................29
Worksheet 3.1....................................................................................................................................32
Chapter 4:Imaamah.................................................................................................................................33
Lesson 1:Imaamah...........................................................................................................................34
Worksheet 4.1....................................................................................................................................37
Lesson 2:The Living Imam.............................................................................................................38
Worksheet 4.2....................................................................................................................................42
Chapter 5:Qiyaamah................................................................................................................................43
Reading: Qiyaamah...........................................................................................................................44
Worksheet 5.1....................................................................................................................................50
PART II: FIQH.............................................................................................................................................lix
Chapter 1:Ritual Purity..........................................................................................................................................1
Lesson 1: Najaasah .......................................................................................................................................2
Worksheet 1.1.................................................................................................................................................5
Lesson 2: Mutahhiraat....................................................................................................................................6
Worksheet 1.2.................................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: Tayammum...........................................................................................................................................9
i

Reading: Tayammum....................................................................................................................................10
How to Perform Tayammum.........................................................................................................................13
Worksheet 2.1................................................................................................................................14
Worksheet 2.2................................................................................................................................17
Chapter 3: Ghusl......................................................................................................................................19
Reading: Ghusl................................................................................................................................20
Worksheet 3.1..................................................................................................................................22
Chapter 4: Salaah: The Kabah is Our Qiblah.......................................................................................23
Reading: Qiblah...............................................................................................................................24
Worksheet 4.1..................................................................................................................................26
Chapter 5: Salaah....................................................................................................................................28
Revision of Steps and Meaning of Salaah.......................................................................................29
Worksheet 5.1..................................................................................................................................36
The Wajibaats of Salaah..................................................................................................................37
Worksheet 5.2..................................................................................................................................39
Tashahhud, Salaam, Takbeer, Muwalaat.........................................................................................40
Worksheet 5.3..................................................................................................................................42
Qunoot and Taqibaat.......................................................................................................................44
Worksheet 5.4..................................................................................................................................45
Reading: Clothing for Salaah...........................................................................................................47
Worksheet 5.5..................................................................................................................................49
Reading: The Place for Salaah........................................................................................................51
Worksheet 5.6..................................................................................................................................52
Reading: The Mubtilaat of Salaah....................................................................................................54
Worksheet 5.7..................................................................................................................................56
Shakiyaat as-Salaah........................................................................................................................58
Worksheet 5.8..................................................................................................................................60
Worksheet 5.9..................................................................................................................................61
Shakiyaat as-Salaah Part II.............................................................................................................63
Sajdah as-Sahw...............................................................................................................................64
Worksheet 5.10...............................................................................................................................65
Reading: Salaatul Ayaat..................................................................................................................66
ii

Worksheet 5.11...............................................................................................................................69
Chapter 6: Sawm.................................................................................................................................71
The Month of Ramadhaan and its Signicance.............................................................................72
Worksheet 6.1.............................................................................................................................75
Fasting and its Benets...............................................................................................................77
Worksheet 6.2.............................................................................................................................79
People Exempted from Fasting...................................................................................................81
Worksheet 6.3.............................................................................................................................83
Chapter 7: Hajj.....................................................................................................................................85
Reading: Hajj..............................................................................................................................86
Hajj Dictionary............................................................................................................................91
Locations on Map.......................................................................................................................93
Hajj Guide..................................................................................................................................94
Worksheet 7.1............................................................................................................................95
Chapter 8: A Closer Look at the Rest of the Furoo ad-Deen...........................................................98
Lesson 1: Khums.......................................................................................................................99
Worksheet 8.1..........................................................................................................................101
Lesson 2: Jihad........................................................................................................................102
Worksheet 8.2..........................................................................................................................104
Lesson 3: Amr bil Maroof/Nahi Anil Munkar............................................................................105
Worksheet 8.3..........................................................................................................................107
Lesson 4: Tawalli......................................................................................................................108
Worksheet 8.4..........................................................................................................................111
Lesson 5: Tabarri......................................................................................................................112
Worksheet 8.5..........................................................................................................................114
Chapter 9: Ijtihaad & Taqleed............................................................................................................115
Ijtihaad & Taqleed Part I...........................................................................................................116
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................118
Ijtihaad & Taqleed Part II..........................................................................................................120
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................122
Ijtihaad & Taqleed Part I...........................................................................................................124
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................125
iii

Chapter 10: Halaal and Haraam Food & Drink................................................................................127

Reading: Halaal & Haraam Food.............................................................................................128
Worksheet 10.1........................................................................................................................132
Reading: Alcohol......................................................................................................................134
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................135
Chapter 11: Hijab...........................................................................................................................................136
Reading: Hijab..................................................................................................................................137
Worksheet 11.1.................................................................................................................................141

PART III: HISTORY.............................................................................................................................cxlii

Chapter 1: Before Hijrah, Hijrah, and 1st Year After Hijrah (AH).......................................................1
Before Hijrah at a Glance............................................................................................................2
Lesson 1: The Pledges of Aqabah.............................................................................................3
Worksheet 1.1.............................................................................................................................5
Lesson 2: The Hijrah to Medina..................................................................................................7
Worksheet 1.2...........................................................................................................................12
Worksheet 1.3: Art Extension....................................................................................................16
After Hijrah................................................................................................................................17
Lesson 3: Important Events in the First Year.............................................................................18
Worksheet 1.4...........................................................................................................................20
Chapter 2: 2nd-5th Years AH..............................................................................................................21
Lesson 1: Second Year AH........................................................................................................22
Worksheet 2.1............................................................................................................................25
Lesson 2: Third Year AH............................................................................................................26
Worksheet 2.2............................................................................................................................29
Lesson 3: Fourth Year AH..........................................................................................................30
Worksheet 2.3............................................................................................................................33
Lesson 4: Fifth Year AH.............................................................................................................34
Worksheet 2.4............................................................................................................................36
Worksheet 2.5: Art Extension.....................................................................................................37
Chapter 3: 6th-8th Years AH...............................................................................................................38
Lesson 1: SixthYear AH.............................................................................................................39
iv

Worksheet 3.1............................................................................................................................42
Lesson 2: Seventh Year AH.......................................................................................................45
Worksheet 3.2............................................................................................................................51
Worksheet 3.3............................................................................................................................55
Lesson 3: Eighth Year AH..........................................................................................................56
Worksheet 3.3............................................................................................................................62
Worksheet 3.4............................................................................................................................66
Chapter 4: 9th-10th Years AH.............................................................................................................67
Lesson 1: Ninth Year AH............................................................................................................68
Worksheet 4.1............................................................................................................................73
Lesson 2: Tenth Year AH............................................................................................................75
Worksheet 4.2............................................................................................................................77
Death of the Prophet (S)............................................................................................................79
Worksheet 4.3............................................................................................................................81
Chapter 5: After the Prophets (S) Death...........................................................................................83
Prophet Muhammads (S) Family Tree.......................................................................................84
Death of Prophet Muhammad (S)..............................................................................................85
Islam Before Karbala.................................................................................................................86
Worksheet 5.1............................................................................................................................89
Map of the Middle East..............................................................................................................91
Route of Imam Husain (A)..........................................................................................................92
Events at Karbala.......................................................................................................................93
Day of Ashura Events.................................................................................................................95
Shaheeds on the Day of Ashura.................................................................................................96
Essay........................................................................................................................................100
PART IV: AKHLAQ................................................................................................................................cv
Chapter 1: Gaining Knowledge............................................................................................................1
Worksheet 1.1..............................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Generosity...........................................................................................................................3
Worksheet 2.1..............................................................................................................................5

Chapter 3: Wasting................................................................................................................................6
Worksheet 3.1..............................................................................................................................8
Chapter 4: Greed...................................................................................................................................9
Worksheet 4.1............................................................................................................................12
Chapter 5: Arrogance..........................................................................................................................13
Worksheet 5.1............................................................................................................................17
Chapter 6: Complaining......................................................................................................................18
Worksheet 6.1............................................................................................................................20
Chapter 7: Cheating............................................................................................................................21
Worksheet 7.1............................................................................................................................23
Chapter 8: Husn ad-Dhan/Suudhan..................................................................................................24
Worksheet 8.1............................................................................................................................26
Chapter 9: Respect for Parents..........................................................................................................28
Worksheet 9.1............................................................................................................................30
Chapter 10: Friendship.......................................................................................................................31
Worksheet 10.1..........................................................................................................................34
Chapter 11: Brotherhood and Sisterhood.........................................................................................35
Worksheet 11.1..........................................................................................................................36
Chapter 12: Nafs..................................................................................................................................38
Worksheet 12.1...........................................................................................................................39
Chapter 13: Obedience.......................................................................................................................40
Worksheet 13.1..........................................................................................................................42
Worksheet 13.2..........................................................................................................................43
Chapter 14: Sins and their Eects.....................................................................................................44
Worksheet 14.1..........................................................................................................................47
Chapter 15: Taqwa...............................................................................................................................48
Worksheet 15.1..........................................................................................................................50

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Shia-Muslim Association of Bay Area would like to thank the authors, editors, and reviewers for
their contributions to the Islamic curriculum development project.

We are especially thankful to Sheikh Salim Yusufali, Sister Urooj Kazmi, Sister Samina Ali, Sister
Bhavani Ali, Sister Sabika Mithani, Sister Fatima Falahati, Sister Zahra Sabur, Sister Liliana
Villalvazo, Brother Taymaz Tabrizi, Brother Mohammad Hendijanifard, Sister Fatima Husain, the
Tabatabai family, all the illustrators who allowed us to use their illustrations, both SAB and SABA
Academy syllabus committees, teachers, and sta for their support and assistance in the
development and testing of the curriculum.

SABA is also very thankful to the Islamic organizations and authors whose syllabus and books
were used for the inspiration and creation of this curriculum.

Please remember all the people involved in this project in your prayers.

Authors and Editors: Hujjatol Islam Nabi Raza Abidi and Curriculum Committee
2015 Shia-Muslim Association of the Bay Area
Published by: Shia-Muslim Association of Bay Area
4415 Fortran Court, San Jose, CA 95134, USA
www.saba-igc.org
[email protected]

vii

PREFACE
All praise is for Allah (swt) whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose bounties cannot be counted by calculators, and whose
claim (to obedience) cannot be satisfied by those who attempt to do so; whom the height of intellectual courage cannot appreciate, and the
diving of understanding cannot reach; He for whose description no limit has been laid down, no eulogy exists, no time is ordained and no
duration is fixed. He brought forth creation through His Omnipotence, dispersed winds through His Compassion, and made firm the shaking
earth with rocks. -Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 1

Islamic Sunday schools and full-time Islamic schools in the West have struggled to create a dynamic curriculum for a long time. However, with
the grace of Allah (SWT), in the past few years, the Islamic educational field has experienced some great achievements.MayAllah bless all
those who have endeavored to put together Islamic information to help our children grow. This new edition is an attempt by School of Ahlul
Bait (SAB) and SABA Academy to create a curriculum for Muslims living in the West, which we hope is relevant, vibrant, and engaging.We
referred to many different Islamic curricula through the course of developing this curriculum and are grateful to them for them sharing their
work.

As teachers,we are blessed to be able toinherit from the Prophets the honorable job of teaching.The Prophets main mission was to teach
and nurture the human being as Allah says in the Quran: It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to
them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom (62:2). Thus, as individuals who strive for our students, you
have two main jobs: to teach our students and to nurture them through these teachings so that they can develop their souls and fulfill the
purpose for which Allah has created us. Whileteachingis the most valued job in the eyes of Allah, it also comes with many challenges. As
teachers, we mustconstantly remind ourselves of the value of this great job.

It is ourresponsibility tonurture ourchildrenand students through knowledge and help them become individuals that make good choices that
will result in them becoming true and strong believers. In this path, as teachers, we must remember to be reliant only on Allah, be hopeful, be
sincere, be responsible, be safe, and be flexible.

The present curriculum also has a teachers guide that we pray will be a useful tool and resource for teachers to refer to and aid them in their
job of teaching.InshaAllah, the teacher's guide will help you engage students and provide suggestions and ideas for projects to help students
better digest the material.

The philosophy behind this revision of the curriculum was to establish a strong foothold on the guiding force of our religion: the Usool ad-Deen
and Furoo ad-Deen. That is why you will see that beginning from 1st grade, these two concepts are emphasized and gradually increase in
depth all the way until 6th grade. Furthermore, we wanted to incorporate a more project-based and story-based curriculum that engages
students and allows them to develop a strong bond with Islam and the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (A).

We attempted to include general information we felt children need to know in order to be educated and successful Muslims. Overall, the
curriculum is divided into four core areas: Aqaid, Fiqh, History, and Akhlaq. For grades 1-3, the Furoo ad-Deen are included in the Aqaid
section, but from grades 4-6, it has been moved to the Fiqh section. This is in order for students to first understand the basics of the Furoo adDeen and then gradually increase their understanding and practical application.

In each grade, we have covered all of the Usool ad-Deen and the Furoo ad-Deen, which are analyzed more extensively each year. It is our
tenacious belief that a strong foundation gives way to a healthy growth, which is why there was great emphasis on this. We referenced many
other curricula in developing this section and thank them for their contributions.

Furthermore, in the Fiqh section, we tried to incorporate those Fiqh topics that are relevant and integrate more stories in order to make it more
interactive for students.

You will find that the history section has a greater emphasis on stories. By introducing the Masoomeen through stories that highlight their
characteristics, the hope is that children will be able to connect to them and develop a bond and unfaltering love that will take root in their
heart. The history in Kindergarten focuses solely on the Ahlul Bayt (A). In first grade, the students learn about the first seven Masoomeen, and
in second grade the last seven. Then, in third grade, they once again review all 14 Masoomeen. In fourth grade, students will learn about the
lives and messages of the Prophets. Finally, in fifth and sixth grades, students will take a comprehensive look at the life of the Holy Prophet (S).

We attempted to make the Akhlaq section aesthetically-pleasing through colorful illustrations, ahadith, and ayahs from the Quran. In the older
grades, we attempted to include more relevant stories that would allow them to form tangible connections with the lessons.

Any Islamic school should feel free to use the curriculum. If you are using this curriculum, please do let us know so that we may keep in
contact. Similarly,please let us know if you have found any errors or would like to give us feedback; this will definitely help us and is
appreciated.

I want to thank all of those who were involved in this great project. I pray that Allah (swt) accepts our effort and gives us more strength.

With Du'as,
Abidi

viii

PART I: AQAID

ix

PART I: AQAID
Chapter 1: Tawheed..................................................................................................................................10
Reading: Proving the Existence of Allah............................................................................................11
Worksheet 1.1....................................................................................................................................13
Lesson 2: Sifat ath-Thubutiyyah............................................................................................................14
Worksheet 1.2....................................................................................................................................20
Lesson 3: Sifat as-Salbiya.................................................................................................................21
Worksheet 1.3....................................................................................................................................23
Chapter 2: Adaaalah.................................................................................................................................24
Reading: Adaalah...............................................................................................................................25
Worksheet 2.1....................................................................................................................................27
Chapter 3: Nabuwwah.............................................................................................................................28
Reading: Nabuwwah..........................................................................................................................29
Worksheet 3.1....................................................................................................................................32
Chapter 4:Imaamah.................................................................................................................................33
Lesson 1:Imaamah...........................................................................................................................34
Worksheet 4.1....................................................................................................................................37
Lesson 2:The Living Imam..............................................................................................................38
Worksheet 4.2....................................................................................................................................42
Chapter 5:Qiyaamah................................................................................................................................43
Reading: Qiyaamah...........................................................................................................................44
Worksheet 5.1....................................................................................................................................50

TAWHEED
10

LESSON 1: PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH

VOCABULARY

In this chapter, students will recap the proof from Fitrah and learn about the
argument from design for Allahs existence. Previously, we called design
organization (proof from organization) but now that you are older, it is best
that we acquaint ourselves with its real name, which is proof from design.

TAWHEED
FITRAH
AS-SIFAAT ATHSAY: In 4th grade, we talked about the Fitrah (our spiritual nature), and how
THUBUTIYYAH
AS-SIFAAT AS-SALBIYYA each human being is programmed to know Allah (SWT). Our brains are actually

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE TAWHEED READING
PAGE AND TAKE TURNS
READING ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL CONNECT

WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED
IN SCHOOL WITH THE
PROOF OF ALLAH

hard wired to believe in Allah. The problem is that as we grow older, we

become distracted and our Fitrah becomes polluted so we forget Allah. With
many people, their Fitrah is completely darkened as they are brainwashed into
believing that there is no God.
In 5th grade, we learned that the world of creation is evidence that somebody
must have created this world and always maintains it. You probably remember
the story of the lady with the spinning wheel.
Just like the lady used her logic that a simple wheel could not spin unless
someone spun it, so this world with its complexities must have someone
running it.
Therefore, we know that:
1.The human being has a Fitrah
2. Design in this world is a sign that there must be a Designer (i.e. a Creator)
Lets take a deeper look at these two concepts.
At this time, students can turn to the READING located in the Task Bar. Once
they are done, they can complete the WORKSHEET.

11
T1

READING: PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH

In 4th grade, we talked about the Fitrah, and how
every human being is programmed to know Allah
(SWT). As we are programmed to know Allah, we
do not need to prove that Allah exists; we just
need to remind ourselves of His existence. The
central problem of humanity is two-fold; on the
one hand it is in a constant state of distraction
from things other than Allah, and on the other, it
immerses itself in sin which corrupts the human
Fitrah. Distractions and sin are two sides of the
same coin and work together in ruining our Fitrah
and thus taking us further away from Allah. The
corruption of the Fitrah is why so many people
come to disbelieve in Allah.

One asked the other, Do you believe in life after

delivery?

In 5th grade, we learned that the entirety of

creation is evidence that somebody created this
world and helps it function properly. You
probably remember the story of the lady with the
spinning wheel.

The first replied, That is absurd. Walking is

impossible. And eating with our mouths?
Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition
and everything we need. But the umbilical cord
is so short. Life after delivery is logically
impossible.

Just like the lady used her logic that a simple

wheel could not spin unless someone spun it, so
this world with its complexities must have
someone running it.

The other replied, Why, of course. There has to

be something after delivery. Maybe we are here
to prepare ourselves for what we will become
later.

Nonsense said the first. There is no life after

delivery. What kind of life would that be? The
second said, I dont know, but there will be more
light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs
and eat with mouths. Maybe we will have other
senses that we cant understand now.

The second insisted, Well, I think there is

something, and maybe its different than it is
here. Maybe we wont need this physical cord
anymore.

Therefore, we know that:

1. The human being has a Fitrah
2. The design in this world is a sign that there
must be a Designer (i.e. a Creator)

The first replied, Nonsense. And, moreover, if

there is life, then why has no one has ever come
back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and
after delivery, there is nothing but darkness and
silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.

Lets take a deeper look at these two concepts.

A Deeper Look at the Fitrah: The Two Babies
Imagine a conversation between two babies in
their mothers womb.

Well, I dont know, said the second, but

certainly we will meet Mother and she will take
care of us.
The first replied Mother? You actually believe in
Mother? Thats laughable. If Mother exists, then
where is She now?
12
11

The first one said, Well I dont see Her, so it is

only logical that She doesnt exist.
To which the second replied, Sometimes, when
youre in silence and you focus and you really
listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you
can hear Her loving voice, calling down from
above.

Those people who think this world was created

without a Creator must really be out of their
minds! I mean, look how many amazing things
are in this world! They must have come from
someone amazing. Were so lucky for all these
blessings from Allah.
This story is an example of the Proof from Design
The proof from design is as follows:

The Proof from Design

One day, two friends were walking down the
street when they stumbled across a book lying
on the sidewalk. One of them, Ali, picked it up
and thought, Wow! This looks like an interesting
book! As he flipped through the pages, he saw
that this was a book about cool animals in the
universe and how they live. He turned the book
over to see who the amazing author was, but
couldnt find the authors name anywhere.
His friend said, Well, maybe it doesnt have an
author. Maybe this book just came into existence
by chance. Maybe a tree fell over and
accidentally became paper, and the paper flew
in the air, and some ink happened to spill and
turn into things that looked like letters, which
then, by chance, got stuck together and made
words, which then, by chance, made sentences,
which then, by chance, became a page, which
then turned into a great book -- by chance.

1. There is design in the world

2. Every designed entity needs a Designer
= Therefore, the world must have a Designer
A good example is the same way a designed
object, such as a watch, cannot come into
existence without an intelligent creator or
designer. It is impossible for this world and all its
intricate design to exist without a Designer
(Creator), and that Creator is Allah (SWT).
In fact, the need the world has for Allah is
incomparable to the need a watch has to its
maker or designer. Once a watchmaker has
made a watch, the watch functions
independently. But the world and all that which
is in it, is just as much in need of Allah right now
as it was at the time of creation.
InshaAllah, in upcoming years, we will take a
deeper look at this proof.

Ali looked at his friends face in shock and

confusion, but it was completely serious. He
burst into laughter and said, You must be out of
your mind!
His friend could no longer contain his laughter
and also started laughing and said, I know!
13
12

WORKSHEET 1.1
Choose an interesting creature you learned about in science that could remind you about Allahs design
in this world. Write about it below!

14
13

LESSON 2: AS-SIFAAT ATH-THUBUTIYYAH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn about the as-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah.

SAY: Since Kindergarten, we have been learning about Allahs attributes.
Who remembers some of the attributes we previously learned?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. There are special attributes of Allah called the as-Sifaat athThubutiyyah. These are the positive attributes of Allah. In this lesson, we will
learn about 8 of them.

At this time, students can turn to the READING located in the Task Bar. After,
they can complete the WORKSHEET.

15
T2

LESSON 2: AS-SIFAAT ATH-THUBUTIYYAH

As-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah are the qualities
(also called attributes) that are positive,
that is, they are true of Allah. The opposite
of this is as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya, which are
the negative attributes of Allah, that is, they
are not true for Allah. There are many asSifaat ath-Thubutiyyah and as-Sifaat asSalbiyya but in this lesson as well as the
next, we are going to learn only about eight
of each type.
Eight of the as-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Al-Qadeem
Al-Qadeer
Al-Aleem
Al-Hayy
Al-Mureed
Al-Mudrik
Al-Mutakallim
As-Sadiq

The Originator of the heavens and the

earth, He made for you spouses from
your own selves, and mates of the
cattle, by which means He multiplies
you. Nothing is like Him, and He is the
All-hearing, the All-seeing.
- Surah ash-Shura, 42:11
2. Allah is al-Qadeer means Allah is AllPowerful or Allah is Omnipotent.
Omnipotent is One who has power to
do all things within the realm of
possibility. When we say Allah is alQadeer it means Allah has no
restriction on what He chooses to do.
He has power and control over
everyone and everything. Allah says
in the Quran:

1. Allah is al-Qadeem means Allah is

Eternal. When we say Allah is eternal
we mean He neither had a beginning
or a birth and nor will He ever have an
end. Allah created time and the world
and therefore, one one sense, Allah is
outside time. Therefore, it is
meaningless to ask how Allah was
before time or after time.
Allah says in the Quran:



He is the First and the Last, the
Manifest and the Hidden, and He has
knowledge of all things.
- Surah al-Hadid, 57:3

His command, when He intends [to

do] something, is only to say to it:
Be! and it is.
- Surah Ya Sin, 36:82
3. Allah is al-Aleem means Allah is AllKnowing or Allah is Omniscient.
Omniscient is One who knows
everything and nothing remains
hidden from Him. When we say Allah
is al-Aleem it means nothing can ever
remain a secret from Allah. Allah
knows even our deepest thoughts and
feelings. Allah says in the Quran:

16
14

Have you not regarded that Allah

knows whatever there is in the
heavens and whatever there is in the
earth? There is no secret talk among
three, but He is their fourth
[companion], nor among five but He is
their sixth, nor less than that, nor
more, but He is with them wherever
they may be. Then He will inform them
about what they have done on the
Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah has
knowledge of all things.
- Surah al-Mujadilah, 58:7



He [even] knows the treachery of
the eyes [when you look secretly], and
what the chests hide [i.e. what you
hide in your hearts].
-

Surah Ghafir, 40:19

5. Allah is al-Mureed means Allah does as He

pleases. However Allah being al-Mureed
does not mean that Allah will do anything
without wisdom or without a good reason.
Even if something that Allah does makes no
sense to us, there is still a very good reason
for which Allah does everything because He is
All-Wise and He loves His creation very much.
When we say Allah is al-Mureed we mean to
say that Allah is not forced to do anything by
anyone or anything. It is impossible for anyone
to force Allah to do anything. Allah says in the
Quran:


Indeed Allah does whatever He
wishes.
- Surah al-Hajj, 22:18

4. Allah is al-Hayy means Allah is the EverLiving. When we say Allah is al-Hayy we
mean the One who never dies. Allah created
life and death so it is not possible for Him to
be born or to die. In fact, Allah does not even
sleep or remain absent for even a blink of an
eye. Allah says in the Quran:

He, who created death and life
- Surah al-Mulk, 67:2

He is not questioned about what He

does, but they will be questioned.
- Surah al-Anbiya, 21:23
6. Allah is al-Mudrik means Allah is All-Aware.
When we say Allah is al-Mudrik, we mean
Allah sees and hears everything though He
has neither eyes nor ears. Allah is not a
physical body. He created all physical bodies.
But nothing escapes Allah. Allah is so
powerful that He can see everything without
needing eyes or light and He can hear
everything even what we are thinking
without needing ears or sound. Allah says in
the Quran:

Neither drowsiness overcomes Him

nor sleep
- Surah al-Baqarah, 2:255

17
15

The Knower of the Unseen, not [even]
an atoms weight escapes Him in the
heavens or in the earth; nor [is there]
anything smaller than that or bigger,
but it is in a manifest Book.

miracles of Rasulullah (S) is that when he

picked up pebbles from the ground, the
pebbles would do tasbeeh of Allah (i.e. praise
Allah) in his palm. Allah would allow the
pebbles to speak. On the Day of Judgment,
Allah will command our hands and legs and
skin to speak and it will speak and say what
we did. Allah says in the Quran:

- Surah Saba, 34:3

With Him are the treasures of the
Unseen; no one knows them except
Him. He knows whatever there is in
land and sea. No leaf falls without His
knowing it, nor is there a grain in the
darkness of the earth, nor anything
fresh or withered but it is in a manifest
Book.
- Surah al-Anam, 6:59

7. Allah is al-Mutakallim meaning that Allah is

the Master of Speech. This means that Allah
does not need a mouth or tongue or any
means to speak or communicate with His
Angels, prophets or any creation. When Allah
wishes to communicate directly with anyone or
anything, He can create speech in any object
and it will speak what He wills and as He wills.
For example, Allah spoke to Nabi Musa (A)
through a burning tree and when Rasulullah
(S) went for the Miraj, Allah spoke to him
directly from behind a Curtain of Light.

Similarly, Allah can make any inanimate object

speak as well. For example, one of the

Today We shall seal their mouths, and
their hands shall speak to Us, and
their feet shall bear witness
concerning what they used to earn.
- Surah Ya Sin, 36:65






They will say to their skins, Why did you bear
witness against us? They will say, We were
given speech by Allah, who gave speech to all
things. He created you the first time, and to Him
you are being brought back.
- Surah Fussilat, 41:21
8. Allah is as-Sadiq means Allah is always
Truthful. When we say that Allah is as-Sadiq
we mean that Allah never breaks His promise.
Some Muslims say that because Allah can do
as He pleases, He may even decide to put all
the evil people in paradise on the Day of
Judgment and all the good people in Hell. We
the Shia of the Ahlul Bayt (A) say this is
impossible because Allah has promised to put
the good in Jannah and the evil in Jahannam
and Allah never lies or breaks His promise.
Allah says in the Quran:
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16





[This is] a promise of Allah: Allah does
not break His promise, but most
people do not know.
- Surah Rum, 30:6

and who is more truthful in speech
than Allah?
- Surah an-Nisa, 4:87

But those who have faith and do good

deeds, We will make them enter into
gardens with streams running in them,
to remain in them forever - a true
promise of Allah, and who is truer in
speech than Allah?
- Surah an-Nisa, 4:122
It is thus true that Allah can do what He
wants, but because Allah is All-Good and
truthful, He will never break His promise.
How Yusuf Learnt the as-Sifaat athThubutiyya
What does Allah is al-Qadeem mean?
Yusuf asked his Mom. His mom told him
that there was a time when Yusuf did not
exist. He was not even born. Then he was
born and that was the beginning of his life.
Yusuf had now grown and will continue
growing older until one day he will become
an old man. And finally, like all human
beings, Yusuf will one day die and go back
to Allah, his Creator and that will be the end
of Yusufs life on earth.

Allah is al-Qadeem, Yusufs mother

explained, meaning that He was not born,
will never change or grow old. Simply put,
He will never die or cease to exist.
One night. Yusuf woke up from his sleep
and he looked very scared. When his mom
asked him what the matter was, he replied
that he had a bad dream about a big
monster. Yusuf wanted his superman toy in
bed with him so that if the monster came
back, superman could fight him since he is
so strong.
Yusufs mom told him that he could keep
his superman toy with him but superman is
not real. If he wants someone really strong
and powerful to help him, he should ask
Allah, who is al-Qadeer. No one and
nothing is more powerful that Allah who is
al-Qadeer.
The next day, Yusufs mom wanted to check
if Yusuf understood that Allah is al-Aalim in
which He knows everything, even our
secrets and what we whisper. Yusufs mom
had taught Yusuf a poem:
He knows when you are good and when
you are bad.
He knows if you are telling the truth and
when you are lying.
He knows when you are happy and when
you are sad.
He knows when you need help and He
helps you.
He knows everything.
So now to test him, Yusufs mom gave him a
big present and told him, you can only
open the present in a place where no one
can see you.
Yusuf thought this would be very easy. He
took the present and ran upstairs, but his
father was there. So Yusuf ran into the
garden, but the birds were there. He
19
17

thought for a moment then he ran down into

the basement and hid under the stairs as
he looked around.
At last there was no one there. He was just
about to open the present when suddenly
he remembered what his mom had told
him: Allah is al-Aleem. Yusuf went back to
his mom without opening the present. His
mom asked him, why didnt you open the
present? and he replied, Its no use. There
is no place where Allah cannot see me,
Allah knows everything, Allah is al-Aleem.
Yusufs mom was very pleased with his
reply and gave him a big hug! She then
said Yusuf could open the present, as that
was his prize!
One day Yusuf and his parents decided to
go on a holiday. Before they could go they
had to arrange for someone to look after
Yusufs pet fish and feed it otherwise it
would die.
Yusufs mom explained to Yusuf that just as
the fish needed someone to look after it, we
need someone to look after us. She then
asked Yusuf if he knew who was looking
after them all. He replied Allah!
Thats correct! replied Yusufs mom. How
come Allah is al-Hayy and He never dies?
asked Yusuf. Well, replied his mom,
without Allah, everything in the world and
the whole universe would die. Everything
and everyone needs Allah all the time. So
Allah cant die. Dying means going back to
Allah. If Allah died, who would He go back
to? And who would everyone go back to
after they died? Allah created life and death
but He is not like anything or anyone that is
born or dies. He is al-Hayy, the EverLiving.
Now when they came back from their
holiday, Yusuf really wanted a cat. So he
prayed to Allah but he did not get one. He

was very sad because he thought Allah

was not listening to him.
The next day Yusuf went to his friends
house, he was very happy to see a cat
there so he started playing with it and
wished Allah would listen to him and let him
have a cat. Suddenly he started feeling
sick.
The reason was because he was allergic to
cats. That was perhaps the reason why
Allah did not answer his prayer.
Now Yusuf understood that Allah is alMureed, He can do whatever He wants but
He always does what is good for us only.
One day, Aamina, Yusufs sister asked her
mom if she could go outside and play. Her
mom said she could but only after she
cleaned her room.
So Aamina went up to clean her room. When she
got there she shut the door so that no one could
hear what she was doing and started saying to
herself that no one would know if she just threw
all her things in the cupboard.

She suddenly stopped because she

remembered that although her mom could
not hear and see what she was doing, Allah
is al-Mudrik and He could hear and see her.
Aamina was sorry and asked Allah for
forgiveness and cleaned her room properly.
Aamina went and gave her mom a big hug
for teaching her that Allah is al-Mudrik and
can see and hear everything.
Aaminas mom told her, you are never
alone. Allah is always with you. He will
always listen to you when you want to talk
to Him and He knows when you are sad or
want Him to help you.
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18

At bedtime, both Yusuf and Aamina asked

their mom to tell them a story. Their mom
told them a story about Rasulullah (S):
One day, the people of Makkah asked Rasulullah
(S) to prove to them that he was really a
messenger of Allah. So Rasulullah (S) picked up
some pebbles from the ground. And all of a
sudden, the pebbles began doing tasbeeh of
Allah and saying, Muhammad is the Messenger
(Rasul) of Allah!

The people were amazed to witness this

miracle. Some of them accepted Rasulullah
(S)s message and others refused and said,
this is magic! because they were arrogant
and did not want to accept the miracle.
When Yusuf heard this story, he asked his
mom, how come the pebbles could talk
when they are not alive?
Allah made them talk, replied Yusufs mom.
This is because Allah is al-Mutakallim. He can
create sound and speech in anything. When
Allah commands anything to speak, it will always
speaks and says what Allah wants it to say.
One day, Yusuf and Aaminas mom wanted
to teach her children never to tell lies and
always keep their promises.
Do you know why Allah is as-Sadiq and He
never lies or breaks His promise and why
the prophets (anbiya) of Allah and the
Imams never lied? asked mom.

Once upon a time there lived a boy whose

father had told him to look after the sheep
on the hill. The boy was sitting watching the
sheep and was very bored so he decided
to play a trick.
He began to shout at the top of his voice,
Wolf! Wolf! When his father and other
people in town heard this, they ran up to
the hill to help the boy.
When they got to the top they saw no wolf
but just the boy sitting there laughing. They
were very angry and told him that it was
wrong to lie. The boy did not listen and did
the same thing the next day.
On the third day a wolf really appeared!
When the boy cried, Wolf! Wolf! Help me!
but no one listened because they thought
he was joking again. But the wolf was really
there and it killed all the sheep and
attacked the boy.
So when a person lies, people stop
believing him or her.
Allah wants us to believe Him and trust
Him. That is why Allah is as-Sadiq. Allah
also wants us to become truthful so that
other people would believe us. Rasulullah
(S) started preaching Islam when he was
40 years old. But he had never lied since
he was born and everyone called him asSadiq (the Truthful) and al-Amin (the
Trustworthy). So it was easy to believe him
when he began preaching the message of
Islam.

No, please tell us, replied the children.

Well its like the story of the boy and the
wolf, replied their mom. And she began to
tell them a story:

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WORKSHEET 1.2
As-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah
Match each as-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah with its meaning.

1.

Al-Qadeem

A. The Ever-Living

2.

Al-Qadeer

B. The All-Powerful

3.

Al-Aleem

C. The Truthful

4.

Al-Hayy

D. The Master of Speech

5.

Al-Mureed

E. The All-Aware

6.

Al-Mudrik

F. The All-Knowing

7.

Al-Mutakallim

G. The Eternal

8.

As-Sadiq

H. Allah does as He pleases

Correct the following sentences:

1.When we say Allah is eternal, this means that he has a birthday, but will never die.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Since Allah is Al-Mureed, if He wishes, He can put all the good people in hell and bad people
in Heaven.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Allah is Al-Mutakallim, so when He wants to speak, He uses his tongue.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Allah is Al-Mudrik, so He sees things through His eyes and hears through His ears.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Allah is Al-Aleem. He knows everything, except those secrets we keep in our hearts.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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LESSON 3: AS-SIFAAT AS-SALBIYYA

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn about the as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya.

SAY: Today, we are going to learn about the as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya. The asSifaat as-Salbiyya are the opposite of the as-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah. Does
anyone remember what the as-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah are?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. They are the positive attributes of Allah, referring to the attributes
that Allah does have. So, what do you think the as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya are?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good guesses. The as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya are the attributes negative
attributes of Allah. In other words, they are the attributes that Allah does NOT
have and are things that we can never say about Allah. Today, we are going to
learn 8 of these negative attributes.

At this time, students can turn to the READING and then complete the
WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

23
T3

LESSON 3: AS-SIFAAT AS-SALBIYYA

As-Sifaat as-Salbiyya is the opposite of as-Sifaat

ath-Thubutiyyah. These are the attributes
(qualities) that Allah does not have and what we
can never say about Allah.

Indeed Allah does not forgive that any

partner should be ascribed to Him,
but He forgives anything besides that
to whomever He wishes. And whoever
ascribes partners to Allah has indeed
fabricated [a lie] in great sinfulness.

Just like as-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah, we will

learn about eight as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Shareek
Murakkab
Makan
Hulool
Mahal al-Hawadith
Maree
Ihtiyaaj
As-Sifaat az-Zaaidah

1. SHAREEK means Allah has no partner. By

partner we mean another god who helps Him
create or manage the world. Allah is One and
Only One and Alone and there is no other God
but Him. He does not have and does not need
a partner, a spouse, a child, or anyone. He is
the only Creator and everyone and everything
else is His creation. All the Prophets and
Messengers of Allah came to tell people not to
worship anyone except Allah and not to make
anyone a partner of Allah. To believe anyone is
a partner of Allah is called shirk and it is a
great sin. Allah says in the Quran:

When Luqman (a very wise man) said
to his son, as he advised him: O my
son! Do not ascribe any partners to
Allah. Polytheism (shikr) is indeed a
great injustice.
- Surah Luqman, 31:13

- Surah an-Nisa, 4:48

2.

MURAKKAB means Allah is not made up of

anything. Ever ything is made up of
something except Allah. For example, we
are made up of flesh and bones and blood,
and so on. A car is made up of metal and
plastic and rubber, and so on. A computer is
made up of wires and metal and plastic. It is
not possible for Allah to be a murakkab (a
compound made up other things) because
He created everything and already existed
before anything else was even made. When
we say murakkab is not possible for Allah we
also mean that because Allah is not
composed of anything, He cannot be
divided in any way.

3.

MAKAAN means Allah is not in any fixed

place or location. Makan is not an attribute
(sifah) of Allah because He has no physical
body that can be at one fixed place. Allah
does not reside in any place. He is
everywhere. Even when we say the Kabah
is the House of Allah we mean it is a special
house that Allah has blessed and it is a
place where Allah wants people to visit
during Hajj and to face during Salaah. But
Allah does not live in the Kabah. He is not
up in the heavens or down below the earth.
Allah is everywhere at the same time.

24
21

4.

5.

HULOOL means incarnation is not possible

for Allah. Incarnation means when a god or
spirit comes into a physical body. As such, it
means that nothing can enter Allah nor does
Allah enter anything or anybody. Some
people believe in hulool and say that Allah
came to the world in the form of a human
being. This is impossible because hulool is
one of the as-Sifaat as-Salbiyya and is not
possible for Allah.
MAHAL AL-HAWADITH means Allah is not
subject to change. Allah does not change.
For example, Allah does not grow old or
young. He does not become happy or sad,
pleased or angry. When we say Allah is
happy with someone, it only means that the
person in question is receiving Allahs
blessings and rewards. When we say Allah
is angry with someone, it means Allahs
punishment is on that person. But Allah is
not like human beings who change in their
moods. That is why on the Day of Judgment,
Allah can be very pleased with the good and
very angry with the evil at the same time. It
only means Allah will reward the good and
punish the evil at the same time. Otherwise
nothing changes in Allah as such.

6.

MAREE means Allah is not visible. He cannot be seen nor will He ever be seen, because He has no body. Allah can only be recognized by His signs and His creation.

7.

IHTIYAAJ means Allah is not dependent or

in need of anyone or anything. Allah does
not depend on anybody nor does He need
anything or anyone. Allah created everything
out of love and for everything to benefit from

Him but it makes no difference to Him if

something exists or not.
8.

AS-SIFAAT AZ-ZAAIDAH means Allahs asSifaat ath-Thubutiyya are not independent

qualities or attributes but they are all one
and the same as Who He is. For example
when we say that Allah is al-Aleem, that
does not mean that His knowledge is separate from His Existence or that it can increase or decrease. There has never been a
time when Allah had less knowledge. Another example would be al-Qadeer. It does
not mean that Allahs power is another thing
separate from His knowledge or Who He is.
Allah is al-Qadeer means that He is Power
itself. Every attribute is Who He is.

To understand this better, think of a person

who is a philosopher, mathematician, and a
scientist at the same time. This person has
three jobs, but is still one person, not three.
In the same way, Allah, who is the Wise, the
Nurturer, and the All-Knowing is one God
with all these attributes. These attributes are
not separate or extra from His being.

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WORKSHEET 1.3
As-Sifaat ath-Thubutiyyah and as-Sifaat as-Salbiyyah

1.

The qualities that Allah has are known as as-Sifaat ath-

2.

The attributes Allah is free from are known as the as-Sifaat as-

3.

What attribute of Allah is shown in the following example?

.
.

Allah made stones in our Holy Prophets hand speak and bear witness that Muhammad
(S) was His Prophet?

4. We have not always been around and will not continue to be forever, at least in this
world. What attribute of Allah describes His quality of always having been and will continue to
be?

5.

Draw a line to match the meanings to the words and write a (+ ) next to the as-Sifaat athThubutiyyahh and a ( - ) next to the as-Sifaat as-Salbiyyah:

( ) Shareek

Quality of having a partner

( ) Qadeer

Possessing the power to create speech

( ) Qadim

Quality of having power over everything

( ) Makaan

Quality of being eternal

( ) Mudrik

Attribute of being confined to a place

( ) Mutakallim

Quality of being aware of everything

26
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ADAALAH
24

ADAALAH
VOCABULARY
ADAALAH
JUSTICE

In this lesson, students will learn more about Adaalah, to build upon what they
have learned in the previous years.
SAY: Today, we are going to talk about the second Usool Ad-Deen, Adaalah.
Who remembers what this means?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. Who remembers what justice means?

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE ADAALAH READING
PAGE AND TAKE TURNS
READING ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Wait for answers.

SAY: Good. In previous grades, we defined justice as putting everything in its
proper place. We also defined equality as treating everything the same. In
Islam, we believe in Adaalah, justice but not equality in so far as it meaning
that everything has to be the same. We said Allah is al-Aleem, the Most
Knowledgable, Al-Qadeer, the Most Powerful, He is our Rabb, Nurturer, and He
is al-Hakeem, the Wise. These attributes make it evident that He is Just and will
do everything that is in our best interest to reach perfection.
We also discussed that there is no reason for Him to be unjust, such as
ignorance, greed, force, or amusement. Even after learning all of this, one
question remains: why is there so much suffering in the world? In this lesson,
we will look at some reasons for why suffering exists in the world.
At this time, students can turn to the READING section in their book.
Afterwards, they can complete the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

28
T4

READING: ADAALAH
In previous grades, we defined justice as putting
everything in its proper place. We also defined
equality as treating everything the same. In
Islam, we believe in Adaalah, justice, and not
equality. We said Allah is al-Aleem, the Most
Knowledgable, al-Qadeer, the Most Powerful, He
is our Rabb, Nurturer, and he is al-Hakeem, the
Wise. These attributes make it evident that He is
Just and will do everything that is in our best
interest to reach perfection.
We also discussed that there is no reason for
Him to be unjust, such as ignorance, greed,
force, or amusement. Even after learning all of
this, one question remains: why is there so much
suffering in the world? In this lesson, we will look
at some reasons for why suffering exists in the
world.

necessary for the world to continue and for

others to come into existence and for humans
to change and progress rapidly.
2. Suffering we cause ourselves. Allah has given
us freewill and intelligence. But sometimes,
knowingly or unknowingly, we make decisions
that cause us harm. For example, we dress
poorly and go out in the cold. Then we fall ill
and suffer because of that decision. This is a
suffering we caused ourselves. We may
expect Allah not to make the weather cold but
that is because we are not thinking of others
and how the cold weather helps animals and
other creatures of Allah, how it kills a lot of
disease and prepares the earth and trees for
Spring, how it affects the oceans and the
mountains, and so on.

Why Suffering Exists in the World

The most common argument against the justice
of Allah is the constant tragedies and suffering
that occur in the world. If Allah is just, kind and
loving, why does He let this happen and why
doesnt He stop them from happening?
There are several reasons why suffering exists in
this world and why even the good and innocent
suffer:
1. Suffering caused by Cause and Effect. Our
world runs within a system of cause and
effect. For example, there may be good
reasons why an earthquake or volcanic
eruption takes place and even benefits to
these occurrences. But our limited knowledge
makes us look at only the harm they cause.
We dont see the bigger picture and how one
event is linked to many other events. Another
example would be death. It is a great tragedy
for us when our loved ones die. But death is

3. Suffering caused by others. Because of the

freewill given to us by Allah so that He may
test us in this world, sometimes some people
hurt others out of greed, fear or simply
because they are cruel. They may deny others
their rights or even inflict harm on them. For
example, out of greed for profit, they may
destroy the environment, which in turn may
cause a lot of disease and problems for
others; or out of greed for wealth and control,
they may prevent medical advancements or
cheaper medication from becoming available
people who are less fortunate. Of course Allah
will punish the wrongdoers in the Hereafter but
if He stops people from doing any wrong in
this world then there would be no freewill and
no test for anyone and it would never be
known, who is good and who is bad, who
helps the oppressed and who oppresses
others, and so on. Allah says in the Quran:

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25








Corruption has appeared in land and sea
because of the doings of the peoples
hands, that He may make them taste
something of what they have done, so that
they may come back.
- Surah ar-Rum, 30:41
Imam Ali (A) also once said, if you see a
person starving, it is because some has
taken his share (by not paying his khums or
zakah or giving charity). This means Allah
has provided enough for everyone but
some people take or withhold the rights of
others.
4. Suffering builds character. When we win, we
feel good but it doesnt make us better. When
we suffer, especially with it is no fault of our
own, it is an opportunity to become better,
especially if we have done our best. We
always claim to love Allah and have faith in
Him. Suffering is a chance for us to show Allah
that we really love Him and have faith in Him
and that we can prove what we claim. The real
nature of hypocrites becomes known during
suffering and afflictions. They start blaming
Allah and their words and actions show that
they never actually had any faith in Allah.
People who never suffer are weak and
shallow. They are only happy when things are
going well for them. Suffering teaches people
to be patient, to struggle and to become wiser
and learn humility. Instead of being selfish,
they begin to help others who may also be
suffering like themselves. Allah says in the
Quran:

- Surah an-Nisa, 4:19

5. Suffering brings us closer to Allah. When
people enjoy a lot of ease and comfort, they
forget Allah and become lazy and heedless.
They begin to think they are independent of
Allah and dont need Him. They may even
become proud and arrogant. Allah says in the
Quran:



Indeed man becomes rebellious when he
considers himself without need. (96:6-7)
6. Suffering reminds a momin or momina that
the world is a place of trial. It makes them turn
to Allah for help and brings them closer to Allah. Suffering does not drive the faithful away
from Allah. It brings them closer to Him because as they give more importance to
prayers and asking Allah for help in all things.
In many hadiths we are told that Allah only
tests those He loves and the more a person
increases in faith, the greater his or her test in
life will be. Imam Husain (A) once said, if three
things were not there, people would not worship Allah: helplessness, sickness and death.

maybe you dislike something while Allah
places in it an abundant good.

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WORKSHEET 2.1
Adaalah
1. What is the definition of justice? Give an example of this definition.

2. How is it that we sometimes make ourselves suffer?

3. How do others cause suffering?

4. How does suffering help build our character?

5. How can suffering bring us closer to Allah?

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NABUWWAH
28

NABUWWAH
VOCABULARY
NABUWWAH
NABI
ISMAH
INFALLIBLE
MUJIZA

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn about Nabuwwah (Prophethood).

SAY: Allah has established Leadership for people through different forms so
that people can be guided toward the truth. What is leadership?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Leadership is the activity of guiding or directing a group of people toward a common goal. In Islam, leaders are there to guide people toward the
right path of obedience and nearness to Allah and to warn people to stay
away from the path of disobedience to Allah. Allah has sent leadership in different forms, and we will focus on one form today, which is Prophethood. You
may have heard the word prophet before. We will see how much you know
about prophets by doing an activity called LINK.

LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

READING

At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board.
Then, give them 5 minutes to do the I and you can either write their responses on
the board or on a chart paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the
lesson. After this lesson is complete, challenge students to answer their own
questions about prophets or have them research answers on the web or conduct
interviews knowledgeable members of the community. This teaches them the
responsibility of researching answers for themselves instead of always having
them spoon fed to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help
them in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of Prophets, located in the Task Bar.

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE N ABUWWAH
READING PAGE AND TAKE
TURNS READING ALOUD

They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the reading.
You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to
each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.

WORKSHEET

Now, for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches
others about prophets. If time permits, have students present to one another or to
younger children.

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Students can now do the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

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T5

READING: NABUWWAH
Allah is One, and He is the only One
worthy of our obedience and worship. In
order for us to reach perfection, Allah has
established leadership and guidance for
His creation. He has commanded us to
follow the Prophet (S), then the Imams (A)
and even in the case when our Imam is
hidden from us, He has put a system in
place for us to continue the stream of
divine guidance. In this lesson, we will
focus on Prophethood and in subsequent
lessons we will learn more other forms of
leadership and guidance.
Two men were traveling together and
became friends. When they reached their
town, one of them invited the other to his
house for dinner the next day. However,
he did not give him the address or phone
number. His friend wanted to go to his
house for dinner, but how could he? He
did not know how to get there.
When Allah created us, it was for the sole
purpose of worshipping Him. If He had
not sent down prophets (A) to guide us,
how would we have known what to do to

sent by Allah to guide mankind to the right

path. The word Nabi can come from the
root word na-ba-a () , which means to
bring news. This is because a Nabi brings
news from Allah. It can also be derived
from the word Na-ba-wa () , which means
to be high. This is because a Nabi is high
in the presence of Allah.
A Nabi must have the following
qualifications:
1. He must be sent by Allah - There
cannot be a self-appointed Nabi
2. Ismah He must be sinless. This
means protection against committing
sins or making grave mistakes.
3. Mujiza Every Prophet is granted the
power of performing mujiza (miracles)
in order to prove that his message is
from Allah.
Concept of ismah
Ismah (infallibility) is the Islamic concept that
those who are appointed by Allah to guide
others must be sinless and must never
disobey Allah.

please Him? It was because He wanted

us to find Him that He sent so many
prophets (A) to teach and guide us.

Who is a Nabi?
A Nabi is a bearer of news. According to
Islamic terminology, a Nabi is one who is

All of our prophets were infallible.This does

not mean that they were prevented from
committing sins. Due to their deep knowledge
and faith, they did not commit sins. For
example, if you have knowledge that there is
poison in a glass of water, even if you are
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29

extremely thirsty, you will not drink that water

because you know you will die.
The prophets saw the reality and ugliness of
sins, and that knowledge prevented them
from performing those sins.
Even the words and actions of prophets (that
are called his hadith and sunnah) are very
important in understanding Islam. As a result,
prophets are always Masoom.
Meaning of ismah
The word Ismah means a protection or a
covering. It is, therefore, a special grace (lutf)
of Allah that is given to a person so that he or
she is able to keep away from sins out of his
or her own free will. A person who is given
this gift of Ismah is called a Masoom
(female: Masooma, plural: Masoomeen.)
A Masoom is not forced by Allah to keep
away from sin. A Masoom keeps away from
sin because of his or her deep understanding
of how sin harms the soul of a person and
also because a Masoom is aware and
conscious of Allahs presence at all times.
This is just like ordinary people who have the
free will to hurt their bodies but they dont do
it because they know how painful and harmful
it will be. People commit sins because they
dont realize how much they are harming their
souls. If they knew that, they would not even
think of committing a sin.
One can also think of Ismah in this way:

If you have knowledge that there is poison in

a glass of water, even if you are extremely
thirsty, you will not drink that water because
you will die.
The Prophets saw the reality and ugliness of
sins, and that knowledge prevented them
from performing those sins.
Necessity of Ismah
A Nabi, Rasul or Imam does not even sin by
mistake. Allah blessed them with knowledge and
they used this knowledge to proTect themselves
from sin.
Why Must the Prophets Be infallible?
The prophets must be infallible because Allah
sent them to guide people to the Straight Path
(Siraat al-Mustaqim) and to become role models
and examples to follow. He also asked people to
listen to all their words and watch all their actions
so that they may be guided by it. For example,
Allah tells us about Rasulullah (S) in Surah alAhzaab, Verse 21:




In the Messenger of Allah there is certainly for
you a good example (to follow), for those who
look forward to Allah and the Last Day, and
remember Allah much.
Now, if a Nabi or Imam makes mistakes or even
commits sins even by accident, how would we
know what to follow and what to ignore?
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Types of Ismah
There are two types of infallibility (Ismah):
general (ammah) and specific (khassah).
Al-Ismah al-Aammah: This is a general kind of
sinlessness that is accessible to everyone. For
example, the angels are sinless in this sense.
They dont commit sins, but it is not out of choice
because they have no desires. Similarly,
newborns and very young children are also
called Masoom in this sense. Even if we
protect ourselves from certain sins, we can be
said to be Masoom in a limited sense. For
example, if you never steal or backbite, we could
say you are infallible (Masoom) when it comes
to stealing and backbiting. There have always
been some very pious individuals in Islam who
did everything Wajib and kept away from all
haraam matters. But they may have made
mistakes when they were young and they learnt
to become pious with time, knowledge and
experience. Also, when such pious individuals
keep away from sin, it is very good but if they
didnt, it would make no difference to us or the
rest of mankind. Their Ismah is only for their own
sake.

The other anbiya and rusul other than the

fourteen Masoomeen (A) of Islam, may
sometimes make a choice that is not the best
even though it is not a sin (i.e. tark al-awla). But
the fourteen Masoomeen (A) do not even
commit tark al-awla. They are Allahs most
perfect creation about whom Allah says in the
Quran:

...
Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from
you, O People of the Household, and purify you
with a thorough purification.
-Surah al-Ahzaab, Verse 33

Al-Ismah al-Khaassah: This is a special and

specific kind of infallibility that in Islam is
required of all prophets or Imams. This Ismah is
special because it affects everyone else as well.
It can be further divided into two categories: the
Ismah of all the anbiya (pl. of nabi) and rusul (pl.
of rasul) other than Rasulullah (S), the Last
Messenger; and the Ismah of Rasulullah (S) and
the thirteen Masoomeen (A) from his family
(Ahlul Bayt) (A).
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WORKSHEET 3.1
Nabuwwah
1. What is Ismah? Why must prophets have Ismah?

2. Were the Prophets forced not to commit sins? If not, then why did they not commit any?

3. In the venn diagram below, list the similarities and difference between al-Ismah al-Aammah
and al-Ismah al-Khaassah:

AL-ISMAH AL-AAMMAH

AL-ISMAH AL-KHASSAH

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32

IMAAMAH
33

LESSON 1: IMAAMAH
VOCABULARY
IMAAMAH
IMAMS

In this lesson, students will learn more about the necessity of Imams.
SAY: In the previous lesson, we learned about Allahs prophets. Can someone
remember why Allah sent prophets?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. Allah sent prophets as leaders to guide people to goodness and
nearness of Allah. The prophets could not live forever because no one can
live in this world forever. Who did Allah send after the Prophet Muhammad (S)
to guide people?

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE IMAAMAH READING
PAGE AND TAKE TURNS
READING ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: Good. Allah chose Imams (A) to continue to guide us. Why couldnt
someone just write down everything Prophet Muhammad (S) said before he
died, and follow those instructions after his death? Why do we need Imams
(A)?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Prophet Muhammad (S) lived many years ago. There is a chance that
people could have changed his message or new questions could come up,
and then who could answer those questions? Because Allah is Kind and Just,
He did not leave people without guidance at any time. In addition to His
Kindness, we will look into 5 more reasons on why we need Imams.
Furthermore, we will learn about the qualities that these Imams must have.
Students can turn to the READING and then do the WORKSHEET located in
the Task Bar.

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T6

LESSON 1: IMAAMAH
Why Do We Need Imams?
Many people question the need for an Imam. If a
Nabi or Rasul has already brought all the laws of
Allah, what then is the need for more spiritual
leaders? Isnt the Quran, hadiths and practices
(sunnah) of Rasulullah (S) enough?
To answer this, we need to think about the
following:
1. The Need for a Religious Guide. Although
human beings are given a natural conscience to
understand right from wrong and then given a
Book from Allah and the teachings of a Nabi, it is
still possible for people to have different views
about God and religion and to even fight about
them, as we see today. If the Quran and hadiths
are sufficient to remove all differences then why
do we have so many sects in Islam today?
The only way to stop this disunity is to agree to
follow one leader (Imam). It makes sense that the
leader that everyone agrees to follow should be
the most learned, the most just, the bravest and
the most pious. Allah has been sending Anbiya
and Rusul since He created human beings so it it
follows that He would not suddenly leave
humans on their own to find guidance. Instead,
as part of His grace (lutf), He would tell His last
Nabi to inform people of his successor, namely
the Imam and guide after him.
The grace (lutf) of Allah means through his
kindness and mercy, people would not be left
alone in a chaos of religious disagreement. An
Imam is a lutf from Allah that He gave human
beings so that they would know in every
generation what the real interpretation of the
Quran is.

2. The Need for a Guardian of Islam. After a Nabi

passes away and the religion he taught begins to
spread to other countries and cultures
throughout successive generations, it is very
easy for his original teachings and message to
get distorted some how. A lot of culture,
superstitions and innovations are added to the
original teachings. In fact this is exactly how the
teachings of previous anbiya before Rasulullah
(S) changed and why Allah kept sending more
prophets and messengers. Those who preach
religion as scholars are sometimes unable to see
what has changed from original Islam as their
knowledge about Islam is limited. All this proves
that there is a need for an Imam who has a direct
connection to the Quran and the teachings of
Rasulullah (S) through previous Imams. This
Imam is also given special knowledge from Allah
in order to understand the truth and to guide
others to the original message.
Imam Ali (A) said in a sermon (Nahj al-Balagha
Sermon 147) that the earth would never be
without a proof of Allah whom is always in the
shape of a person. Whether he is known or
hidden (in ghaybah), he is present so that the
Divine message is not lost forever. It is in fact
impossible for the earth to exist without a
representative of Allah even for a twinkling of an
eye, from the day Allah put Nabi Adam (A) on the
earth until the day life on earth comes to an end.
3. The Need for a Political and Social Leader. For
human beings to reach perfection, they need
to live in a just society
For Muslims this society or community is called
the Muslim Ummah. An Ummah must be led by
one who not only knows religion but also knows
how to prevent social injustice and how to lead
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34

people in political matters in accordance with the

Will of Allah. Of course Muslims must deserve
this by first recognizing such a just leader
(Imam) and be willing to let him lead them.
4. The Need for a Proof of Allah at all Times. An
Imam is a Proof (Hujjah) of Allah in this world.
This means he serves as Allahs Proof against
those who go astray so that they cannot
complain to Allah on the Day of Judgment that
there was no one to guide them. It is, however,
the duty of people to find who the Imam of their
time is and not the other way around. The
existence of a Proof (Hujjah) only means that no
one can have an excuse because Allah has
ensured that there is always a guide from Him in
the world at all times. Even when such a Proof is
in Ghaybah (i.e. not known by the public), his
representatives guide people. Another way of
guidance during the Ghaybah (or even during
his presence) is the following: just like Shaytaan
is able to whisper and misguide people, the light
or noor of the Imam can guide peoples hearts to
Allah even though, like Shaytaan, we cannot see
him. If Shaytaan can misguide so many people
all over the earth, is the Imam any less powerful
and capable than Shaytaan?
5. The Need for a Connector to Divine Grace. An
Imam connects the society to Allah through
Rasulullah (S). The existence of Rasulullah (S)
and the Imams is like the existence of the heart
that pumps blood throughout the body and
keeps all the organs alive and healthy.
Qualities of an Imam
We studied the qualities that an Imam must have
in Book 5. We will now review this topic again but
with some more detail.

1. Ismah: Being free from sin and error. An

Imam, like a Nabi or Rasul, must be Masoom,
that is, free from sins. The Imam is a guide for
others and people look to him for guiding them
to the right path. An Imam who commits sins is
himself in need of guidance and cannot guide
others. Allah says in the Quran:


Is He who guides to the truth worthier to be
followed, or he who guides not unless he is
guided? What is the matter with you? How do
you judge?
(Surah Yunus, Verse 35)
When we say an Imam is Masoom we mean his
conviction in Allah and his constant awareness of
Allah is so great that he never even thinks of or
considers committing a sin. Being a Masoom
does not mean that one is not able to commit a
sin or that Allah is forcing him or her not to. It is
like the case of a sane person who would never
consider drinking poison or harming himself
physically. No one stops him but he knows how
harmful it is. An Imam never sins because he
knows and sees exactly how sin affects a
persons soul and a persons life in the Hereafter.
What prevents a Masoom from sin is his piety
and awe before Allah. It is so strong in him that
he becomes sinless. It is also necessary that a
person appointed by Allah guide others and
would not sin otherwise it would confuse people
as they wouldnt know that what they are
following is right or wrong.
If an Imam sins, then it would be Wajib on his
followers to correct him and stop him. This
means the Imam would have to follow and obey
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the people and they would disrespect him and

hold him in contempt. Allah condemns those
who tell others to do good but dont do it
themselves:

Do you command others to piety and forget
yourselves, even though you recite the Book? Do
you not think?
(Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 44)
2. Aalam: Most Knowledgeable Person of his
Time. An Imam must know the Quran entirely. He
must also know all the sciences of Islam and he
should be able to answer any question. If a
person cannot answer a question or he needs to
ask someone else, then he cannot be the Imam
because people would need another Imam to
answer the questions he cannot. One of the
proofs that Imam Ali (A) was the rightful
successor of Rasulullah (S) is that people asked
him questions that only he could answer.
3. Tafdil: Superior in All Good Qualities. The
Imam must be the most excellent person of his
time in all virtues like piety, bravery, justice,
courage, generosity, etc. If there is anyone in his
time who is superior to him in these qualities then
it means he would be inferior to that person and
the other person would be more deserving to be
the Imam. A person who is inferior cannot lead a
person who is superior to him.

to amass wealth and to gain power over others.

A person with these qualities can mislead others
and be unjust because of his love of the world
which can then in all likelihood interfere with his
mission. An Imam is free from such distractions.
He cannot be tempted or influenced or even
threatened by the world because the world has
no value in his eyes. An Imam will never build
palaces for himself. Instead his clothes, food,
lifestyle will all be very simple and like that of the
poorest of his followers.
5. Mujiza: Performance of miracle. An Imam
should be able to perform miracles as proof that
his Imaamah is from Allah through Rasulullah (S)
and/or the previous Imam. This ensures that
even if a person is very knowledgeable and
claims to be sinless, he cannot claim to be the
Imam without proving it through a miracle.
6. [Nass]: Appointment by Allah and His
Messenger (S). An Imam cannot be chosen by
the people or elected by a council or take over
leadership by force. Allah must appoint him
either by asking Rasulullah (S) to declare him as
the Imam or the previous valid Imam appoints
him as his successor. This is designation is
called nass (plural: nusus.)

4. Zuhd: Free from Love of the World. A person

interested in worldly pleasures cannot be an
Imam. Such a person is usually greedy and loves

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WORKSHEET 4.1
Imaamah
1. In your own words, explain why we need an Imam.

2. What kind of political and social injustices are you seeing that wouldnt be happening if
Imam Mahdi (A) was here?

3. Why do you think the Imam must be the most knowledgable person?

4. Pick a famous world leader. Does this famous leader have the 6 qualities needed for an
Imam? Which ones are missing?

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LESSON 2: THE LIVING IMAM

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn more about the guidance and leadership of their time,
which is under the Imaamah of Imam al-Mahdi (A).
SAY: So far, in this chapter, we have learned that leadership and guidance is a
necessary part of our faith because it helps us follow the right path so as to grow
nearer to Allah. In the last lesson, we learned about the necessity of Imams as guides
for people after the death of the Prophet (S) and how Allah will never leave mankind
without a guide. Who is our guide now? Who is our current, guiding and living Imam?

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: Good. Imam al-Mahdi (A) is the 12th and final Imam that Allah appointed, and
Allah will continue to keep him alive as long as there are people living on earth so that
no one is left without guidance. It is important that we are aware of who our leader and
guide is so we may follow the correct path that leads to Allah. Lets find out what you
know about Imam al-Mahdi (A) by doing an activity called LINK.

At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes to do
the L and write down their ideas on the board.
Then, give them 5 minutes to do the I and you can either write their responses on the
board or on a chart paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson.
After this lesson is complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about
the 12th Imam or have them research answers on the web or conduct interviews
knowledgeable members of the community. This teaches them the responsibility of
researching answers for themselves instead of always having them spoon fed to them.
Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the READING
page for this section on the subject of the 12th Imam, located in the Task Bar.
They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the reading. You
can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to each
other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Now, for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they now
know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches others
about the 12th Imam. If time permits, have students present to one another or to
younger children.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

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LESSON 2: THE LIVING IMAM

We have numerous hadiths from the Prophet
(S) and our Imams (A) that point to the
coming of our 12th Imam. There are also
some traditions that are available from the
books of our Sunni brothers and sisters.
Hadith about the 12th Imam (A) from
Sunni Books

There are six major collections of hadiths/

traditions in the Sunni world. These six books
are Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Jami alTirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu
Dawud, and Sunan al-Nisai.

Collectively

they are known as the al-Sihah al-Sittah, or

the Six Authentic Books.
The following are only some of the traditions
out of many about Imam Mahdi (A) in these

6. The Prophet (S) said: "Even if there is one

day left on this earth, Allah will stretch that
day so long until the Mahdi comes. He will
then fill the earth with peace and justice.

b o o k s :
1. The Mahdi is going to come in the last
days to establish a universal government.
2. The Mahdi is from the Ahlul Bayt of the
P r o p h e t ( S ) .

The coming of Imam al-Mahdi (A) and the

earth being filled with peace and justice is
something both the Shias and Sunnis agree
upon. This is the promise that Allah has
mentioned in the Quran:

3. The Mahdi is from the children of Fatimah

(A), the daughter of the Prophet (S).
4. Mahdi is other than Jesus (the Messiah).
And certainly We have already written in the
5. Prophet Isa (A) will be one of the followers
of Imam Mahdi (A) and will pray behind
h i m .

book [Zaboor] after the [previous] mention

that the earth shall be inherited by My
righteous servants. (21:105)

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The Reappearance (Dhuhoor) of Imam alMahdi (A)

When Imam al-Mahdi (A) returns, he will first
come to Makkah. He will pray 2 Rakahs near the
Kabah and Maqaam Ibrahim (A) and then he will
address the people. In his speech, he will
address the whole world and the people of all
religions based on the teachings of all the
Prophets. Then, he will remind people of the
hadith of Thaqalayn from Rasulullah (S) and the
right of the Ahlul Bayt (A) and the injustices done
to them.
Thereafter, Imam al-Mahdi (A) will outline his
goal. It will be to establish Islam as the universal
religion for all humankind and Tawheed as its
central message. He will invite people to
obedience to One God Allah and obedience
to Rasulullah (S), the message of the Quran, and
to him, the Imam of the Time. Imam al-Mahdi (A)
will call for reviving whatever the Quran upholds
and ending whatever the Quran condemns, such
as falsehood, idol worship, atheism, polytheism,
and innovations and practices that were later
added to Islam.
The 313
The first people to pledge allegiance (i.e. give
bayah) will equal 313. They will be the most
pious, learned, and courageous people on the
earth at that time and will come from different
parts of the world. Through a miracle, Allah will
bring them all together to Makkah for this great
even, the likes of which mankind has never seen.
This number 313 is the same as the number
of Muslims who fought beside Rasulullah (S) in
the first battle of Islam, the Battle of Badr in 2
AH.

These 313 will give their pledge of allegiance to

Imam al-Mahdi (A) while he stands between the
Rukn and the Maqaam. The Rukn is the corner of
the Kabah where the Hajar al-Aswad is lodged,
and the Maqaam is the Maqaam of Ibrahim. In
other words, near the door of the Kabah.
Thereafter, Imam al-Mahdi (A) will assign these
313 as his representatives in different parts of
the world.
The Coming of Sufyani
Sufyani will be an Umayyad and a descendant of
the children of Abu Sufyan, like Muawiya and
Yazid. According to the hadith of Rasulullah (S),
he will kill many innocent people in Iraq, Egypt,
Palestine, and other parts of the Middle East.
Sufyani will also kill many women, children, and
elderly, and he will finally set his capital in alSham (Syria) just like his forefathers had done.
When Sufyani finds out that Imam al-Mahdi (A)
has appeared in Makkah, he will send an army to
fight the Imam, but when they army of Sufyani
will be between Medina and Makkah, the earth
will open up, and most of them will be swallowed
up and destroyed.
Imam al-Mahdi (A) will then move to Iraq and
make Kufa his capital. From there, he will go
towards Sham with a huge army and fight
Sufyani until all of evil is destroyed and there is
peace and justice on the earth.
The Return of Nabi Isa (A)
When Imam al-Mahdi (A) enters Jerusalem, a
very important miracle will take place: the
descent of Prophet Isa (A) from the heavens.
This is a prophecy that even the Christians

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believe in (i.e., the return of Jesus) and it is

recorded in many hadiths.
Nabi Isa (A) will refuse to lead the prayers and
will insist that Imam al-Mahdi (A) should lead the
Salaah, and he will pray behind Imam al-Mahdi
(A). This will show and prove to the Christians
and the whole world that the message of
Rasulullah (S) was the final message and is to
prevail over all other religions.
Since the majority of people in the world are
Christians, when Nabi Isa (A) shows his support
for Imam al-Mahdi (A) and he denies being the
son of God (or God Himself), a large number of
Christians will change their understanding of
religion and will join Islam as a universal
message of monotheism and will believe in
Tawheed.
Then, with the majority of the world following
Imam al-Mahdi (A), the spread of justice and
peace will increase. A final evil will be Dajjal a
person who will try and cheat people into
believing that he is god. The Christians call
Dajjal the Antichrist, and with Nabi Isa (A)s
help, he will also be defeated.
After many battles and wars, justice and peace
will prevail. The whole planet will worship Allah,
and human beings will learn to live on the earth
without greed and fear, with love and devotion
for Allah, and with selfless service to other
creatures of Allah.
Imam al-Mahdi (A) will unveil a tremendous
amount of knowledge to human beings where all
forms of illnesses will be removed, the heavens
and earth will give out all its blessings, and
human beings will learn to travel to the far
regions of outer space.

After his return, Imam al-Mahdi (A) will be known

as and addressed by everyone as
Baqiyatullah (The remainder of Allah), meaning
the last proof of Allah on the earth.
The Waiting (al-Intidhaar)
Waiting for Imam al-Mahdi (A) to return is called
Intidhaar. It is not only the Shia or the Muslims
who are waiting for someone to come and
establish peace and justice on the earth. Most
religions have a belief of some savior coming to
save the world in the end of time.
We should never doubt the presence of Imam alMahdi (A). If Allah could raise Rasulullah (S)
physically all the way to the heavens for Miraj,
and raise Nabi Isa (A) and keep him alive in the
heavens until he returns, it is very easy for Allah
to keep someone alive on the earth for a long
time. We have many examples of others, good
and bad, that have lived a long time on the earth
or are still alive since a time before Imam alMahdis (A) birth.
Nabi Nuh (A), for example, lived for 950 years
according to the Quran, and according to some
narrations, that was only before the flood, but he
actually lived for 2500 years. Besides Nabi Isa
(A), Nabi Khidr (A), Nabi Idrees (A) and Nabi
Ilyas (A) are also alive. We also know that
Shaytaan (Iblis) has been alive since before the
creation of Nabi Adam (A). So, if Allah can allow
so many others from His creation, good and evil,
to remain alive for as long as He pleases, it is
very easy for Him to keep Imam al-Mahdi (A)
alive as His proof and representative on the earth
for so long.

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40

As Imam Ali (A) mentioned, a good practice,

During Intidhaar
During the time of Intidhaar, it is the duty of all
the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (A) to work for the
good of humanity and to be role models for
others on how human beings should live after the
establishment of peace and justice when the
Imam returns.
Naturally, those whose values, habits, and
character are most similar to the values that
Imam al-Mahdi (A) will strive to establish are
those who will fit into the new world most easily.
Obeying Allah and keeping away from haraam
are the first duties we have towards showing our
loyalty to Imam al-Mahdi (A). Thereafter, serving
humanity and praying for the return of the Imam
(A) are also part of our duties to the Imam.
Just as we are doing Intidhaar (waiting) for the
Imam, so is the Imam doing our Intidhaar, We
are waiting for him to return because we want to
see justice and peace established on the earth
and the removal of all our suffering. The Imam
(A) is waiting for our readiness for his return and
to see if we are pious and sincere, and not

in order to remind us of our Imam and pray

for his reappearance, is to read the Duas
taught by Imam al-Mahdi (A) himself, such
as Dua al-Iftitah.
We should also remember that since our
Imam (A) is among us, he might encounter
any momin. In fact, he is believed to meet a
momin on 3 occasions:
1. At the time of Hajj
2. At times of trouble
3. At the funeral of a momin who
does not have a debt of khums
Let us pray that our akhlaq and Imaan are so
strong that our Imam (A) may consider us as
a momin and meet us at one of the above
three occasions; and when it is time for him
to come, he will choose us as his
companions.

Imam Ali (A) has said:

"The best Dua is the Dua for the
appearance of Imam Mahdi (A) (for
example Dua Faraj)"

(Wasail al-Shia Vol.11 p.35 Bab 13)

selfishly greedy for the pleasures of the world.

The Imam (A) will only return when Allah wills it
and that will happen when we are ready to follow
the Imam (A) sincerely.

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41

WORKSHEET 4.2
The Living Imam

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What is a belief shared by both Shias and Sunnis?

2. When the Imam (A) first reappears, where will he come?

3. Where will the Imam (A) establish his capital?

4. Who will pray behind Imam al-Mahdi (A)? What will happen as a result?

5. Who are the two evil forces that the Imam (A) will defeat?

6. We are waiting for the Imam (A). What is the Imam (A) waiting for?

7. How should we prepare ourselves to be included in the Imams army?

42

QIYAAMAH
43

QIYAAMAH
VOCABULARY
QIYAAMAH
DAY OF JUDGMENT

In this lesson, students will learn about the Day of Judgment, Qiyaamah.
SAY: Who can remind me what the 5th Usool Ad-Deen is?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. The 5th Usool Ad-Deen is Qiyaamah, or belief in the Day of
Judgment. Does anyone know what will happen on the Day of Judgment?
Wait and listen for answers.

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD.

SAY: Good answers. Lets read and find out more about the Day of
Judgment.
Students can now turn to the READING and when they are done, they can
complete the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

T8

READING: QIYAAMAH
After Tawheed, the most important belief
in Islam and the most emphasized
subject in the Quran is the belief in life
after death. This is called the belief in
Maaad or Qiyaamah, which literally
means The Resurrection. This will be
the Day when all humans are raised to
life again and their actions and intentions
are judged and thereafter the good are
rewarded with eternal bliss and paradise
and the unjust are punished with Hellfire.
Without belief in Maaad, life would have
no purpose or meaning.

Book of Deeds
Every action a person commits in this life
and every word he or she utters is
recorded by angels in a Book of Deeds:
.



When the twin recorders record [his deeds],
seated on the right hand and on the left: he says
no word but that there is a ready observer
beside him.
- Surah Qaf, Verses 7-18

Rasulullah (S) and his Ahlul Bayt (A)

Out of the trillions and trillions of Allahs
creatures, no one will receive more honor on the
Day of Judgment than Rasulullah (S) and his
Ahlul Bayt (A). They will be given the highest
ranks, and everyone will want to be near them.
Rasulullah (S) will be near a fountain called
Kawthar, and anyone who gets to drink from this
fountain will never feel thirsty again and will enter
Paradise. Imam Ali (A) will be given the right to
decide who enters Paradise and Hell, and that is
why he is called Qaseem al-Jannati wan
Nar (The Distributor of Paradise and Hellfire).
The daughter of Rasulullah (S) Sayyida Fatimah
al-Zahra (A), for example, will be the first one to
enter Paradise and she will only go in with her
Shia following her. When it is announced on the
Day of Judgment, Where is the Beauty of All
Worshippers (as-Sajjad)? All the trillions of
beings standing on the plains of Mahshar will
see Imam as-Sajjad (A) being ushered forward
and cutting through the ranks of people, and
everyone will look at him with amazement and
great love. In this manner, every individual of the
Ahlul Bayt (A) will be honored and will help their
sincere Shia and those who loved them to get to
Jannah (Paradise).

The two angels who record these deeds are

called Kiraman Katibin. On the Day of Judgment,
everyone will be given their Book of Deeds to
look at. The good will be given their Book in their
right hand from the front and they will be very
happy to read it and they will know it means they
are going to Jannah (Paradise) and the evil will
be given the Book in their left hand from the back
and they will be terrified because they will know
it means they are heading to Hellfire. They will
not want to read it but will be forced to.
It will be said to them:



.

We have attached every persons deeds to his
neck, and We shall bring it out for him on the Day
of Resurrection as a wide open book that he will
encounter. Read your book! Today your soul
suffices as your own accounter.
-Surah Banu Israil, Verses 13-14

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44











The Book will be set up. Then you will see the
guilty afraid of what is in it. They will say, Woe to
us! What a book is this! It omits nothing, big or
small, without covering it. They will find present
whatever they had done, and your Lord does not
wrong anyone.
-Surah al-Kahf, Verse 49

Testimony of Limbs
The evil will deny what is in their Books
and will to lie and protest. They will argue
and even swear that they never
committed the sins recorded in their
Book. Allah will then cause their limbs to
speak. Their tongues will be made silent
and instead, their hands and legs will
speak:



On the day when witness shall be given
against them by their tongues, their
hands, and their feet concerning what
they used to do.
- Surah Nur, Verse 24

Today We shall seal their mouths, and
their hands shall speak to Us, and their
feet shall bear witness concerning what
they used to earn.
- Surah Yasin, Verse 65

Many other things will bear witness as

well. The places where a person did
something good or bad will bear witness.
The days and nights will bear witness.
The earth will bear witness, the Quran
will bear witness who read it and who did
not, the Masaajid will bear witness who
prayed in them and who did not, and so
on. In other words, in the Hereafter,
everything will be alive and able to
speak.

The Weighing Scales of Deeds (alMizaan)

Every persons actions good or bad
will be weighed. How heavy a persons
deeds are will depend not only on his or
her actions but also on the persons
understanding and the intention behind
the actions.
For example, if a person prayed only
because it was a habit and not really out
of love for Allah, their intention was weak
so their Salaah will be very light. And if a
person is learned in religion and prayed
2 Rakahs, his or her Salaah might be
heavier (i.e. have more spiritual merit)
than a person who prayed 100 Rakahs,
but was ignorant. The weight of each
salawaat you recite for Rasulullah (S) and
his Ahlul Bayt (A) will be very heavy. The
more you recite it in this world, the
happier you will be on the Day your
deeds are weighed.

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45

We shall set up the scales of justice on

the Day of Resurrection, and no soul will
be wronged in the least. Even if it be the
weight of a mustard seed We shall
produce it and We suffice as accounters.
- Surah al-Anbiya, Verses 47

the faithless, the Siraat will be thinner

than hair, sharper than a swords blade,
and hotter than fire. But those who are
pious will cross it like a flash of lightning.
For some, it will be made very wide and
spacious. Others will slip and crawl but
make it to Jannah eventually after many,
many years, while the evil will slip and fall
down into Hell.

The weighing [of deeds] on that Day is a

truth. As for those whose deeds weigh
heavy in the scales - it is they who are
the successful. As for those whose
deeds weigh light in the scales - it is they
who have ruined their souls, because
they used to wrong Our signs.
- Surah al-Araf, Verses 8-9

There is none of you but will come to it: a

[matter that is a] decided certainty with
your Lord. Then We will deliver those
who are Godwary, and leave the
wrongdoers in it, fallen on their knees.
- Surah Maryam, Verses 71-72

.



Then those whose deeds weigh heavy in
the scalesit is they who are the
successful. As for those whose deeds
weigh light in the scalesthey will be the
ones who have ruined their souls, [and]
they will remain in hell [forever].
- Surah al-Mominoon, Verses 102-3
The Bridge (as-Siraat)
Every person will then be told to try and
get to Jannah by crossing over a bridge
(Siraat). The Siraat is a very long bridge
from Mahshar all the way to the gates of
Jannah (Paradise), but it passes over
Hellfire. Anyone who slips and falls off
the Bridge (Siraat) falls straight down into
Hellfire. Some narrations tell us that for

In some narrations, we are told that the

Siraat will have many stations. Each
station will be a place for one of the
duties of Islam. For example, when a
person reaches the Station of Salaah,
they will be questioned about it. If they
used to take their Salaah lightly, they will
be punished. Those who pass through all
the Stations will pass thanks to the Mercy
of Allah, the intercession (shafaah) of
Rasulullah (S) and his Ahlul Bayt (A).


[But first] stop them! For they must be
questioned.
- Surah as-Saffat, 37:24
Rasulullah (S) said to Imam Ali (A), O
Ali! On the Day of Resurrection, I, you,
and Jibrail shall sit on the Siraat, and
none shall pass over the Siraat except
one who is freed from Jahannam
because of your love.
54
46

That is why in some hadiths, Imam Ali (A)

is called Siraat al-Mustaqim (the Straight
Path). The Masoomeen (A) are called
Siraat in this world because they are
like a bridge that connects us to Allah. It
is perfectly right to call them the Paths of
Allah. Those who hold on to the Quran
and the Ahlul Bayt (A) in this world will
cross the Siraat safely on the Day of
Judgment. Rasulullah (S) promised us
before leaving this world in a hadith that
is known as Hadith at-Thaqalayn:
I leave behind two important things
(thaqalayn): the Book of Allah and my
family, my Ahlul Bayt. If you hold on to
them, you will never go astray after me
and these two will never separate until
they return to me at the Fountain of
Kawthar.
Imam Ali (A) said, Know that you have
to pass over the pathway (of Siraat)
where steps waver, feet slip away and
there are fearful dangers at every step.

Jahannam is that his or her face will be

gloomy and unhappy:

.

.

. .
That day some faces will be bright,
laughing and joyous. And some faces on
that day will be covered with dust,
overcast with gloom. It is they who are
the faithless, the vicious.
- Surah Abasa, Verses 38-42

The faithful will keep running towards the

direction of Jannah with their faith
lighting the way for them while the
faithless will keep stumbling and falling
into Hellfire. They will try to hold on to the
faithful but will not succeed:






.

The Final Destination

As the Day of Judgment progresses, the
good will separate from the evil and
become different communities.

And Get apart today, you guilty ones!
- Surah Yasin, Verse 59

One of the signs that someone is

heading to Jannah is that his or her face
will be bright and happy while one of the
signs of one who is destined for

.





You will see the faithful, men and women, with
their light moving swiftly before them and on their
right, [and greeted with the words:] There is
good news for you today! Gardens with streams
running in them, to remain in them [forever]. That
is the great success. The day the hypocrites,
men and women, will say to the faithful, Please
wait for us, that we may take something from
your light! They will be told: Go back and
grope for light! Then there will be set up
between them a wall with a gate, with mercy on
55
47

its interior and punishment toward its exterior.

They will call out to them, Did we not use to be
with you? They will say, Yes! But you gave
yourselves into temptation, and you awaited and
were doubtful, and [false] hopes deceived you
until the command of Allah (i.e. death) arrived,
and the Deceiver deceived you concerning
Allah.
- Surah al-Hadid, Verses 12-14
The faithful will finally make it to Jannah.
They will be delighted to arrive there
knowing that now they shall live there
forever and never experience any fear or
grief. The angels will welcome them:





.



The Gardens of Eden, which they will
enter along with whoever is good from
among their ancestors, their spouses,
and their descendants, and the angels
will call on them from every door: Peace
be to you, for your patience. How
excellent is the reward of the [ultimate]
abode!
- Surah ar-Rad, Verses 23-24
And they shall begin experiencing
rewards and pleasures beyond their
imagination:





No one knows what has been kept
hidden for them of comfort, as a reward
for what they used to do.
- Surah as-Sajdah, Verse 17

Some Islamic scholars say the difference

between this world and the Hereafter is like the
difference between our previous world when
we were in the wombs of our mother and this
world. A fetus in the womb of its mother lives in a
small, dark, cramped place. Even if you could
talk to it, there is no way it could imagine light or
the colour of the vast oceans and tall mountains;
a flower or a fruit; what it means to see or walk ;
or see the movements of the sun and the moon.
In the same way, we can only imagine Paradise
and Hell based on our limited language and
experience in this world but the Hereafter is very,
very different and beyond our imagination.

Those who end in Hell will be scared and

unhappy to be there. The Angel in
charge of Hell will ask them:
.

.





.
.


.





For those who defy their Lord is the punishment
of hell, and it is a bad destination. When they are
thrown in it, they hear it blaring, as it seethes,
almost exploding with rage. Whenever a group is
thrown in it, its keepers will ask them, Did there
not come to you any warner? They will say, Yes,
a warner did come to us, but we called it a lie
and said, Allah did not send down anything; you
are only in great error. And they will say, Had
we listened or applied reason, we would not
have been among the inmates of the Blaze.
Thus they will admit their sin. So away with the
inmates of the Blaze!
- Surah al-Mulk, Verses 6-11
56
48

And later on when the People of Hell will

be asked how come they ended up
there:
.
.


.

.


.
What drew you into Hell? They will
answer, We were not among those who
prayed. Nor did we feed the poor. We
used to gossip along with the gossipers,
and we used to deny the Day of
Judgment, until death came to us.
- Surah al-Mudaththir, Verses 42-47
Sins stick to a persons soul and make it
dirty and rusty. Many people who end up
in Hell will eventually be purified and
cleansed. They will come out of Hell and
be brought to Paradise. Only the very evil
people will remain there forever out of
their own choice because they will refuse
to be purified.

Only if you could see them standing in
front of the fire and saying: "Oh, only if
we could go back to the world, we would
not deny the signs of our Lord and we
would be among the believers."
But what they hid before [is now
apparent.] And even if they were to go
back, they would would go back to what
was forbidden [and repeat all of which
they used to do before]; but verily they
are liars.
Surah al-Anam, Verses 27-28

.
.





.







The faithless will be driven to hell in throngs.
When they reach it, and its gates are opened, its
keepers will say to them, Did there not come to
you [any] messengers from among yourselves,
reciting to you the signs of your Lord and
warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?
They will say, Yes, but the word of punishment
became due against the faithless. It will be said,
Enter the gates of hell to remain in it [forever].
Evil is the [ultimate] abode of the arrogant.
Those who are wary of their Lord will be led to
paradise in throngs. When they reach it, and its
gates are opened, its keepers will say to them,
Peace be to you! You are welcome! Enter it to
remain [forever]. They will say, All praise
belongs to Allah, who has fulfilled His promise to
us and made us heirs to the earth, that we may
settle in paradise wherever we may wish! How
excellent is the reward of the workers [of
righteousness]!
- Surah az-Zumar, Verses 71-74

57
49

WORKSHEET 5.1
Qiyaamah
Answer the following questions in complete sentences using your own words.
1. On the Day of Judgment, who will be The Distributor of Paradise and Hellfire? Who will be the
first person to enter Paradise?

2. What is the Book of Deeds? What is the significance of receiving your book in your right or left
hand?

3. Give an example of three things that might testify against you on the Day of Judgment. What
might they say?

4. What can you do to ensure that the right side of your Mizaan is heavy?

5. What is one thing that will help us cross the Siraat quickly? What is our path to Allah in this
world?

6. Pick one verse of the Quran in this lesson that really stuck out to you. Write your thoughts about
it.

58
50

PART II: FIQH

lix

PART II: FIQH

Chapter 1:Ritual Purity.............................................................................................................................1
Lesson 1: Najaasah ...........................................................................................................................2
Worksheet 1.1.....................................................................................................................................5
Lesson 2: Mutahhiraat........................................................................................................................6
Worksheet 1.2.....................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: Tayammum...............................................................................................................................9
Reading: Tayammum........................................................................................................................10
How to Perform Tayammum...........................................................................................................13
Worksheet 2.1................................................................................................................................14
Worksheet 2.2................................................................................................................................17
Chapter 3: Ghusl......................................................................................................................................19
Reading: Ghusl................................................................................................................................20
Worksheet 3.1..................................................................................................................................22
Chapter 4: Salaah: The Kabah is Our Qiblah.......................................................................................23
Reading: Qiblah...............................................................................................................................24
Worksheet 4.1..................................................................................................................................26
Chapter 5: Salaah....................................................................................................................................28
Revision of Steps and Meaning of Salaah.......................................................................................29
Worksheet 5.1..................................................................................................................................36
The Wajibaats of Salaah..................................................................................................................37
Worksheet 5.2..................................................................................................................................39
Tashahhud, Salaam, Takbeer, Muwalaat.........................................................................................40
Worksheet 5.3..................................................................................................................................42
Qunoot and Taqibaat.......................................................................................................................44
Worksheet 5.4..................................................................................................................................45
Reading: Clothing for Salaah...........................................................................................................47
Worksheet 5.5..................................................................................................................................49
Reading: The Place for Salaah........................................................................................................51
Worksheet 5.6..................................................................................................................................52
Reading: The Mubtilaat of Salaah....................................................................................................54

Worksheet 5.7..................................................................................................................................56
Shakiyaat as-Salaah........................................................................................................................58
Worksheet 5.8..............................................................................................................................60
Worksheet 5.9..............................................................................................................................61
Shakiyaat as-Salaah Part II.........................................................................................................63
Sajdah as-Sahw...........................................................................................................................64
Worksheet 5.10............................................................................................................................65
Reading: Salaatul Ayaat...............................................................................................................66
Worksheet 5.11............................................................................................................................69
Chapter 6: Sawm.................................................................................................................................71
The Month of Ramadhaan and its Signicance.............................................................................72
Worksheet 6.1.............................................................................................................................75
Fasting and its Benets...............................................................................................................77
Worksheet 6.2.............................................................................................................................79
People Exempted from Fasting...................................................................................................81
Worksheet 6.3.............................................................................................................................83
Chapter 7: Hajj.....................................................................................................................................85
Reading: Hajj..............................................................................................................................86
Hajj Dictionary............................................................................................................................91
Locations on Map.......................................................................................................................93
Hajj Guide..................................................................................................................................94
Worksheet 7.1............................................................................................................................95
Chapter 8: A Closer Look at the Rest of the Furoo ad-Deen...........................................................98
Lesson 1: Khums.......................................................................................................................99
Worksheet 8.1..........................................................................................................................101
Lesson 2: Jihad........................................................................................................................102
Worksheet 8.2..........................................................................................................................104
Lesson 3: Amr bil Maroof/Nahi Anil Munkar............................................................................105
Worksheet 8.3..........................................................................................................................107
Lesson 4: Tawalli......................................................................................................................108
Worksheet 8.4..........................................................................................................................111

Lesson 5: Tabarri......................................................................................................................112
Worksheet 8.5..........................................................................................................................114
Chapter 9: Ijtihaad & Taqleed............................................................................................................115
Ijtihaad & Taqleed Part I...........................................................................................................116
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................118
Ijtihaad & Taqleed Part II..........................................................................................................120
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................122
Ijtihaad & Taqleed Part I...........................................................................................................124
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................125
Chapter 10: Halaal and Haraam Food & Drink................................................................................127
Reading: Halaal & Haraam Food.............................................................................................128
Worksheet 10.1........................................................................................................................132
Reading: Alcohol......................................................................................................................134
Worksheet 9.1..........................................................................................................................135
Chapter 11: Hijab...............................................................................................................................136
Reading: Hijab.........................................................................................................................137
Worksheet 11.1........................................................................................................................141

RITUAL PURITY
1

LESSON 1: NAJAASAH
VOCABULARY

In this lesson, students will learn more about Najaasah.

NAJAASAH
MUTAHHIRAAT
NAJIS
TAAHIR
AYN NAJIS

SAY: Who can tell me what the word Najaasah means?

MUTLAQ
MUDHAAF
KURR
INQILAAB
INTIQAAL
ISTAHAALA
TABBAYYA
GHAIYBATUL MUSLIM

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS AN

AC R O N Y M F O R 4 TA S KS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE READING
OR FROM A TEAC HERS
LECTURE
K: KNOWLEDGE-SHOW WHAT
YOU NOW KNOW ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THROUGH A PROJECT
OR PRESENTATION

READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Wait for answers.

SAY: Good. Najaasah means ritual impurity. When something is Najis, or impure, it
has to be washed a certain way in order for it to become Taahir. We are going to
learn more about Najaasah today, but first we will do LINK to see how much you
know about this topic.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes
to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Najaasah or
have them research answers on the web or by conduct interviews with
knowledgeable members of the community This teaches them the responsibility
of researching answers for themselves instead of someone always spoon feeding
the answers to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them
in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should turn to the READING
page for this section on the subject of Najaasah, located in the Task Bar.
They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the reading.
You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to
each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Then, ask the following questions to gauge for understanding.
SAY:
Why must we abide by the laws of Tahaarah and Najaasah?
What is the difference between dirty and impure?
What does Ayn Najis mean?
What are some things that are Ayn Najis?
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know by making a poster and presenting it. They can also complete the
WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

T92

NAJAASAH
Many Muslims think that there must always be a
scientific reason behind every law in Islam.
Perhaps some laws in Islam may be justified
through some recent worldly reason or science,
but there are many rules that we are not aware of
the benefits of or they may be purely spiritual in
nature, and these spiritual reasons are plenty.

your state of Wudhu, prayer or make what you

are consuming impermissible. Sometimes things
that we think are dirty (like dirt) are not
necessarily Najis, in fact they may be things
which take out Najaasah. Other things that we
consider clean may be ritually impure (e.g. a
clean dog, etc.)

Allah created us so we can live our lives in

obedience to Him, because through obedience
of Him we can reach perfection and the highest
levels of heaven. He is our Creator and He
knows what is good and bad for us.

There are 10 main things that are NAJIS in

Islamic law. Some of them are:

Remember, Islam means submission, which

means that we submit our hearts to Allah. In the
21st century, the idea of submission may seem
odd and strange, but Muslims do agree with this.
Muslims believe submission is only to Allah, for
He is our Creator. Why not submit our hearts to
the Infinitely Compassionate and Merciful Allah
who is All-Knowing and All-Wise? By submitting
to Allah, we grow closer and strengthen our
bond with Him.
The rules of Tahaarah and Najaasah are rules
that not only directly affect the health of our
souls, but they also test and strengthen our
obedience to Allah, giving us an opportunity to
grow ever closer to Him.
Acts of worship like prayer and fasting are
spiritual acts. This means that it is not just the
body that is involved, but more importantly, the
soul. The body and soul always work together.
A spiritually impure thing is called Najis. Najis
does not necessarily mean dirty, it means ritually
impure. A ritual is a special act of worship you
perform in order to please Allah like prayer or
Wudhu. A ritually impure thing is what may void

Urine
Stool
Blood
Animal Carcass
Dogs
Pigs
Kaafirs
Alcohol
All the above things are called Ayn Najis, or
originally Najis. For example, sugar is originally
sweet. Tea can only be called sweet if sugar is
added to it. Tea, therefore, is not originally sweet,
but is sweetened by adding sugar.
Similarly, blood is Ayn Najis, and milk is
originally Taahir, or pure. If a drop of blood falls
into a glass of milk, the milk will become Najis
because of the blood, which is Ayn Najis.
1 & 2. URINE AND STOOL
The urine and stool of humans and some animals
is Najis. The stool of animals like birds, on the
other hand, is not Najis.
Urine and stool are some things that are both
dirty and Najis at the same time. It is important to
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52

put due care in cleaning oneself with water after

one has released urine and/or stool. Areas that
have been touched by urine must be cleaned
with water. With stool, it is highly recommended
that it also be cleaned with water, but often
enough, it is difficult to acquire water to clean
oneself in public bathrooms in the West. One
practical tip is to carry a small bottle with oneself
and fill it up with water at the sink.
3. BLOOD
The blood that comes out with a gush (i.e.
sprays out when there is a deep and sudden cut
to the flesh) of all living things is Najis,
regardless of whether their meat is halaal or
haraam.
However, the remaining blood of animals whose
meat is Halaal is Taahir if they have been
slaughtered according to the standards of
Islamic law. There are a number of conditions
that need to be met in order for the meat to be
considered halaal. One of the principle
conditions is that the animals throat must be slit
and the blood must be drained out. This may
sound horrible at first glance, but it is far less
painful than how some non-Muslims slaughter
their meat in the West. Non-Muslim ways of
slaughtering animals often involves electrocution
which is much more painful then a slit throat.
3. ANIMAL CARCASS
All animals whose blood gushes out are Najis
when they die without being slaughtered
Islamically. If you find a dead cow in the streets,
this animal will be Najis.
4. DOGS AND PIGS

All dogs and pigs are Najis. Their hair, nails,

teeth, bones and sweat are also Najis. It is not
permissible to own dogs in Islam. The only
exceptions are hunting dogs and dogs used for
security purposes. This does not mean that dogs
are bad, for Imam Ali (A) once praised the
virtues of dogs, particularly how smart and
friendly they can be. We are not to have them in
our homes since their presence can make our
homes Najis. Cats, however, are not Najis, and
as such, we are allowed to have them in our
homes. However, we must be careful not to let
their hair on us, for we cannot pray with cat hair
on us. Ayaatullah Sistani seems to be one of the
few exceptions in which he says that cat hair
does not make our Salaah Baatil. This does not
mean that praying with cat hair is alright, for
Ayaatullah Sistani still says that it is Makrooh.
5. KAAFIRS
In Islamic law, a Kaafir (or more precisely, Kaafir
Fiqhi) is a person who is not a Muslim. This is
different from the Kaafir that the Quran speaks
about, who is someone who knows the truth of
Islam but decides to reject it; or rejects God and
is ungrateful to Him because of his or her inner
malice. The meaning of Kaafir in Islamic law is
more general, but in the Quran its meaning is
much more specific. Regardless, certain kinds of
Kaafirs are Najis. This means that their hair, nails,
teeth, bones and sweat are also Najis. We say
certain kinds of Kaafirs are Najis, as some are
considered Taahir. Most Marjas, like Ayaatullah
Khamenei and Ayaatullah Sistani, believe that
Ahlul Kitaab, who are Jews and Christians, are
Taahir even though they are Kaafir Fiqhi.
Nonetheless, regardless of the kind of Kaafir a
person is, it is important that we still respect and
show kindness to them as they are still beloved
34
53

creations of Allah. As Imam Ali (A) said, There

are two kinds of people in this world: they are
either your brothers and sisters in Islam or your
equals in humanity. Even if the person is not a
Muslim, never think that you are higher than
them, they might convert one day, or due to their
circumstances, they might be forgiven by Allah
on the Day of Judgment whereas you may not!
6. ALCOHOL
All kinds of alcoholic drinks are Najis. Most
Marjas believe that industrial alcohol is Taahir.
Industrial alcohol is the kind of alcohol that is
used in rubbing alcohol, which is generally not fit
for drinking.

45
54

WORKSHEET 1.1
Najaasah
1. Noor goes over to her friend Wendys house. Wendy and her family are Atheists. Wendys mom
cooks lunch for them. Can Noor eat this food? Why or why not?

2. Mahdi is eating delicious fried chicken that his mom made. When he cuts a piece, he notices some
red blood. Is his chicken Najis? Why or why not?

3. Hasnain shakes his friend Matts hand. His hand is a little bit wet. Matt and his family are
Christians. Is his hand now Najis? Why or why not?

4. Zahra and her friends go out to a pizza place. They order a half vegetarian and half pepperoni
pizza. Is the pizza taahir? Can she eat it? Why or why not?

5. When Sarah went over to her friends house, her friends dog licked her face and hijab. It is now
time for Salaah. Can Sarah offer her Salaah? Why or why not?

56
55

LESSON 2: MUTAHHIRAAT
TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn about the Mutahhiraat.

SAY: Who can remind me what Najis means?

READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Wait for answers.

SAY: Good. Something that is Najis is ritually impure. How do we make a Najis
thing Taahir?
Wait for answers.
SAY: In order to make a Najis thing Taahir, we must use one of the Mutahhiraat?
Does anyone know what the Mutahhiraat are?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good, a Mutahhiraat are purifying agents that turn Najis things Taahir. Can
you think of any examples?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. We will learn about the different Mutahhiraat today.
At this time, students should turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar. Then,
ask the following questions to gauge for understanding.
SAY:
What are the 9 different Mutahhiraat?
What is the difference between Mudhaaf and Mutlaq water?
If you step on dog droppings, how can you make the sole of your shoes Taahir?
How can Islam make someone Taahir?
Students can then complete the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

7
T10

MUTAHHIRAAT
One day, a group of women came complaining
to Prophet Muhammad (S) that whenever they
walked to the Masjid, they had to walk by a
sewer, which made their shoes Najis. The
Prophet replied that was no problem, since the
earth was a purifier. Once they stepped out of
the sewer and walked on earth (with certain
conditions), the earth and its dust would make
their clothes Taahir again.
When our body is dirty, we use soap and
shampoo to clean it. Acts of worship, which are
spiritual in nature, are meetings we have with
Allah. It is therefore necessary that we stay clean
from ritually impure things. Ritual impurity is what
we call najaasah. Just like soaps clean away
physical impurities, the Mutahhiraat cleans away
spiritual impurities.

1. WATER
There are two kinds of water: Mutlaq and
Mudhaf. Mutlaq water is pure water that has not
changed in color, taste, or smell and can make a
Najis thing Taahir. Examples of this are tap water,
well water, and rain water.
Mudhaaf water, or mixed water, cannot make a
Najis thing Taahir and becomes Najis when it
comes in contact with najaasah. Examples are
muddy water, tea, lemonade, etc.
An interesting fact to note is that still water that
has not changed in color, taste, or smell is
considered mutlaq. However, it can become
Najis if it is less than kurr and comes into contact
with najaasah.
What is a kurr?

The Mutahhiraat are things that can make Najis

objects Taahir. The first 9 are:
Water

Kurr is 384 liters of water where the volume of

water is 27x 27x 27, around 1.5 standard
bathtub. Anything less than kurr is called qaleel.

Earth

2. EARTH

Sun

Inqilaab

While you are walking, if the soles of your shoe or

feet for example become Najis by coming into
contact with something Najis from the earth, then
it can be made Taahir by walking on some dry
and clean earth until the najaasah comes off. For
example, if anyone were to walk in the park, or
on the dirt, or on sand for 15 steps after the
najasah came off, their shoes would become
Taahir.

Intiqaal

3. SUN

Islam
Tabaiyyah
Ghaibatul Muslim
Istahala

This makes those things clean that cannot be

moved, such as a wall, tree, earth, door, window,
etc. When the najaasah on such things is

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56

removed and the spot where the najaasah was

was is dried up by the sun, it will become Taahir.
4. ISLAM
When a non-Muslim believes in the oneness of
Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (S),
then he/she becomes Taahir.

into a pool of mud and then the mud is then

cooked and turned into brick, then the brick will
be Taahir, as the pig will not be considered a pig
anymore, but a brick instead. The change from
pig into brick is a change in substance. As such,
istihaala is a matter of social perception and not
always a scientific process like those we find in
chemical changes.

5. TABAIYYAH
8. INQILAAB
This is when a Najis thing becomes Taahir as a
result of another thing becoming Taahir.

Examples: When a Kaafir becomes a Muslim, his

non-baaligh children also become Taahir.
Another example is wine. When grape juice is
boiled to a point where it becomes wine, the
container it was boiled in becomes Najis.
However, if the wine is boiled down even further
where it turns into vinegar, which is Taahir, then
the container becomes Taahir again.

This is similar to Istahala, where the outside

shape and form partially changes. In other
words, it does not change entirely to the point
where you can say it is a completely different
thing like you find in Istihaala. For example,
Inqilaab occurs when wine turns into vinegar
(due to evaporation of 2/3 of its contents), but
vinegar (like red wine vinegar for example) is still
not considered an entirely new substance, for
vinegar is just wine with its alcohol having been
cooked out after boiling.

6. GHAIBATUL MUSLIM

9. INTIQAAL

This is when a Muslim who is a strict follower of

Shariah (Islamic law) gets his or her clothes
Najis and goes out of your sight long enough for
him or her to be able to have cleansed
themselves. If s/he comes back with the same
clothes again, you must believe s/he has
cleaned those clothes.

It means to change place. When a najaasah is

put into contact with a Taahir thing, the najaasah
also becomes Taahir. For example, when a
mosquito sucks the blood of a human being,
after a gap of time, when the blood becomes the
mosquitos blood, it becomes clean.

7. ISTAHAALA (Change in Substance)

This is when a Najis thing changes to the extent
that it is not considered to be the same
substance or thing anymore. A change in
substance is when people do not consider a
particular object to be the same thing as its
original state. When this happens, the object
becomes Taahir. For example, if a dead pig falls
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57

WORKSHEET 1.2
Mutahhiraat
1. Laila is swimming in her swimming pool. She cuts her hand and it starts bleeding in the pool. Is the
water in the pool Najis? Why or why not?

2. When Priya was in second grade, her parents decided to convert from Hinduism to Islam. As a
result, she became Taahir. This is an example of which Mutahhiraat?

3. Ali and Hasan were playing outside in their neighborhood when their neighbors dog came up to
them and licked Alis shirt. They both went home to eat dinner. After an hour, Ali went over to
Hasans house and was wearing the same shirt. It was time for Salaah. Should Hasan tell Ali that
his shirt is Najis? Why or why not?

4. Jannah is drinking a glass of water when her tooth falls out. Blood falls into her water. Is the glass
of water Najis? Why or why not?

5. Can Kadhim use water from his swimming pool to make his hand Taahir? Why or why not?

810

TAYAMMUM
9

TAYAMMUM
VOCABULARY
TAYAMMUM

In this lesson, students will learn more about Tayammum.

SAY: Does anyone know what Tayammum is?
Wait and listen for answers.

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

READING

S T U D E N T S C A N F O L LOW
ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHER
BY TURNING TO THE
T AYA M M U M R E A D I N G
PAGE.

WORKSHEET

SAY: Good. Tayammum is one way of ritual purification. We will do an activity

called LINK to see how much you already know about the Tayammum.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes to
do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper, so that you can re-visit their questions after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about the Tayammum
or have them research answers on the web or conduct interviews with
knowledgeable members of the community. This teaches them the responsibility
of researching answers for themselves instead of always having them spoon fed to
them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them in future
grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of the Tayammum located in the
Task Bar. They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the
reading. You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they
can read to each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches
others about the Tayammum. If time permits, have students may present to each
other or to younger children.
Students can then do the WORKSHEET, ART EXTENSION and DEMO Activities
located in the Task Bar.

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

DEMO

BRING IN A BOX OF SAND

OR SOIL. HAVE STUDENTS
COME UP IN PAIRS AND
TAKE TURNS PRACTICING
HOW
TO
MAKE
TAYAMMUM.

T11

TAYAMMUM
Wudhu is obligatory before Salaah. So
what does one do if one is not able to do
Wudhu? One can perform a ritual
cleansing known as Tayammum
When to do Tayammum?
Tayammum is a substitute for Wudhu or
Ghusl. In todays lesson, you will learn
about the circumstances in which you can
do Tayammum. Tayammum can be done
in the following seven situations:
1. When you cannot get enough water for
Wudhu or Ghusl:
If there is enough time for
performing Salaah, then you should
wait and pray after you find water. If
you do not find water and the time of
Salaah is running out, then you must
pray with Tayammum.
If you know that water is not
available, then it is not Wajib to
search for it.
But if there is a possibility of finding
water, then it is Wajib to search for it.

2.

When water is available, but difficult to

r e a c h :

It does not make any difference

whether this difficulty is physical or
otherwise. Therefore, if reaching for
water involves danger of life,
reputation, or property, then one
should do Tayammum.

3. When use of water is harmful to ones

h e a l t h o r l i f e :

If you fear that using water might make

you sick or harm your health, then you
should do Tayammum. However, if
using warm water is harmless, then
Tayammum is not allowed.
4. When water is available, but one is
afraid that by using that water he/she
will be involved in hardship because of
t h i r s t :

If you fear that you, your companions, or

your pets are in danger of thirst, then
you should do Tayammum instead of
Wudhu or Ghusl.
5. When the time of Salaah is so short that if one
starts doing Wudhu or Ghusl, their Salaah will
become qadha whereas by doing
Tayammum they will be able to say their
S a l a a h i n t i m e :

In such a case, one should always do

Tayammum. Remember that praying on time
is very important.

6. When water is not enough to do Wudhu

or Ghusl as well as purifying the
najasah on ones body or cloth:

When the body or the only available

clothes you have are Najis and you find
that if you use the water for Wudhu or
Ghusl, there will be no water to purify
your body or clothes, then you should
13
10

would make his or her niyyah without

specifying what he or she is doing his or
her Tayammum for. In other words, he or
she does not have to say that he or she is
doing Tayammum as a substitute for
Wudhu.

first purify your body or clothes with the

water that is available, and then do
Tayammum instead of Wudhu or Ghusl.
7. When use of water depends on haraam
a c t s :

If using water involves anything haraam,

then one should do Tayammum. For
example, using water without the
owners permission would make it
haraam to use, so you would have to do
Tayammum.
The Conditions of Tayammum

Now suppose the other person has to do

Tayammum as a substitute for Ghusl of
mass al-mayyit (touching a dead body
when it becomes cold) as well as a
Tayammum for Wudhu. In this case, in his
or her first Tayammum, he or she would
specify in his or her niyyah that he or she
is doing it as a substitute for Ghusl mass
al-mayyit and in his or her second
Tayammum; he or she would specify that
he or she is doing it for Wudhu.

Tayammum is the substitute for Wudhu or

Ghusl when a person finds himself in one
of the seven situations discussed above.
There are, however, five conditions which
must be fulfilled in order to make the
Tayammum correct:

2. Tarteeb (order):

1. Niyyah (intention):

All the acts of Tayammum must be done in

the correct order: first striking the palms
on the earth; then wiping the forehead, the
back of the right hand, and the back of the
left hand; and then striking the palms
again and wiping the hands again.

If a person has to do only one Tayammum,

then it is not necessary for that person to
specify whether the Tayammum is a
substitute for Wudhu or Ghusl. But if a
person has to do more than one
Tayammum, then that person has to
specify in the niyyah for each Tayammum
whether it is a substitute for Wudhu or for
G h u s l .

For example, suppose a person creates

their own way of doing Tayammum such
that he or she strikes his or her palms on
the earth, and then wipes the back of the
hands, and then the forehead. In this
case, his Tayammum will be void.
3. Muwaalaat (continuity):

For example, suppose two people are in a

desert where there is no water, and the
time for prayers is coming to an end.

The acts of Tayammum must follow one

another right away. There should not be a
very long gap between one part and the
n e x t .

If one person just has to do Tayammum as

a substitute for Wudhu, then he or she

14
11

For example, suppose a person is doing

Tayammum and before he or she is
finished, he or she is interrupted by
another person for quite a long time. In
this case, the person cannot continue with
his or her Tayammum; and has to start all
over again.

or her own hands on the earth and then

wipe your forehead and both hands.
Things on which Tayammum is Allowed
(In Order of Preference)
1. Earth
2. Dry mud
3. Stone

4. Taharah:

4. Dust that has settled (like on a carpet)

The parts of body on which Tayammum is

done must be free from any Najis element
(e.g., blood) and must also be exposed
there should be no cover on them.

For example, suppose a man has some

blood on his forehead. Since blood is
Najis and since Tayammum is done on the
forehead, then if the person does
Tayammum, his Tayammum will be void.

For example, suppose a man has a ring

on his finger, or a woman has nail polish
on her nail. Since Tayammum is done on
the hands, then if that man or woman does
Tayammum without removing the ring or
nail polish, then their Tayammum will be
void.

5. Performing it yourself or with a helper:

Under normal circumstances, it is
necessary to do Tayammum by yourself.
But in case of a disability, someone else
may help. In this case, the helper should
take your hands and strike them on the
earth and do the Tayammum. If this is not
possible, then the helper should strike his

15
12

REVIEW: HOW TO PERFORM TAYAMMUM

1. Strike palms of both hands together
upon things on which Tayammum is
correct. Just putting the hands upon
earth etc. is not enough.

2. Pull both palms together from the

beginning of the forehead down to the
point of the nose. Both sides of
the forehead joining the ears
should be included.

3. Then pull the left palm upon the back

of the right hand from the wrist bone
up to the fingertips.

4. Then pull the right palm on the back of

the left hand likewise.
Mustahab Actions:
5. Strike the palms together upon earth
etc. second time.

6. Pull the left palm on the back of the

right hand, and do exactly the same
as you did in step 3.

7. Pull the right palm on the back of the

left hand, and do exactly the same as
you did in step 4.

13

WORKSHEET 2.1
Tayammum
Short Answer Questions:
1. If Husain is in a flat and plain desert and he does not have any water to perform Wudhu with and
he does not know whether or not he can find any water or if there is still enough time for performing
Salaah, then what should he do?

2. Jafar lives in the jungle, and he does not have any water to perform Wudhu with, and he knows that
there is a river in the middle of the jungle but there are also lots of wild animals in the jungle. What
should Jafar do? Why?

3. If Ismat is sick and knows that using water will make her more sick but using warm water will not
affect her, then what should she do if she wants to pray Salaah

4. If Muhammad, Rameez, and Ali, are in the middle of the desert, and there doesnt seem to be any
water around for them to drink from except some water left in Alis water-bottle, should he use the
water to perform Wudhu or should he keep it just in case they get very thirsty?

17
14

5. Suppose there is ten minutes left before the time Fajr Salaah gets qadha, and suppose it
takes Maryam 5 minutes to offer the two Rakahs for the Salaah of Fajr. If it takes Maryam 2
minutes to do Wudhu and only 1 minute to do Tayammum, what should she do?

6. Suppose Haider goes on a camping trip where his shirt somehow gets Najis. Suppose he
only has one shirt and only enough water to make the shirt Taahir. Should he use the water to
make the shirt Taahir or should he use the water to perform Wudhu?

7. If there is enough time for Batul to do Wudhu and although she doesnt have any water on
her, she finds a tap in someones backyard, should she use the tap to do Wudhu even though
she hasnt asked the owners permission?

18
15

Fill in the blanks:

1.

If searching for water to do Wudhu or Ghusl involves danger of

or

2.

, then one should do Tayammum.

If there is a possibility of finding water, then it is

to search for it.

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16

WORKSHEET 2.2
Conditions of Tayammum
1. Suppose Muhammad was in the desert where he saw a dead man. Accidentally Muhammad
touched the cold body of the man before he was given Ghusl, which means that he had to do
Ghusl mass al-mayyit. Now suppose Muhammad did not have any water on him and the time for
Salaah was ending. Muhammad decides to do Tayammum. How many Tayammums does
Muhammad have to do and what should he say in his niyyah for each Tayammum?

2. Suppose Haseena did Tayammum in such a way that after her niyyah, she struck her palms on the
earth, then wiped her forehead, her right hand, and then her left hand, and then struck her palms
on the earth again and wiped her hands again. In this case, is Haseenas Tayammum valid?

3. What should be done for a person who cannot do Tayammum by himself?

4. Explain what is meant by tarteeb in Tayammum.

5. Explain what is meant by muwaalaat in Tayammum.

20
17

6. Write down the steps of doing Tayammum below.

7. Suppose Ismat does Tayammum with earrings on. Is her Tayammum valid?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Only if she makes sure she rubs her hands on her ears also
d) None of the above
8. Suppose Sylvia was doing Tayammum and before she had finished, Batul interrupted her. They
talked about school for around 10 minutes. In this case, can Sylvia continue her Tayammum or does
she have to start all over again?
a) Sylvia can continue her Tayammum
b) She has to start all over again
c) She has to do Wudhu now
d) None of the above

9. We are allowed to do Tayammum on the sand

a) True

b)

False

10. Here are some things on which Tayammum is allowed:

a) Earth, sand, stone, dust that has settled
b) Marble, plastic, diamonds, gold
c) Snow, ice, wet sand, melted ice
d)

Both a) and c)

e)

Both b) and c)
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18

GHUSL
19

GHUSL
VOCABULARY
ABLUTION
GHUSL
GHUSL TARTEEBI
GHUSL IRTIMAASI

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn how to do Ghusl.

SAY: Does anyone know what an Ablution is?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Ablution means to wash oneself for a religious ritual. In Islam we have two
ablutions: one major and the other minor. The minor ablution is called Wudhu,
which we discussed earlier on. The major ablution is called Ghusl, and we will be
learning about that today
At this time, students can turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar, and then
complete the WORKSHEET.

READING

S T U D E N T S C A N F O L LOW
ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHER
BY TURNING TO THE GHUSL
READING PAGE.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

T12

READING: GHUSL
Ablution means to wash oneself for a religious
ritual. In Islam we have two ablutions: one major
and one minor. The minor ablution is called
Wudhu, which we covered previously. The major
ablution is called Ghusl. Ghusl literally means to
wash. It is called the major ablution because
the washing is much more extensive than
Wudhu. Wudhu requires us only to wash certain
body parts, whereas Ghusl requires washing the
entire body. There are two methods of doing this.
Niyyah and Ghusl
Although one may do Ghusl for a number of
reasons, the way of doing Ghusl is the same for
all of them. The only difference is that one should
be specific in his or her Niyya as to what one is
doing Ghusl for. For example, if one wants to do
Ghusl after touching a dead body, then one must
make the Niyya that he or she is doing the Ghusl
of having touched a dead body. If you want or
need to do more than one Ghusl, one Ghusl with
multiple niyyahs is enough. For example, if you
need to do Ghusl after touching a dead body
and you would also like to perform Ghusl for
Jumma, you can perform just one Ghusl but
make a niyyah that it is for both purposes.

Method of Performing Ghusl

There are two ways of performing Ghusl: Ghusl
Tarteebi and Ghusl Irtimaasi.
Before beginning any kind of Ghusl, it is
important that one rinses off any kind of najaasah
and barrier on the body.

Ghusl Tarteebi
The first and most popular form of Ghusl is called
Ghusl tarteebi. Tarteeb in Arabic means to follow
in stages. This means that - after doing the
proper niyyah - the body should be washed in
stages, first stage starting with the head and
neck, second the right side of the body from
below the neck, the third and last stage is to
wash the left side from the neck below. It is good
that while washing the right side of the body,
some of the left side gets washed as well and
vise versa. Make sure there are no barriers that
will prevent water from getting through.
Ghusl Irtimaasi
Ghusl Irtimaasi is done in one stage, namely the
submerging of the entire body (hair included)
under water. This can be done in water that is
considered Taahir. It can be your bathtub, a pool,
sea, lake, river, etc.
Mustahab Ghusls
Just like Wudhu becomes Wajib for certain
things, Ghusl also becomes Wajib for certain
things. However, there are also some Ghusls that
are simply mustahab, just like times when it is
mustahab to do Wudhu. Some of these
mustahab Ghusls are when you are visiting the
graves of the Masoomeen (ziyaarah).
Some Conditions for Ghusl to be Valid
1) The water must be pure (mutlaq) and ritually
pure (Taahir) and must be acquired from a
permissible source, i.e. the water cannot be
taken from someones private property without
permission. Finally, the place of Ghusl must be
permissible to do it in, you cannot do it on
24
20

someones property without their consent and

permission.
2) As mentioned before, one must make the
niyyah for what kind of Ghusl one is to do. The
Ghusl must not be harmful to you. For example,
if you have a skin condition or you have serious
cuts around your body that makes Ghusl
dangerous (e.g. for infection etc.) or painful,
then you cannot do Ghusl. In this instance, you
are to do Tayammum instead.

25
21

WORKSHEET 3.1
Ghusl
1. Ablution means:
a. to wash oneself for a religious ritual
b. to clean your clothes
c. to do Wudhu
d. to do Ghusl

2. What are the two ways to perform Ghusl?

3. Tarteebi means:
a. to submerge
b. to follow in stages
c. to wash oneself
d. none of the above

4. What are the three stages in which you must wash yourself when doing Ghusl tarteebi?

5. List 2 conditions for doing Ghusl:

26
22

SALAAH:
THE KABAH IS OUR QIBLAH
23

QIBLAH
VOCABULARY
QIBLAH
KABAH

In this lesson, students will learn more about he direction for Salaah, the Qiblah.
SAY: Before being able to offer Salaah, one must face a certain direction. All Muslims
face the same direction in offering Salaah. Does anyone know where this direction is
or what it is called?
Wait and listen for answers.

TASK BAR
READING

S T U D E N T S C A N F O L LOW
ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHER
BY TURNING TO THE READING
PAGE.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTER THAT OUTLINES WHAT
UNITY MEANS AND HOW THE
QIBLAH IS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE CONCEPT OF UNIT Y.
OFFER A PRIZE FOR THE
POSTER THAT BEST CONVEYS
THE MESSAGE OF UNITY.

SCIENCE EXTENSION

PROVIDE COMPASSES FOR

STUDENTS TO STUDY AND
EXPLAIN HOW COMPASSES
WORK AND HOW IT CAN BE
USED TO C ALCUL ATE THE
QIBLAH. A WORKSHEET IS
PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS TO
EXPLAIN HOW A COMPASS
WORKS.

SAY: Good. The Qiblah is the direction that Muslims face in order to offer Salaah and
the Qiblah for the Muslims is the Holy Kabah which is located in the Holy city of
Makkah. Can anyone guess why Muslims have a Qiblah and why we cant just pray
in any direction that we want?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. We will be reading more about the Qiblah, but a big reason for all
Muslims to turn toward one direction for prayer has to do with the concept of unity.
Does anyone know what unity is?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. Unity is when a group of people are joined as a whole and there is
agreement between people. Why do you think unity is important for the Muslims?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Lets read more about the Qiblah and unity so we can have a better
understanding of this very important requirement.
At this time, have students turn to the READING. Have students take turns reading
out loud and have the rest of the class follow along.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET, ART EXTENSION and SCIENCE EXTENSION
located in the Task Bar.

T13

READING: QIBLAH
The Kabah, located in the Holy city of

I f y o u w e re n o t a b l e t o

Makkah, is the Qiblah of the Muslims.

determine the Qiblah, then pray

in any direction.

Facing the Qiblah

3. If you know the Qiblah but cannot

f a c e i t , t h e n :

When is it Wajib to face the Qiblah?

If there is enough time to perform the

1. While praying the five Wajib daily

Salaah after reaching your

prayers.

destination, then you must delay the

2. While praying the nafilah daily

Salaah until then. In this case, if you

prayers. However, if you are praying

pray on the plane without facing the

naafilah while walking, riding, or

Qiblah, then your Salaah will be

sailing, then it is not Wajib to face the

Qiblah.
3. While performing qadha of any nonrukn parts after Salaah (if we had
accidentally forgotten them during
Salaah).
4. While performing Sajdah as-Sahw
(Sajdah done if we had forgotten
certain parts of Salaah).
What About Praying on a Plane?
1. If you can pray on the plane by
facing the Qiblah, then pray your
Salaah normally.

i n c o r r e c t .

If there is not enough time till you

reach your destination, then facing
the Qiblah is not Wajib.

You may

pray in any direction you want.

Kabah: The Symbol of Unity
We, as Muslims, believe that God does not
have a body or a house.

Then why does

God want us to face the Kabah while

praying to Him?
It is true that God does not have a body or a

2. If you can pray on the plane but do

house, but by symbolically taking the Kabah

not know the direction of the Qiblah,

as His house and commanding us to face

then:

it at the time of prayers, Allah wants to

Pray in a direction which you
think (e.g., look on the screen
or ask a flight attendant) is most
probably the direction of the
Qiblah.

promote unity among the Muslims.

Whoever accepts Islam automatically becomes a
member of the ummah (the Muslim nation). Allah
says in the Quran,

29
24

The believers are surely brothers, so make

Muslims all over the world face the same

peace among your brothers

Kabah five times a day and confirm their

(Surah al-Hujaraat, Verse 10).

brotherhood/sisterhood.

Islam wants Muslims to be united and

belonging to one nation. It does not want us
divided and fighting against one another.
Allah says in the Quran,

And hold fast, all of you together, to the cord

of Allah, and do not become disunited
(Surah Aali-Imraan, Verse 103)
One way of promoting the sense of

For a person watching the Muslim prayer

brotherhood/sisterhood and unity is by

from space, it must be a magnificent sight to

asking the Muslims to face the same

see the believers all over the world bowing in

direction in Salaah.

the direction of the Kabah.

Just imagine if there were four Muslims in

Even during hajj, Muslims are told to go

one room and at the time of prayer, each one

around the Kabah in one single direction.

faces a different direction it would surely

This promotes the idea that Muslims should

seem that they were disunited.

move in a united way and work with each

other for the good of the Muslim ummah.

But if everyone faces the same direction,

then there is the sense of equality and

It tells us that not only do we have a duty

brotherhood/sisterhood everyone feels

towards Allah, but also that we have a duty

that he or she is equally related to God like

to our brothers and sisters all over the world.

others who are praying alongside in the

We should help each other in such a way

same direction.

that the Muslim ummah will benefit from our

In this way, a king and a

beggar stand equal when praying to Allah.

work.

The Kabah is the soul of the Muslim

ummah.
It is a visual center or gravity for the
Muslims.
30
25

WORKSHEET 4.1
The Kabah is Our Qiblah
Circle either T for True or F for False:
1.

The Kabah is our Qiblah.

2.

It is Wajib to face the Qiblah while performing Sajdah Shukr.

3.

If youre on a plane and dont have an idea on where the Qiblah is,

then you can pray in any direction you like.

4.

The Kabah is the real, physical house of Allah.

Circle the correct letter:

1.

2.

3.

You should face the Qiblah

a.

While praying Shukr prayers

b.

While praying the daily Wajib prayers

c.

While performing Wudhu

What does ummah mean?

a.

The Muslim Nation

b.

Mother

c.

Islam

What is the main thing that the Kabah symbolizes?

a.

Freedom of Muslims

b.

Unity of Muslims

c.

Love of Muslims

31
26

Answer the following questions:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Suppose you are on a plane, and there isnt enough time to pray the Salaah when you reach your
destination. Suppose also, that you know where the Qiblah is, but for some reason you cannot
pray that way. In this situation, what should you do?

Why has Allah told the Muslims to face the same direction while praying?

When the Muslims go around the Kabah during Hajj in one single direction, what kind of
message is it conveying? In other words, what is it telling us to do?

In your own words, explain what unity means and why unity is important for the Muslims.

32
27

SALAAH
28

LESSON 1: REVISION OF STEPS AND MEANING OF SALAAH

VOCABULARY
TARTEEB
MUWAALAAT
AYAAT
MUBTILAAT
SHAK
YAQEEN

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN FOLLOW

ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHER
BY TURNING TO THE READING
PAGE.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

Students will review the meaning of what is being recited in Salaah.

SAY: Today we are going to review the steps in Salaah and then review the
meaning of the Surahs we recite. Can anyone tell me why it is important to know
the meaning of what we are saying?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. The word Salaah actually means connection. We are making a
connection with Allah and are speaking to Him. Dont you want to know WHAT we
are saying to Allah? Allah already knows, but if we are the one that is offering
Salaah, we should also know what it is we are saying to our Lord. Lets first review
the steps in Salaah. Can I have a volunteer to come up in front of the class to
demonstrate the first step as the rest of the class reads and follows along?
Have a different student volunteer come up to go through the different motions of
Salaah as the class is reading out loud. Have students turn to the READING. Have
students take turns reading out loud. Pause after each step in Salaah and make
sure the student volunteer is performing the action correctly. Pick a different
volunteer for each step. Ask the other students to watch the demo.
SAY: Good. Now you will re-visit the reading with a partner and practice the
actions for Salaah and discuss the meaning together.

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTER THAT OUTLINES THE
DIFFERENT STEPS OF SALAAH.
AS AN ALTERNATIVE,
STUDENTS CAN ALSO MAKE A
FLIP BOOK OR MINI BOOK
THAT USES ILLUSTRATIONS
AND WORDS TO SHOW THE
STEPS AND MEANINGS OF
SALAAH.

Pair students up and have them go through the steps of Salaah in the reading
together while going through the motions and its relevant meanings.
Have students read the Arabic with correct pronunciation, and the English with
meaning. Challenge students to memorize the English translation for a class prize.
At this time, students can work on the ART EXTENSION and WORKSHEET,
located in the Task Bar.

34
T14

REVISION OF STEPS AND MEANING OF SALAAH

1. Niyyah: one must make a niyyah or intention for wajib actions. The niyyah
is why they are doing something and for whom. The niyyah does not have
to out loud, but must remain with you throughout the Salaah.

Example: I am praying 2 Rakahs for

Salaatul Fajr, Qurbatan ilallaah.
!
!

to obey Allah and to get close to Him

2. Takbiratul Ihraam

Allahu Akbar

!
!

Allah is the Greatest

35
29

3. Qiyam

Meaning of Surah al-Fatiha (Hamd)"

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the
Merciful
Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil aalameen.
All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds
Ar rahmaanir raheem
The Beneficent, the Merciful
Maaliki yawmid deen
Master of the Day of Judgment.
lyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nastaeen
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask
for help
Ihdinas sirataal mustaqeem

Guide us on the right path

Siraatal ladheena anamta alaihim
The path of those whom You have favored;
Ghairil maghdhoobi alaihim waladhaaleen

Meaning of Surah al-Ikhlas (Tawheed)

Bismillaahir Ramaanir Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the
Merciful
Qul huwallahu ahad
Say: Allah is One, the Eternal
Allahus-samad
Allah is the Sustainer
Lam yalid walam yoolad
He neither gave birth, nor was He born
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad
And none in the creation is equal to Him
36
30

4. Ruku

Subhaana rabbi yal adheemi wa bihamdih

Glory be to my Lord, the

Great, and praise be to Him
5. Stand back up, recite
takbir, and recite:

Sami Allaahu liman hamidah

Allah hears and accepts the

praise of one who praises
6. Sajdah

Subhaana rabbi yal-aalaa wa bihamdih

!!

Glory to my Lord,
Most High and praise be to Him
7. Jalsah: Sit back

Astaghfirullaaha rabbi wa atoobu Ilayh

up and recite
!

I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord

and I turn to Him in repentance
37
31

8. Recite takbir and do a sajdah one more time, (step 6).

9. Stand up again and as you get up recite:

Bi haw lillaahi wa quwwatihi aqoomu wa aqud

I stand and sit, with the

help and strength of Allah.
10.

In the 2nd rakah recite Surah al-Fatiha and another Surah, preferably Surah
al-Ikhlas during qiyaam.

11. Qunoot: Recite takbir and raise your palms facing upward together for dua.

Rabbana aatina fi dunya hasanah, wa fil

akhirati hasanah, wa qina adaahban naar. Allah
humma salli ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad

Oh Lord, give us good in the world and good

in the Hereafter, and protect us from the
punishment of the fire. Oh Allah, send your
blessings on Muhammad and his Ahlul Bayt
(A). Allah.
38
32

12. Tashahhud

Ash hadu allaa ilaaha ilallaahu

wahdahu laa shareekalah
Wa Ash hadu anna Muhammadan
abduhu wa Rasooluh
Allahumma salli ala Muhammad
wa aali Muhammad

I testify that there is none worth

worshipping except the Almighty Allah,
Who is One and has no partner
And I testify that Muhammad is His
servant and Messenger.
Oh Allah! Send your blessings on
Muhammad and his progeny.

39
33

13. After tashahhud, stand up for the 3rd rakaah

Subhaanallaahi
Wal hamdu lillaahi
Wa laa ilaaha illallaahu
Wallaahu Akbar

Glory be to Allah, And all praise is for Him, And

there is no one God except Allah, And He is greater
than everything and everyone.
14. In the last rakaah recite tashahhud first then salaam

Asalaamu alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi

wa barakaatuh
Asalaamu alayna wa ala ibaadillaahis saaliheen
Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barkaatuh

Prophet: Allahs peace, blessings and grace be upon

you, Allahs peace be upon us, those offering prayers
and upon all the pious servants of Allah, Allahs
peace, blessings and grace be on you believers.
40
34

15. Tasbeeh of Sayyida Fatimah Zahra (A):

Allahu Akbar (34 times)

Alhamdulillah (33 times)

Subhaanallah (33 times)

41
35

WORKSHEET 5.1
Revision of Steps and Meaning of Salaah

1. Describe the meaning of the following Arabic transliterations:

Assaalaamu alayna wa ala ibaadil laahis saaliheen (salaam)

Alhamdulillah (tasbeeh)

Samee Allaahu liman hamidah (standing after Ruku)

Subhaana rabbi yal-aalaa wa bihamdih (Sajdah)

Subhaana rabbi yal-adheemi wa bihamdih (Ruku)

2. Write down all the 15 steps of Salaah from beginning to end.

3. What is mustahab to recite when Salaah ends (after salaam)?

4. Write or recite the translation of Surah al-Fatiha and al-Ikhlas to the teacher or a classmate.

42
36

LESSON 2: WAJIBAATS OF SALAAH

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will review what they know about actions of Salaah and learn
about the Rukns of Salaah.

LINK

SAY: We are going to start todays lesson by finding out how much you already know
about the Actions in Salaah. We will do this by doing an activity called LINK.

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes to do
the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes to do the I.
You can either write their responses on the board or on a chart paper, so that you can revisit their questions after the lesson. After this lesson is complete, challenge students to
answer their own questions about Actions in Salaah or have them research answers on
the web or conduct interviews with knowledgeable members of the community. This
teaches them the responsibility of researching answers for themselves instead of always
having them spoon fed to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help
them in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should turn to the READING page for
this section on the subject of Actions in Salaah, located in the Task Bar. They should now
do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the reading. You can either read out
loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to each other. Make sure they
are taking notes during this time.

READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they now
know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches others
about Actions in Salaah. If time permits, have students present to one another or to
younger children.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Students can then do the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

You can also play the following game to wrap up this lesson:
This game can be played indoors, but may be better outdoors. Divide the class into half.
Give each group of students a number with the same numbers in the other group. For
example, if there are 10 students in the class, one group will have students #ed 1-5 ??
and the other group will also have students #ed 1-5 ??. Have students line up facing
each other, with the student with their number on the opposing team, right across from
them. Make both groups stands quite a ways from each other. In the middle of both
groups, place a table with an object that they can easily grab, like an eraser or a ball.
Then you should state various statements from the reading or make some false
statements. At the end of the statement, call out a number from 1 to 5. If the statement is
true (which the students have to decide for themselves), the students whose number you
called, should race to grab the object in the middle. Whoever gets it, scores a point for
their team. For example, you can say Ruku is NOT a rukn of Salaah, #4 Then students
#ed 4 have to realize this is false, and not run. But if they do run, they lose a point for
their team. (This game is similar to Steal the Bacon)

43
T15

THE WAJIBAATS OF SALAAH (RUKN & GHAYR RYUKN)

You already know how to pray. You also know
that Salaah is made up of different parts. In
todays lesson, you will learn all the Wajib acts
of Salaah along with its rukn and ghayr rukn
parts.
The Wajib Acts of Salaah
There are 11 acts that are Wajib in Salaah:
1.

Niyyah (intention): Before we learn

the 10 actions we must remember
that niyyah or your intention is a
Wajib prerequisite to all Wajib
actions. In your niyyah you must
know why you are doing something
and for whom.

2.

Takbiratul Ihraam (the first Allahu

Akbar)

3.

Qiyaam (The Qiyaam immediately

before Ruku)

4.

Ruku (bowing down)

5.

Sajdatayn (two prostrations)

6.

Qiraah (recitation of Surah alHamd and other Surahs)

7.

Dhikr (the recitations in Ruku and

Sajdah)

8.

Tashahhud (the recitation while you

sit after the two Sajdah in the
second and last Rakah)

9.

Salaam (Salutation)

Rukn & Ghayr Rukn

The Salaah is like a building which is
made up of many parts: some of these
parts form the foundation of the building,
while others are just built upon the
foundation. If the foundation gives way,
then the whole building will collapse.
In the same way, the Wajib acts of Salaah
are divided into two groups: rukn and
ghayr rukn. Rukn are those Wajib parts
which form the foundation of Salaah.
Ghayr rukn are those Wajib parts which do
not form the foundation of Salaah.
The Five Rukn Parts of Salaah
The first five of the 11 Wajib acts
mentioned previously are rukn:
1.

Niyyah.

2.

Takbiratul Ihraam

3.

Qiyaam

4.

Ruku

5.

Sajdatayn (two sajdahs)

If anyone leaves out any rukn of Salaah

whether intentionally or by mistake then
his or her Salaah will become baatil
(incorrect). Likewise, if anyone adds any
of the rukn intentionally, then his Salaah is
baatil.

10. Tarteeb (Correct order)

11. Muwaalaat (Continuity - one action
after the other without a long delay)

44
37

Ghayr Rukn
The other six Wajib parts of Salaah are
ghayr rukn:
1.

Qiraah

2.

Dhikr

3.

Tashahhud

4.

Salaam

5.

Tarteeb

6.

Muwaalaat

As mentioned earlier, ghayr rukn means it

is not a foundation of Salaah. However that
does not mean one can just skip it. In fact
if anyone leaves out any ghayr rukn part
intentionally, then his or her Salaah is
baatil. But if a person leaves out any of
the ghayr rukn by mistake, then his or her
Salaah is correct.

45
38

WORKSHEET 5.2
Wajibaat of Salaah
1. Name the eleven things that are Wajib in Salaah.

2. What is the difference between qiraah and dhikr?

3. What are the rukn parts of Salaah?

4. If I leave a rukn part of Salaah out by mistake, is my Salaah correct?

5. If I leave a ghayr-rukn part of Salaah out by mistake, is my Salaah correct?

46
39

TASHAHHUD, SALAAM, TARTEEB, MUWAALAAT

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TAKE TURNS READING
ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

In this lesson, students will explore the actions of Tashahhud, Salaam, Tarteeb &
Muwaalaat in detail.
SAY: Can someone remind me what actions we learned about in the previous lesson?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good! Today we will look at 4 more actions in detail. These will be tashahhud,
Salaam, tarteeb and muwaalaat. Does anyone know what any of these actions are?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. Lets read more about the details of these actions so we do not make
mistakes in our Salaah.
Students should now turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar. To engage students
with the material, the reading for this section should be done using the instructions that
follow. Put students in groups of 3. There are 3 sections, labeled A-C for the 3 actions of
Salaah covered in this lesson. Assign each student one section that they have to read by
themselves. Then after 5 minutes, each student will have to present their section to their
group of 3 students, starting with the student who did section A. By the end, all 3
students will be exposed to the details of Tashahhud, Salaam, Tarteeb and Muwaalaat.
Students can then do the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

T16

TASHAHHUD, SALAAM, TARTEEB, MUWAALAAT

Tashahhud
Tashahhud means bearing witness. It is
the name for the recitation which begins
with ashadu (I bear witness...).
Tashahhud is a Wajib, but a ghayr rukn,
part of Salaah.
Tashahhud should be performed:
Once in a two rakah Salaah after
the second sajdah of the second
rakah.
Twice in three and four rakah Salaah
after the second sajdah in the
second rakah, and after the last
sajdah in the last rakah.
Wajibaat of Tashahhud:
1. It should be performed while being
seated.
2. It should be performed while being
motionless.

It is Mustahab to recite the following

before tashahhud:
Alhamdulillahi or Bismillaahi wa billaahi
wal hamdu lillaahi wa khayrul
asmaainillaah
Salaam
Salaam is the last Wajib part of Salaah. It
is a ghayr rukn part. Salaam is performed
after the tashahhud of the last rakah.
Wajibaat of Salaam:
1.

It must be in Arabic

2.

You must be seated while reciting

it.

3.

You must be motionless while

reciting it.

3. It should be recited in Arabic.

4. M u w a a l a a t : T h e re s h o u l d b e
continuity in reciting the tashahhud.
Mustahabaat of Tashahhud:
It is mustahab to keep your hands on
your thighs with your fingers closed
together.
It is mustahab for women to keep their
thighs close together.
It is mustahab to look at your lap while
performing tashahhud.
Dhikr of Tashahhud:

By saying the salaam, you end your Salaah.

And all the things which had become haraam
after saying the takbiratul ihraam become halaal
for you.
Recitation in Salaam:


Assalamu Alayka Ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa
Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh
O Prophet! May Allahs peace, grace and
blessings be upon you!

It is Wajib to recite tashahhud as follows:

48
40





As-Salaamu alayna wa ala Ibaadillahissaaliheen
Peace be upon us and the righteous
servants of Allah!


Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa
barakaatuh
And may Allahs peace, grace and
blessings be upon you!

then again your Salaah will become baatil.

However, if you change the order of a
ghayr rukn part by mistake, then your
Salaah will still be correct. For example,
since the takbiratul ihraam is rukn, if you
intentionally or unintentionally say your
takbiratul ihraam after you have already
begun the Salaah (e.g. after your recitation
of al-Fatiha), it will be void. However, the
correct recitation of a Surah is not rukn (it
is ghayr rukn) which means that if you
unintentionally mix up the order of the
ayahs during your qiraah, then your
Salaah is still valid. But this does not count
if you do so intentionally.

It is only Wajib to:

Recite one of the last two Salaams
written above ( #2 &#3)
Say at least one takbir (Allahu
Akbar)
It is Mustahab to:
Recite all three salaams (1 & 2 & 3)

Muwaalaat:
All actions of Salaah must follow one
another without any unusual interval. If
someone stops his or her Salaah and
stands for so long that other people think
that he or she is not praying, then that
persons Salaah will become baatil.

Say three takbirs (Allahu Akbar)

after the salaam.
Tarteeb and Muwaalaat
Among the Wajib things in Salaah are
tarteeb
and
muwaalaat.
Tarteeb means correct order of things; and
muwaalaat means continuity and flow in
recitation and action.
Tarteeb:
It is necessary that every part of the
Salaah is performed in the correct order.
If you change the order of a rukn part of
Salaah whether intentionally or by
mistake then your Salaah will become
baatil (incorrect). If you change the order
of a ghayr rukn part of Salaah intentionally,

49
41

WORKSHEET 5.3
Tashahhud, Salaam, Tarteeb and Muwaalaat

1. What does Tashahhud mean?

a. Correct order
b. Continuity and flow in action
c. Bearing witness
d. Salaam
2. What does Muwaalaat mean?
a. Reciting Dua loudly
b. Reciting Dua while standing
c. Reciting Dua while sitting
d. Continuity and flow in reciting the Tashahhud
3. Three things that are Wajib during Tashahhud are:
a. Reciting in Arabic, sitting motionless, Muwaalaat
b. Reciting in Arabic, standing motionless, Muwaalaat
c. Reciting in Arabic, sitting motionless, salaam
d. None of the above
4. What does Tarteeb mean?
a. Making Wudhu
b. Doing Sajdah
c. The correct order of things.
d. None of the above.
5. During Tashahhud one bears witness that there is only one Allah and Muhammad (S) is his
prophet.
True

False

50
42

6. Tashahhud is a Wajib but a ghayr rukn part of Salaah.

True

False

7. If Maryam keeps her hands on her thighs her tashahhud is correct.

True

False

8. If Hussayn says his tashahhud in English, his tashahhud is correct.

True

False

10. Salaam is performed after the tashahhud of the last rakah.

True

False

11. It is mustahab to recite all three salaams followed by three takbirs (Allah Akbar).
True

False

12. Is it Wajib to say As salaamu alayna waala ibaadil laahis saaliheen and As salaamu alaykum
wa rahmatul laahi wa barakaatuh together?
Yes

No

13. Salaam is a
Rukn

part of Salaah.
Ghayr Rukn

14. Among the Wajib things in Salaah are tarteeb and muwaalaat.
True

False

15. If I change the order of the rukn parts of my Salaah by mistake, my Salaah is still correct.
True

False

BONUS:
Write out the translation of what we say during tashahhud (only the Wajib part).

51
43

QUNOOT AND TAQIBAAT

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn more about Qunoot and Taqibaat.
SAY: Can someone remind about the actions we learned about in the last lesson?

READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TAKE TURNS READING
ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: Good! Today we will look at 2 more actions in detail. These will be qunoot and
Taqibaat. Does anyone know what any of these actions are?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. What is interesting about these 2 actions are that they are not Wajib in
Salaah. However, they are mustahab, which means they are highly recommended. There
are a lot of blessings for doing them. Lets read more about the details of these actions so
we can make our Salaah the very best.
Students should now turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar. To engage students
with the material, the reading for this section should be done using the instructions that
follow. Put students together so there are 2 students per group. There are 2 sections,
labeled A-B for the 2 actions of covered in this lesson. Assign each student one section
that they have to read by themselves. Then after 5 minutes, each student will have to
present their section to their partner, starting with the student who did section A. By the
end, both students will be exposed to the details of Qunoot and Taqibaat in prayer.
Students can then do the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

T17

QUNOOT AND TAQIBAAT

Qunoot
Qunoot means humbly praying to Allah.
In Salaah, it refers to the act in which you
raise your hands to pray to Allah just
before going to the second ruku.
Qunoot is mustahab to be recited aloud in
all the Salaahs, whether Wajib or
mustahab. It is especially recommended
in the Salaah of Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha.
Rules of Qunoot:
If you forget to do qunoot and
remember it before reaching the final
position of Ruku, then you may get
up and do qunoot before continuing
your Salaah.
If you remember it after reaching the
final position of Ruku, then you may
do the qunoot after you get up from
the Ruku and before going to the
Sajdah.
Qunoot can be said in your own
words and in your own language.
Taqibaat
Taqibaat means the tasbeeh and Dua
that we recite after the Salaah. It is highly
recommended to glorify our Creator by
reciting the tasbeeh of Sayyida Fatimah
az-Zahra (A), which consists of the three
short phrases as follows:

Allahu Akbar (34 times)

Alhamdulillah (33 times)
SubhaanAllah (33 times)

53
44

WORKSHEET 5.4
Qunoot and Taqibaat
Choose the correct answer:
1. Qunoot is a __________ part of Salaah.
a.

Wajib

b.

Mustahab

2. You perform qunoot

a.

In the first rakah

b.

In the fourth rakah

c.

Just before salaam

d.

Just before your second ruku

3. If you forget to do qunoot and then remember it while you are in ruku,
a.

You may do it after you get up from the ruku and before going to the sajdah.

b.

You may do it after tashahhud

c.

You may do it in any other rakah

d.

You may do it after salaam

4. Which of the following are mustahab when reciting qunoot?

a.

Takbir, raising your hands for Dua, reciting the Dua silently

b.

Takbir, keeping your hands on your side, reciting the Dua loudly

c.

Takbir, raising your hands for Dua, reciting the Dua loudly

d.

Only a) and b).

5. What does qunoot mean?

a.

Qunoot means saying SubhaanAllah

b.

Qunoot means saying Allah Akbar

c.

Qunoot means saying Alhamdulillah

d.

Qunoot means humbly praying to Allah

54
45

6. Qunoot is especially recommended in which following three Salaahs?

a.

Fajr, Maghrib, Asr

b.

Fajr, Isha, Asr

c.

Fajr, Maghrib, Isha

d.

Dhuhr, Maghrib, Isha,

7. What does taqibaat mean?

a.

Taqibaat means the tasbeeh and qunoot

b.

Taqibaat means the tasbeeh and Duas that we recite after the salaah

c.

Taqibaat means the tasbeeh and sajdah

d.

None of the above.

8. Select one which consists of the three short phrases which we recite in the tasbeeh of Sayyida
Fatimah az-Zahra (A).
a.

Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah, Jazakallah.

b.

Allahu Akbar, Asalamu Alaikuam, SubhaanAllah.

c.

Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah, SubhaanAllah.

d.

Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah, Bismillah.

9. Allahu Akbar is recited 34 times the other two phrases are recited how many times each?
a.

35 times each.

b.

32 times each.

c.

50 times each.

d.

33 times each.

55
46

LESSON 3: CLOTHING FOR SALAAH

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will review what they know about the clothing for
Salaah.

LINK

SAY: We are going to start todays lesson by finding out how much you already
know about the Clothing for Salaah. We will do this by doing and activity called
LINK.

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3
minutes to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them
5 minutes to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or
on a chart paper so that you can re-visit their questions after the lesson. After
this lesson is complete, challenge students to answer their own questions
about Clothing for Salaah or have them research answers on the web or
conduct interviews with knowledgeable members of the community. This
teaches them the responsibility of researching answers for themselves instead
of always having them spoon fed to them. Learning to research is an
invaluable tool that will help them in future grades.

READING

After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of Clothing for Salaah, located in
the Task Bar.

ART EXTENSION

To engage students with the material, the reading for this section should be
done using the instructions that follow. Put students in groups of 5. There are 5
sections, labeled A-E or the 5 topics about the clothing for Salaah covered in
this lesson. Assign each student one section that they have to read by
themselves. They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes
from the reading. Make sure they are taking notes during this time. Then after 5
minutes, each student will have to present their section to their group of 3
students, starting with the student who did section A. By the end, all 3 students
will be exposed to the details of Clothing for Salaah.

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD.
STUDENTS SHOULD CREATE
A POSTER WITH THE
GUIDELINES FOR THE
CLOTHING FOR SALAAH TO
BE POSTED AROUND THE
SCHOOL FOR OTHERS TO
LEARN.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what
they now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that
teaches others about Clothing for Salaah. The ART EXTENSION Activity in the
Task Bar will suffice for this part of the assignment. If time permits, have
students present to each other or even to younger children.
Students can then do the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.
56
T18

READING: CLOTHING FOR SALAAH

The Clothes for Salaah
Dress is an important part of human dignity.
It is always good to dress properly. It is
even better to dress in a proper manner
when you stand for prayers to Allah, our
Creator and Nurturer. In todays lesson, you
will learn some rules about the dress for
prayer.

water to wash his shirt, then he can

pray with his Najis shirt.
2. Things Carried During Salaah: The things
which you do not wear but only carry on
yourself (e.g., a watch, money, keys, a wallet)
can be of two types:
a. Either it has been made from a dog or a pig

1. Najaasah in Salaah: You know that the

clothes for Salaah must be Taahir, but
there are four cases in which najaasah
will not harm your Salaah:

or a haraam animal in which case you

a. The blood which comes out of a

persons own wound will not affect a
p e r s o n s p r a y e r .

For example, if a person falls down

and scrapes his ankle, he can still
pray Salaah with left over blood within
the scrape after he has cleaned it. Of
course the blood should be less than
the size of a nickel

b. Or it has been made from other than the

b. The blood from your own body that is

on your clothes or body when you
want to pray and its amount is less
than the tip of the index finger, it will
not affect your prayer. This exception
does not apply if the blood belongs to
s o m e o n e e l s e .

If there is no alternative but to offer

prayers with a Najis body or dress,
then it will not affect the prayers.

For example, if a person is wearing a

Najis shirt and does not have enough

3. Leather Outfits: If you buy clothes made from

cannot carry it on yourself during the

Salaah.

above-mentioned things in which case

you are allowed to carry it on yourself
during the Salaah. For example, if you have
a key-chain made from the skin of a cow,
then you are allowed to carry it during
Salaah.

a halaal animal (e.g., cow), and then doubt

w h e t h e r t h e a n i m a l w a s s l a u g h t e re d
according to Islamic laws or not, then there
are two possibilities.
a. Either you bought it from a Muslim or a
Muslim market in which case you can
assume that the animal was slaughtered
according to Islamic laws and will therefore
be considered Taahir.

57
47

b. Or you bought it from a non-Muslim in

which case you cannot use it during
Salaah. So it is always better to buy the

allowed to use gold or silk in any form in Salaah

as well as outside Salaah.
5. Other Points of Concern:

things made of leather from a Muslim or a

Muslim store; otherwise, you will have to
take it off during Salaah.

a. If a person did not know that his/her body

or clothes were Najis, and came to know
after the Salaah, the Salaah is correct.

4. Gold & Silk: You already know that men are

not allowed to wear anything made of gold

b. If s/he knew that his/her body or clothes

(e.g., a ring or a chain) at any time if they

were Najis, and forgot and prayed in that

wear it during Salaah, then their Salaah will

cloth, she/he would have to pray again, if

b e b a a t i l a n d n o t v a l i d .

there is still time, or pray qadha if there is

no time.
However, there is no harm in carrying an item

c. When there is no other cloth except ghasbi

made of gold in your pocket like gold coins or

(using without permission) or silk [for men],

a gold pen. Similarly, there is no harm in using

and one is obliged to wear in order to pray.

anything that is gold-coated like a wrist watch

The same rule applies if there is no cloth

o r c u f f - l i n k s .

other than ghasbi or Najis he should pray

wearing that same cloth and the Salaah will

You also know that men are not allowed to

be correct.

wear anything made of pure silk (e.g., a tie) at

any time if they wear it during Salaah, then
their Salaah will not be valid. However, men
are allowed to use silk for other purposes like
using them as bed-sheets.
These rules apply to pure silk, thus if an outfit is
made up of silk and some other material to such
an extent that it could not be called pure silk,
then its use is allowed even during Salaah.

As far as women are concerned, they are

58
48

WORKSHEET 5.5
The Clothes for Prayer

Questions: Yes or no?

1. If Jafar has some blood coming out of a wound and it is bigger than the tip of his index finger,
then is Jafar allowed to pray with it?

2. Suppose Maryam shakes the wet hand of a kaafir and she decides to wipe her hand with a
handkerchief such that the handkerchief becomes Najis. She later washes her hand to make it
Taahir. Is she allowed to pray with the handkerchief in her pocket?

3.

If Husain has a belt made of leather from a cow which he bought in Canada, is he allowed to
pray while wearing it?

4.

If Husain then buys a leather jacket made from a halaal animal, which he buys in Canada, is he
allowed to pray while wearing it?

5.

If Sakina had a golden ring and she gave it to her father to keep for her, can her father pray with
the golden ring in his pocket?

6.

If Sajjad wears a golden chain around his neck, is he allowed to pray with it?

59
49

7.

If Fatimah wears a silk dress, is she allowed to pray with it?

8. Aliyah loves to dress up in leather garments. Her favorite leather is Italian leather. Her uncle goes
to Italy and buys her a really nice leather jacket designed by the famous fashion company. Aliyah
decides to wear it on Eid- al- Fitr with her new dress. Her jacket is made in Italy of lamb leather.
Can she pray her Eid prayers with the jacket?

9. Hasan buys a shirt from a flea market with his pocket money. It is 100% pure silk. It is his favorite
color and he also likes the design. He, however, does not know that men are not allowed to wear
silk in Islam. He wears the shirt to the Islamic Center one day and prays Salaah there with his shirt
on. When the Imam sees him, he asks him if his shirt is made of silk. Hasan tells him that it is
indeed a silk shirt and that he was lucky to have bought it for such a cheap price. The Imam
informs him that men are not allowed to wear silk and Hasan feels guilty as he did not know that he
could not wear silk. Is Hasans Salaah valid?

10. Zain is having a ceremony at his house as he has completed reading and reciting the Holy Quran
with his private tutor for the first time. Everyone from his Masjid attends the ceremony. Zain
receives a gold chain with the Ayaatul Kursi written on it from his grandmother. Can he wear it
since it has a verse from the Quran written on it? Explain your answer

60
50

LESSON 4: THE PLACE FOR SALAAH

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

ART EXTENSION

STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE A

THE PLACE FOR SALAAH
POSTER IN WHICH THEY
INCLUDE
THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR A
PLACE OF PRAYER. THEY
CAN DRAW A PICTURE OF
THIS PLACE AS WELL TO
ILLUSTRATE THEIR
THOUGHTS

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
READING

In this lesson, students will review details and facts about the Place of Salaah.
SAY: In the last lesson, we learned about the time of Salaah. Today we are
going to review and learn some facts about the place in which we can offer
Salaah. Before we do so, lets find out how much you know about the place of
Salaah by doing an activity called LINK.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3
minutes to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them
5 minutes to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or
on a chart paper so that you can re-visit their questions after the lesson. After
this lesson is complete, challenge students to answer their own questions
about the place of Salaah or have them research answers on the web or by
conducting interviews with knowledgeable members of the community. This
teaches them the responsibility of researching answers for themselves, instead
of always having them spoon fed to them. Learning to research is an
invaluable tool that will help them in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of the place of Salaah, located
in the Task Bar. They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take
notes from the reading. You can either read out loud as a class or pair the
students up so they can read to each other. Make sure they are taking notes
during this time. After the reading is complete, ask the following questions to
gauge student understanding of the text:
SAY:

What is the most highly recommended place for Salaah?

Name a place where Salaah cannot be performed?

Name 3 specific places where performing Salah is highly recommended.

Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what
they now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that
teaches others about the place of Salaah. This can be done through the ART
EXTENSION activity located in the Task Bar. If time permits, have students
present to each other or even to younger children.
After the poster or project is complete, students can complete the
WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.
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READING: THE PLACE FOR SALAAH

Necessary Conditions to Be Observed for
the Place of Salaah
Salaah can only be offered in
someone's place with their permission.
(So it must be mubah and not Ghasbi)
The place where you perform your
sajdah must be Taahir. Where you stand
or sit while performing Salaah can be
Najis, as long as there is no possibility
that this najaasah will affect your body
or clothes.
The place where you pray must not be
unstable like a bed or a couch.
There should be enough space to stand
and perform ruku and sajdah properly.
If women and men are praying in the
same room, then the women must stand
behind the men. The minimum
difference should be that her place of
sajdah be at least in line with his thighs
during Sajdah. It is better to have a
curtain or wall in between.
The place where the head is kept for
Sajdah must not be 2.5 inches above or
below the place where the knees and
toes are put.
Some Other Points on the Place for Salaah
The most highly recommended place for
Salaah is a Masjid. The Masjids that should
be given highest priority are the following:
Masjid al-Haraam; the next priority is Masjid
an-Nabawi; then it is Masjid al-Kufa; and
finally Masjid al-Aqsa. If Salaah cant be
offered in any of these Masjids, then the
main Masjid of the town where Friday
prayers are conducted (Masjid al-Jami) is

recommended. If this is not possible one

should offer Salaah in the town Masjid. It is
makrooh, not recommended and less
rewarding for a person who lives next to a
Masjid to pray at home instead (unless hes
physically not able to do so).
Women can pray wherever they can
observe proper hijab and this includes their
home.
Salaah at the harams of our Imams is
mustahab , i.e. highly recommended.
Salaah at the Haram of Ameerul momineen
Imam Ali (A) is said to be equivalent to
200,000 rakahs of Salaah.
Certain things should be considered in
terms of a place for prayer. For example it
is makrooh to pray:
In a dirty place, a salty place (like
some beaches), on roads, or on
footpaths.
Facing an open door.
In a place where a fire is burning or
in front of a fire or oil lamp.
In front of a picture of an animal or
human being.
In front of an open book even if it is
the Quran.
In front of a grave or in a cemetery.
In front of a person who is facing
you.
If one is praying where people are
passing or there is someone in front
of him/her, it is mustahab to place a
string, stick (even a tasbeeh) in front
of them. .
62
51

WORKSHEET 5.6
Place of Salaah
Fill in the blanks:
1.

If you go to the Masjid (Masjid), you do not need anyones permission to pray there
TRUE

FALSE

2.

The place where you perform your sajdah must be

3.

If women and men are praying in the same room, then the women must stand
the men.

4.

The most highly recommended place for Salaah is a

5.

It is makrooh to pray:

a. In front of a picture of an animal or human being

b. In front of an open book be it the Quran
c. In front of a grave or in a cemetery
d. In front of a person who is facing you
e. A l l o f t h e a b o v e
6.

The place where you pray must not be unstable, like on a bed or a couch.
TRUE

7.

FALSE

Mention 4 major Masjids that we are highly recommended to try to pray in if we get the
opportunity to at some time in our lifetime

63
52

8.

If we cannot pray or get the opportunity to pray at the above Masjids we should continue to pray
in the Jami Masjid in our town, city or county.
TRUE

FALSE

9. The place where the head is kept for sajdah must not be 2.5 inches above or below the
place where the knees and toes are put.
TRUE

FALSE

10. Zainab is on a camping trip with her 4th grade class in Vermont. All the kids are picking
apples at an apple farm and she realizes she has forgotten to offer her Dhuhr prayers. She
decides to leave her friends and walk to a quiet place where she can pray peacefully. She
finds a barn not very far from the farm and decides to pray there. Since she does not know
who the barn belongs to, she does not ask for permission to pray there. Is Zainabs Salaah
valid or ok? Explain why or why not:

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LESSON 5: THE MUBTILAAT OF SALAAH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTER IN WHICH THEY
TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE
MUBTILAAT OF SALAAH, TO
BE POSTED AROUND THE
SCHOOL

GAMETIME

IN THIS GAME, THE

TEACHER CAN DESIGNATE
A S T U D E N T TO B E T H E
LEADER OR CAN BE THE
LEADER THEMSELVES. THE
LEADER SHOULD PROCEED
TO OFFER A
PART OF A
SA L A A H , F O R E X A M P L E
QIYAAM WITH QIRAAT OR
TASHAHHUD. THEY SHOULD
D O S O M E T H I N G T H AT
INVALIDATES THEIR SALAAH,
BUT SHOULD CONTINUE.
THE STUDENTS WATCHING
SHOULD BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED
THE SALAAH TO BECOME
BAATIL. THE STUDENT WHO
IDENTIFIES IT CORRECTLY,
GETS A POINT. THERE
SHOULD BE TIMES WHERE
THE PART OF SALAAH IS
OFFERED CORRECTLY AS
WELL, SO THE STUDENTS
C AN SAY N OT H IN G
INVALIDATED THE SALAAH.
STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS
BEING THE LEADER

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the things that make Salaah
invalid, the mubtilaat of Salaah.
SAY: Today we are going to learn about the mubtilaat of Salaah. These are
the things that make the Salaah baatil, or invalid. Does anyone know anything
that might make the Salaah baatil?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good! We will read about the mubtilaat of Salaah today. We have
learned a lot about the actions of Salaah and things that we need to do in
order to make the Salaah correct. But it is also important to recognize the
things that can make the Salaah baatil or incorrect.
Students should now turn to the READING located in the Task Bar. Have
students read out loud as a class. One student reads a section while the
others follow along.
Students can then do the WORKSHEET, ART EXTENSION and GAMETIME
located in the Task Bar.

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READING: THE MUBTILAAT OF SALAAH

There are certain things that can make your
Salaah baatil (invalid). These are called the
mubtilaat of Salaah. If any of these things
happen, you will have to do your prayers
again.

11. Doubt in the first two rakahs of

Dhuhr, Asr and Isha prayers, and
also anywhere in Fajr or Maghrib
prayers.
12. Adding or leaving out any Wajib rukn

There are 12 Mubtilaat of Salaah:

part of Salaah.
1. Anything that makes Wudhu Baatil:

1.

All those things which make the

Wudhu baatil (for example, sleeping,
passing wind from the rear etc.).

2.

Turning away from the direction of

qiblah.

If anything that makes the Wudhu baatil like

sleeping), takes place anywhere during the
Salaah, the Salaah will become baatil. It
makes no difference whether it happened
intentionally or by mistake.
2. Turning away from the Qiblah:

3.

Anything which may give the

impression that you are not praying
(for example, clapping hands or
jumping).

4.

Speaking intentionally

5.

Laughing

6.

Crying intentionally for a worldly

thing

7.

Eating or drinking

8.

Folding the arms intentionally, just as

some other Muslims do during their
Salaah.

9.

Saying "Aameen" after Surah

al-Fatiha

10. Anything that is wrong in one of the

necessary conditions of Salaah; for
example, you realize that your
clothes are not Taahir.

Turning away from the qiblah will make your

Salaah baatil only if the deviation (movement
away) was more than 45 degrees regardless
of whether it happened intentionally, by
mistake or by an external force like the wind
or someone running into you.
In case of more than 45 degrees deviation, it
makes no difference whether the whole
body turned or just the face turned away.
In all cases of deviation which makes the
Salaah baatil, one should proceed as
follows:
If it happened intentionally or by external
force, then the Salaah is baatil under all
circumstances;
If it happened by mistake and you
remember it after the time of Salaah had
ended, then there is no qadha.
If it happened by mistake and you
remember it while there still is time for
66
54

SOME MUBTILAAT OF SALAAH IN DETAIL

repeating the Salaah, then you must repeat
your Salaah.
3. Anything that cannot be called Salaah:

fatigue, yawning or moaning will not make the

Salaah baatil.
5. Laughing Intentionally:

If during prayers someone does something

Laughing makes the Salaah baatil. If you feel

that is regarded by good Muslims as contrary

like laughing but control yourself forcefully

to the performance of Salaah, then his Salaah

until your face turns red, your Salaah will not

is baatil (For example, clapping hands or

become baatil unless you laugh. Laughing

knitting during the Salaah.) Such acts will

does not include smiling; smiling will not harm

invalidate the Salaah, whether it was done

your Salaah

i n t e n t i o n a l l y o r b y m i s t a k e .

6. Crying Intentionally:

Moving the arms or even indicating something

to someone with your hands, if necessary, will

Crying for the sake of other than Allah makes

not harm the Salaah.

your Salaah baatil. For example, if you begin

4. Speaking Intentionally:

crying in your Salaah because of a bad grade

you received at school, then your Salaah is

baatil. However, if you cry for the sake of Allah

The Salaah will become baatil by speaking

(e.g. out of fear of Him), then your Salaah is not

intentionally. It makes no difference whether you

only valid, but the crying becomes a Mustahab

were talking to someone or to yourself or whether

act.

it was an emergency or not. If it is an emergency,

then you can speak and you will not get a sin,
but your Salaah will still become baatil. You will
also have to repeat your Salaah again. One
exception is if someone says Salaam Alaikum
to a person specifically during Salaah. Then it is
ok to respond by saying the exact phrase back,
Salaam Alaikum, because it is Wajib to return a
persons salaam. However, if the person who
said salaam said it to a group of people in the
room, and someone in the room responds to the
salaam, it is not Wajib for the person praying to
a l s o r e s p o n d .

Clearing one's throat, blowing air because of

67
55

WORKSHEET 5.7
Mubtilaat of Salaah
Choose the correct answer:
1.

Examples of things which make the Wudhu baatil are, sleeping or passing wind. These also
make the Salaah baatil.

a. True

2.

b.

False

Zaynab is praying Salaah and turns away from the direction of qiblah. Is her Salaah baatil?
Explain.

3.

Lana is 12 years old and is reading Salaatul Jamaah with all the other children in the Sunday
school. She notices a
child crying to her right because his mother is praying in the
congregation. She starts smiling and making faces at the baby to quiet him down but continues
with the congregation. Is her Salaah valid?

4.

Speaking intentionally is a mubtilaat of Salaah. Hassina is reading Salaah and Amina walks into
the door and says, Salaam Alaikum to her knowing that it is Wajib to reply to anyone who
says Salaam Alaikum to you in Islam, she replies to Amina by saying Salaam Alaikum without
moving from her position, and immediately continues praying. Her Salaah is valid.

a. True

b.

False

68
56

5.

Zahras sister is not concentrating on her Salaah. She is crying because her mother refused to
buy her one of her favorite card games. Her Salaah is valid because she is human and
sometimes it is hard to control your emotions as a human.

a. True

8.

False

Folding the arms intentionally just as some other Muslims do during their Salaah makes it baatil.
The same goes for saying "Aameen" after Surah al-Fatiha, that is, it makes it baatil.

a. True

9.

b.

b.

False

Ameen realizes that his clothes are Najis while praying Salaah, because he was playing out in
the yard with the neighbors dog. Since he had forgotten that his clothes were Najis before
Salaah and already started praying, his prayers are valid.
a. True

b.

False

10. Doubt in the first two rakahs of Dhuhr, Asr and Isha prayers, and also anywhere in Fajr or
Maghrib prayers will make Salaah baatil.

a. True

b.

False

69
57

LESSON 6: SHAKIYAAT AS-SALAAH

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn about what they should do if they have a
doubt in their prayer, Shakiyaat as-Salaah.

READING

SAY: Today we are going to learn about what one should do if they have a
doubt in their prayer. What is a doubt?

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS MAKE A

BROCHURE THAT OUTLINES
THE CHART OF THE
SHAKIYAAT E SALAAH THAT
THEY CAN KEEP WITH THEM
AT ALL TIMES, IN CASE THEY
COME ACROSS A DOUBT IN
THEIR PRAYER.

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: A doubt is when someone is uncertain or unsure about an action during
prayer. For example, one may not be sure if he or she is on the first rakah or
second rakah. How should one continue with his or her prayer? The answer
for this and many other doubts is in the reading for today.
At this time, have students turn to the READING. Pair students up and have
them read out loud to each other. This way, they can study the doubts in prayer
in a more intimate setting. Assign each pair a different doubt that is covered in
the reading and have them present back to the class. In the presentation, have
them announce the doubt and what should be done to correct that doubt.
Students can then do the WORKSHEET and ART EXTENSION located in the
Task Bar.

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SHAKIYAAT AS-SALAAH - PART I

Doubts to Ignore and Those That

follower (mamoon). During a

Invalidate Prayers

Mustahab prayer.

Sometimes we doubt how a certain part of

Your Salaah Is Baatil and Has To Be

the Salaah was prayed. We should try to

Offered Again If You Have A Doubt

take a moment to think and see if our doubt

disappears and feel more confident vis-a-vis

In a 2 rakah Salaah like Fajr or if you

the doubt and shake it off during Salaah. But

are praying the shortened version

if the doubt, even after thinking about it,

(qasr) of Dhuhr, Asr or Isha.

remains, then you should consider the

In a 3 rakah Salaah, i.e. Maghrib.

following:

In a 4 rakah Salaah, before the 2nd

sajdah of the 2nd rakaah, as to which

There are 23 cases of doubts (Shakiyaat)

rakah you are praying.

that may arise during Salaah:

In a 4 rakah Salaah, as to whether it is

the:

6 of them can be ignored

8 of them make Salaah baatil
9 of them can be corrected
You Should Ignore Doubts That Arise

1st, 2nd or 3rd rakah

2nd, 5th or higher rakah
2nd, 6th or higher rakah
3rd, 6th or higher rakah

After the Salaah has been finished.

After the event has been performed,
e.g. to have a doubt in sajdah as to
whether you did ruku.
After the time has passed, e.g. to have
doubt at the time of Maghrib as to
whether you prayed Asr or not.
More than once regarding the number
of Rakahs you have prayed, i.e. you
start doubting too much in many of
your prayers.
In congregational prayers, either on
the part of one who leads the prayer
(the Imaam) or on the part of the
71
58

Doubts Regarding the Number of Rakahs

You Can Correct the Following Doubts Without Having To Pray Again If
The doubt occurs in a 4 rakah Salaah
When?

Doubt Whether?

Decision?

After 2nd sajdah of

2nd rakaah

2nd or 3rd rakaah

Take it as 3rd

After 2nd sajdah of

2nd rakaah

2nd or 4th rakaah

Take it as 4th

After 2nd sajdah of

2nd rakaah

2nd, 3rd or 4th

rakaah

Take it as 4th

After 2nd sajdah of

2nd rakaah

4th or 5th rakaah

Take it as 4th

After 2nd sajdah of

2nd rakaah

3rd or 4th rakaah

Take it as 4th

Qiyaam before ruku

4th or 5th rakaah

Sit down at once AND

finish Salaah

Qiyaam before ruku

3rd or 5th rakaah

Sit down at once AND

finish Salaah

Qiyaam before ruku

3rd, 4th or 5th

rakaah

Sit down at once AND

finish Salaah

Qiyaam before ruku

5th or 6th rakaah

Sit down at once AND

finish Salaah

&

= Salaatul Ihtiyaat (standing/sitting)

Correction?

AND

OR
OR
AND

AND

AND! !

AND!

= Sajdah as-Sahw

59

WORKSHEET 5.8
Doubts to ignore and those that invalidate prayers

True or False: Circle either T for True or F for False.

T!!

1.

Muslims should perform their prayers with intense care and full attention.

T!!

2.

Shak means doubt.

T!!

3.

Yaqeen means a little more than a doubt.

T!!

4.

You should ignore doubts that arise after the Salaah is finished

T!!

5.

If you get a doubt regarding the first or second rakah,

you must take it as the second rakah and finish praying.

Multiple Choice:
1.

2.

Your Salaah is baatil if your doubt occurs in

a.

A two rakah Salaah

b.

A three rakah Salaah

c.

Both a) and b)

d.

A four rakah Salaah

If you have a doubt regarding your Maghrib Salaah after the time of Maghrib has passed then
you should:
a.

Ignore the doubt

b.

Pray the Salaah over again

c.

Pray the qadha for Maghrib

d.

None of the above

3. If during Salaag al-Dhuhr, before your second sajdah you wonder whether you are on your 2nd
rakaah or your 3rd then your Salaah is
a.

Wajib

b.

Baatil

c.

Still accepted

d.

Mustahab

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60

WORKSHEET 5.9
Doubts regarding the Number of Rakaah
Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the best answer.
1. What should you do if you get a doubt regarding the second and third rakaah of Maghrib and you
cannot remove it?
a) Take it as the third rakaah and finish your prayer. Then pray Salaatul Ihtiyaat.
b) Take it as the second rakah and finish your prayer. Then do Sajdah as-Sahw.
c) You have to pray again.

2.

What is the second step you should do when you get a doubt in prayer?

a) Ask yourself if it is a doubt regarding the second and third rakah of prayer.
b) Ask yourself if it is a doubt regarding a prayer of two or three rakahs.
c) Try to remove your doubt.

Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions.

1.

Whenever we have a doubt in the number of rakahs you have completed, what is the first thing
we should try to do before anything else?

2.

Suppose you are praying Asr prayers, and while performing the ruku, you wonder whether this
is your second or third rakah. In this case, what should you do, if you cannot remove your
doubt?

74
61

3.

Suppose youre praying Dhuhr prayers, and while performing the ruku, you wonder whether this
was your third or fourth rakah. In this case, what should you do, if you cannot remove your
doubt?

4.

Suppose youre praying Isha prayer, and while you are in your ruku, you wonder whether this
was your fourth or fifth rakah. In this case, what should you do, if you cannot remove your
doubt?

75
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SHAKIYAAT AS-SALAAH - PART II

Salaatul Ihtiyaat
Salaatul Ihtiyaat is prayed either:
1 Rakah or 2 rakahs
When your doubt is such that should read Salaatul Ihtiyaat instead of repeating the whole prayer
this is what you would do:

After finishing Salaah, without looking away from the qiblah or doing anything that makes Salaah
baatil, you remain seated or stand up depending on what is required AND:
1. Make niyyah: Ex. "I am praying Salaaul Ihtiyaat 1 (or 2) rakah Wajib qurbatan ilallah."
2. Takbiratul Ihraam.
3. Recite only Surat al-Fatiha
4. Finish Salaah as usual (ruku, sajdah, tashahhud, salaam).
If you have to recite 2 rakahs, then you should:
1. Stand up for the 2nd rakah after sajdah.
2. Recite Surah al-Fatiha only
3. Finish Salaah as usual (ruku, sajdah, tashahhud, salaam).

Salaatul Ihtiyaat:
Does not have a 2nd Surah or qunoot
Should be offered silently

76
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SAJDAH AS-SAHW
Sajdah as-Sahw becomes Wajib when:
You talk by mistake in Salaah
You recite salaam at the wrong place, by mistake
You forget tashahhud
In a 4 rakaah Salaah you have a doubt after the 2nd sajdah as to whether it is the 4th or 5th
rakaah or 4th or 6th rakaah.
You added or left out by mistake something, which is not rukn.
How to Perform Sajdah as-Sahw:
After finishing Salaah:
1.

First do qadha of the action you have missed, if that is why you are performing the sajdah assahw, ex. do a qadha tashahhud or sajdah. If you forget one sajdah or tashahhud but
remember it before the ruku of the next rakah, you should return and perform it. If, however,
you remember after Salaah is completed, then you will have to offer 2 sajdah as-sahws as a
recommended precaution.

2.

Make Niyyah: Ex. "I am doing Sadah as-Sahw for missing tashahhud (or salaam or sajdah or a
ghayr rukn qiyaam, etc; as the case may be Wajib qurbatan ilallah".
Then go to Sajdah and say the following once:

Bismillaahi wa billaahi assalaamu alaika ayyuhannabiyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh

3.

Then sit up into juloos (sitting position).

4.

Then go to Sajdah again and repeat the recitation from the first sajdah.

5.

Then rise from Sajdah

6.

Recite tashahhud and salaam.

Please note: if you do not have the dua above memorized, try to do so. In the case that you do
not have it memorized or forget it and need to perform sajdah as-sahw, any dhikr recited will be
enough.
If after the prayer, but before the qadha of sajdah or tashahhud, any actions are done which
invalidate Salaah, then it is necessary to do the qadha actions, sajdah as-sahw and then repeat
the prayer.
77
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WORKSHEET 5.10
Sajdah as-Sahw
1. When is Sajdah as-Sahw wajib?
a. You accidentally talk in your Salaah
b. You leave out one of the ghayr rukn
c. You forget tashahhud
d. All of the above
2. In the chart below, write down the steps of performing Sajdah as-Sahw:

1
2
3
4
5
6

78
65

LESSON 7: SALAATUL AYAAT

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn about the Prayer of the Signs or Salaatul
Ayaat, which is an obligatory prayer in Islam.

READING

SAY: Does anyone know what prayers are Wajib or obligatory for Muslims to
perform?

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTERS THAT SHOWS A
CONDITION WHERE
SALAATUL AYAAT WOULD
BECOME WAJIB, LIKE AN
EARTHQUAKE, HURRICANE
OR ECLIPSE. THEN ON THE
BOTTOM OF THE POSTER,
HAVE STUDENTS OUTLINE
THE METHOD ONE WOULD
PERFORM SALAATUL AYAAT

DEMO

HAVE STUDENTS PAIR UP

AND TAKE TURNS
P E R F O M I N G S A L A AT U L
AYAAT. ONE STUDENT WILL
PRAY WHILE THE OTHER
STUDENT WILL COACH THE
PRAYING STUDENT ON THE
METHOD OF OFFERING THE
PRAYER, USING THEIR BOOK
FOR GUIDANCE. THEN THEY
SHOULD SWITCH SO THE
OTHER STUDENT ALSO GETS
A CHANCE TO OFFER THE
PRAYER WHILE THE OTHER
STUDENT GUIDES HIM OR
HER

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: Good. There are the 5 daily Wajib prayers that are Fajr, Duhur, Asr,
Maghrib and Isha. Does anyone know of any other Wajib prayers?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Another prayer that is Wajib for Muslims to perform is called Salaatul
Ayaat. Does anyone know when one must offer this prayer?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Salaatul Ayaat is a prayer that becomes obligatory when certain natural
conditions occur, like earthquakes, hurricanes or eclipses. Why do you think it
is required for Muslims to offer a prayer during this time?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. When something like an earthquake, hurricane or eclipse occurs,
it is a reminder or a sign for the Muslims of the power and greatness of Allah,
so we stop and offer praise to Allah and remember that nothing is greater than
Him. We will read more about the Prayer of the Signs now.
At this time, have students turn to the READING. Have students take turns
reading out loud, with the rest of the class following along.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET, ART EXTENSION and DEMO, located
in the Task Bar.

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T22

READING: SALAATUL AYAAT

Imam al-Baqir (A) once said: Earthquakes,
solar and lunar eclipses, strong and
dreadful winds, are among the signs of the
Day of Resurrection. Whenever you witness
them, think of the Day of Resurrection, seek
refuge in mosques, and stand in prayer.

1) Earthquakes
2) Thunder and lighting (that instills fear in
people)
3) Storms that have black and red winds
4) Solar Eclipse
5) Lunar Eclipse

Salaatul Ayaat or Prayer of the Signs is

a prayer performed when an eclipse,
earthquake or any other event that causes
fear in people takes place. It is called
Prayer of the Signs because events like
earthquakes are signs of Allahs power.
We perform prayers in order to remind
ourselves that Allah is the Master of this
world and these breathtaking natural
events. We are in a constant state of
forgetfulness, but natural disasters have a
mysterious way of reminding us of Allah.
As a result, despite the terrifying nature of
these disasters, we should find ways to be
grateful for them as well for their potential
as reminders of Allah.
Salaatul Ayaat is Wajib and if one misses
it, one must make up for it whenever
possible.
When to Perform Salaatul Ayaat
Salaatul Ayaat is only Wajib for those who
directly experience the event, not for
others. For example, if it happens in one
city but not another, the people in the city
where the natural events did not happen
are not obligated to perform the Salaah.
Salaatul Ayaat is Wajib when the following
natural events take place:

How to Perform Salaatul Ayaat

The Long Method
Salaatul Ayaat consists of two Rakahs
and in every Rakah, there are five Rukus.
1) One should perform it in the following
manner: Right after the niyyah for the
Salaah, one should say the takbir
(Allahu Akbar) and recite surah alFatihah and another surah of ones
choosing and follow it with a ruku. After
this, one should stand and recite surah
al-Fatiha and another surah and then
perform another ruku. This should be
repeated five times and after standing
back up from the fifth ruku one should
perform two sajdahs. One should then
follow it by performing the second
rakah in the same way as the first
rakah. One should then recite the
tashahhud and end the Salaah with the
salaams.
2) All the things that are Wajib for the five
obligatory daily prayers are also Wajib
for the Salaatul Ayaat. This includes
respecting the rules of tahaarah as well
as praying towards the qibla.

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The Short Method

Important Considerations

After the niyyah and takbiratul ihraam,

Even if many separate disasters take

recite surah al-Fatiha.

Then divide the

place at the same time, the Salaatul

second surah into five parts. Recite part

Ayaat must be offered for each of them.

1 and then go into ruku.

Stand up,

For example, if a solar eclipse and an

recite part 2 (without reciting Surah al-

earthquake take place, two prayers of

Fatiha again), and go back into ruku.

Ayaat must be offered.

Then recite part 3 and go back into

Ruku.

It is only Wajib to offer the Salaatul Ayaat

when the event occurs in the town you

Continue this until all five rukus are

live. Salaatul Ayaat would not be Wajib

completed. The second surah will thus

for those living in another city that could

be completed.

not feel it.

Example of Dividing a Surah into Five Parts

Surah al-Qadr can be divided in the following
manner:
1. Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Innaa anzalnaahu fee laylatil qadr.
2. Wa maa adraaka maa laylatul qadr.
3. Laylatul qadri kharummin alfi shahr
4. Tanazzalul malaaikatu warroohu feeha bi idhni
rabbihim min kulli amr.
5. Salaamun hiya hatta matlail fajr

In the event of an eclipse, the Salaatul

Ayaat must be offered during the time of
the eclipse. If one does not pray until the
eclipse is over, qadha Salaatul Ayaat
must be offered.
There is no Adhaan and Iqaamah for the
prayer of Ayaat.

Qunoot:

If one doubts the number of rukus

performed before going into sajdah, one

It is recommended that Qunoot be

should perform an extra ruku due to the

recited before the second, fourth, sixth,

doubt. If the doubt occurs after, or during

eighth, and tenth rukus of the two

sajdah, it should be ignored.

rakahs (in other words, before every

even numbered ruku). It is also enough

The prayer becomes baatil (invalid) if a

to recite Qunoot just before the last Ruku

ruku is added or left out intentionally.

of the second rakah.

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How to pray Salaatul Ayaat

Number of Rakaah: 2

(WAJIB)

Number of Ruku:

(WAJIB)

10

Number of Qunoot: 5

(MUSTAHAB)

Salaat al-Ayaat 1st Rakah

1. Niyyah &
Takbiratul Ihraam

2. Surah Al-Hamd
and
any other Surah

3. Ruku #1

4. Rise from Ruku,

Surah Al-Fatiha
and another Surah
and Qunoot #1

5. Ruku #2

6. Rise from Ruku,

Surah Al-Fatiha
and another Surah

7. Ruku #3

8. Rise from Ruku,

Surah Al-Fatiha
and another Surah
and Qunoot #2

9. Ruku #4

10. Rise from

Ruku, Surah AlFatiha
and another Surah

13. Go to Sajdah

14. Complete two

Sajdahs as usual

15. Rise for the

second Rakaah

11. Ruku #5

Rise from Ruku,

Recite the second Rakah in the same way as you did the first. *

NOTE: It is mustahab to recite qunoot before every 2nd Ruku. For this purpose, count all ten
Rukus together. Thus, you will recite qunoot before the 2nd and 4th Ruku (in the 1st Rakah);
and before 6th, 8th, and 10th Ruku (in the 2nd Rakaah).
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WORKSHEET 5.11
Salaatul Ayaat

True or False: Circle either T for True or F for False.

T!!

1.

Ayaat means sign.

T!!

2.

The prayer of Ayaat is Wajib when a house burns down.

T!!

3.

The prayer of Ayaat consists of five rakah with two rukus in each.

T!!

4.

For an eclipse, we should pray the Salaatul Ayaat at the end of it.

T!!

5.

The prayer of Ayaat is Wajib even if no one is injured during the natural disaster.

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the best answer.

6.

7.

If an earthquake and a solar eclipse happened at the same time, what should I do?
a)

Pray two rakah of the Salaatul Ayaat.

b)

Pray two Prayers of Ayaat.

c)

Pray that it doesnt happen again.

Suppose a tornado happens in Texas. What should we do?

a)

We should pray the Salaatul Ayaat.

b)

We should call someone in Texas to pray the Salaatul Ayaat for us.

c)

We dont have to worry about it.

Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions.

8.

What does a natural disaster symbolize?

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9.

In the short method of the Salaatul Ayaat, how many times do you recite Surah al-Fatiha in the
entire prayer?

10. Suppose were praying the Salaatul Ayaat and during sajdah, we begin to wonder how many
rukus weve performed. In this case, what should we do?

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SAWM
71

THE MONTH OF RAMADHAAN AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

The month of Ramadhaan is a very special

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A) has said,

month for Muslims. It is a month of fasting

W h o e v e r, d u r i n g t h i s m o n t h o f

and prayers, a month of worship and

Ramadhaan, fasts during the day, stands

sacrifice, and a month of Mercy and

up in prayer for part of the night, controls

purification.

his desires and emotions, controls his

Fasting during the day and

praying at night is not easy.

strengthen our imaan.

But it helps

tongue, keeps his eyes down, and does

It gets us closer to

not hurt the feelings of others, will become

Allah and away from evil thoughts and

free of sins as the day he was born.

deeds. It is a month where we can get rid of

all our sins and start afresh.

Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A) has said, The

day of your fast should not be like other

Ramadhaan is also important because it is

ordinary days.

the month in which the Holy Quran was

senses eyes, ears, tongues, hands, and

revealed to guide us, and during this month,

feet must fast with you.

When you fast, all your

Muslims try to recite as much of it as

possible.

A Sermon on Ramadhaan

The month of Ramadhaan is that in which

It has been narrated that once, just before

the Quran was sent down, a guidance for

Ramadhaan, the Holy Prophet (S) gathered

mankind, with clear signs of guidance and

his companions and talked to them about

the criterion of right and wrong. So everyone

the approaching month of Ramadhaan. It is

of you who is present (at home) during that

a beautiful sermon on the significance of

month should spend it in fasting . Allah

Ramadhaan.

desires ease for you, and He does not desire

from the sermon:

Let us read some passages

difficulty for you. And (He desires) that you

complete the period, and glorify Allah for

O people! This is the month that is the

having guided you, and that you may give

best of months in the eyes of Allah. Its

thanks. (2:185)

days are the best among the days. Its

nights are the best among the nights.

Some Hadith on Ramadhaan

Its hours are the best among the

hours . . .

The Holy Prophet (S) has said,

Ramadhaan burns the sins and faults as

This is the month in which you have

fire burns wood.

been invited by Him. You have been

given the chance to receive honors
from Allah, the Merciful . . .
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In this month, if you fast as told, then

closed, pray to Allah that they may

every breath you take has the reward

never be opened for you.

of tasbeeh, and your sleep has the

reward of worship.

Your good deeds

are rewarded more than usual and your

Dua of Imam Zainul Abideen (A) on

Duas are accepted . . .

Ramadhaan

While fasting, remember the hunger

In the Sahifa as-Sajjadiyyah, the book of

and thirst of the Day of Judgment, give

Duas by the fourth Imam, there are two

charity to the poor and needy, pay

Duas on Ramadhaan.

respects to your elders, have sympathy

month, and another bids it farewell.

for your youngsters, and be kind to

Accordingly, one is recited at the beginning

your relatives . . .

of the month, and the other at the end. Let

One welcomes the

us take a look at some passages from the

Guard your tongue against unworthy

Dua for welcoming Ramadhaan:

words, your eyes from scents that are

not worth seeing, and your ears from

And praise belongs to God who established

sounds that should not be heard . . .

this month,
the month of Ramadhaan,

O people! Your back is breaking under

the month of fasting,

the heavy load of your sins, so

the month of submission,

prostrate yourself before Him for long

the month of purity,

intervals and make it lighter . . .

the month of putting to test,

the month of standing in prayer,

Anyone who offers mustahab prayers

in this month, Allah will save him from

in which the Quran was sent down as a

guidance to the people . . .

hell. Whoever, in this month, offers one

Wajib prayer, for him the angels will

He gave this month superiority over all other

write the rewards of seventy such

months,

prayers offered by him in another

month . . .

by the many sacred things and wellknown perfections . . . to honor it . . .

Then He made one of its nights

The gates of paradise remain open in

this month. Pray that they may not be
closed on you.

superior to the nights of a thousand months,

and named it the Night of Decree . . .

The gates of hell are

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O God,
erase our sins,along with the erasing
of the crescent moon, and make us
avoid the ill effects of our actions, with
the passing of its days, until it leaves
us behind, while within it You purify us
of our sins and remove from us our
evil deeds . . .
O God,
fill this month with our worship of You,
decorate its times with our obedience
toward You,help us during its daytime
with its fast,and in its night with prayer
and Dua toward You, humility toward
You, and lowliness before You

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WORKSHEET 6.1
The Month of Ramadhaan and its Significance

True or False: Circle either T for True or F for False.

1. In Ramadhaan, we can get rid of our sins and start afresh

2. Fasting and praying helps us become stronger in our faith.

3. The Sahifa as-Sajjadiyyah was revealed in the month of Ramadhaan

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the best answer.

1.

What general point is the first two hadith on Ramadhaan trying to say?
a. That we should try to be good in Ramadhaan.
b. That Ramadhaan is a month in which we can erase our sins.
c. That we should start a fire by burning wood.

2.

What general point is the third hadith on Ramadhaan trying to say?

a. That we should not look, hear, speak, work, or walk during this month.
b. That we should fast by staying away from food and drinks.
c. That we should fast, not only by staying away from food and drinks, but also by generally
staying away from any sins.

3.

What is one thing the Holy Prophet (S) said about Ramadhaan in his famous sermon?
a. That in this month, the doors of heaven are open and the doors of hell are closed.
b. That in this month, the doors of hell are open, and the doors of heaven are closed.
c. That in this month, the Holy Prophet (S) was born.

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Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions.

1.

Look at the sermon by the Holy Prophet (S) about the month of Ramadhaan. Other than fasting
and prayers, describe four things we should try to do during this month?

2.

In your own words, why you think the month of Ramadhaan is a special month? Try to think of
your own reasons and dont worry about being wrong.

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FASTING AND ITS BENEFITS

Fasting is an act of worship prescribed

Feet do not go toward forbidden

by Allah.

places; rather go toward the places

where Allah is remembered.

Fasting is when we stay away from certain

Above all, your heart and mind should be

things such as food and drinks, as well as

with you in fasting, because the fast, in its

wrong deeds. The fast can be compared to

real sense, will not be complete unless

a living thing in one sense it has a body

your thoughts, your emotions, your

and a soul.

actions, and all aspects of your life

To stay away from food and

drinks is the fast of the body. To stay away

become pure and free from impurity.

from wrong deeds is its soul. If we are not

trying hard to be better Muslims by fasting,

Fasting takes place from dawn (before

our fast will be a body without a soul.

sunrise) to dusk (after sunset).

Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A) has said:

Generally, fasting is a mustahab act of

Your day of fast should not be like other

ordinary days.

When you fast, all your

worship. It is especially mustahab during

the months of Rajab and Shabaan.

But

senses eyes, ears, tongue, hands and

during the month of Ramadhaan, fasting

f e e t m u s t f a s t w i t h y o u .

becomes Wajib.

Here is how:

Let us pray to Allah to bless us all during

the holy month of Ramadhaan. May He

Eyes Keep your eyes off unlawful

accept our fasts, our prayers, and our good

things and use this special gift of God for

deeds. May He forgive us for our wrong

good acts such as reading the Quran

doings and guide us in our lives.

and Dua.
Ears Keep away from hearing unlawful

There are many benefits of fasting. In this

gossip, lies, and music.

lesson we will look at seven of them.

Tongue do not tell lies or useless

stories; do not spread rumors or gossip

1.

Fasting brings us closer to Allah.

about other people; and use the power of

When we sacrifice our food and drink,

speech in spreading the word of Allah.

we will obviously find ourselves in

Hands do not hurt others by your

hardship.

actions; instead try to help them as far as

hardship for the sake of Allah, it will

you can.

naturally bring us closer to Allah. As a

And when we go through

result, when we break our fasts, Allah

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2.

will be very pleased with us, and our

water. This helps us be thankful for the

Dua at that time will be accepted.

favors of Allah

Fasting teaches us patience. We all

need food and water to survive.

3.

4.

5.

Fasting brings about self-control.

We already mentioned how fasting will

To

deny ourselves food and water

bring about patience to hunger.

requires a lot of strength and patience.

example, if we are fasting we will not

So when we fast for a whole month in

give in to our desire to eat no matter

Ramadhaan, we build up a lot of

how hungry we are.

patience. As a result, the next time we

also bring about self-control in other

are really hungry and we know food is

things. For example, the next time we

not going to be available for the next

feel angry at someone, we will be able

few hours we will know how to be

to control ourselves and act in a

patient. Similarly the patience will

positive way. This self-control will help

trickle to other occasions where it is

us stay away from other disliked deeds

required.

as well.

Fasting helps us know how it feels

6.

For

But fasting will

Fasting breaks our pride. No matter

to be poor. There are so many poor

how much wealth we have, or how high

people in the world today who are

our position in life is, every Muslim has

suffering from hunger because they do

to fast in the month of Ramadhaan. In

not have enough money to buy food.

this way, all the Muslims around the

By fasting ourselves, we will know how

world are at an equal footing. Fasting

hard it is for these poor people.

At

may also make us realize we are

least, we can break our fasts with a

fortunate that Allah made us among

nice dinner they cannot. As a result,

the people that can afford food; we

fasting encourages us to help others

could just as easily have been born in

who are less fortunate than us.

the poverty stricken areas of the world.

Fasting brings about thankfulness to

7.

Fasting is good for the health. Let us

Allah. Many times, we forget about all

think of our stomachs as a machine

the blessings Allah has given us. We

that works non-stop.

take everything for granted.

For

meals each day breakfast, lunch,

example, in a normal day, we go

and dinner and in between, we have

through breakfast, lunch, and dinner

snacks. Now if we fast, then at least

without a thought of where it came

our stomachs will get some rest. If

from.

done properly, fasting can lead to

But by fasting, we learn the

value of a thing as simple as a glass of

better health.

We have three

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WORKSHEET 6.2
Fasting and its Benefits

Circle either T for True or F for False.

1.

Fasting is an act of worship.

2.

To stay away from bad deeds is the soul of fasting.

3.

Fasting takes place from dusk to dawn.

4.

Fasting is mustahab in Ramadhaan.

Circle the best answer.

1.

How do we fast with our eyes?

a) We try to use our eyes to read the Quran and Duas.
b) We try to sleep as much as possible.
c) We keep blinking to give our eyes some rest.

2.

How do we fast with our tongues?

a) We dont eat anything.
b) We dont tell lies, but rather we try to spread the word of Allah.
c) We dont stick out our tongues.

3.

How does fasting bring about thankfulness to Allah?

a) During our fasts, since we are so hungry, we realize the value of food, and so when we get it
at the end of he day, we will thank Allah for it.
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b) We thank our parents for making us dinner at the end of the day.
c) By fasting, we thank Allah for giving us all that He has.

Answer the following questions:

1.

What are the seven benefits of fasting that we learned?

2.

How does fasting help us know how it feels to be poor?

3.

How is fasting good for the health?

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PEOPLE EXEMPTED FROM FASTING

People Exempted From Fasting

5.

A mother who is nursing her child is

exempt if she fears that fasting might

There are of 2 categories of people upon

reduce the supply of milk for the child.

whom fasting is not Wajib:

She is to give fidyah in place of each

fast she has missed unless she makes

1. Those who will not fast and have no

up for the

fast before

next year.

qadha to give;
2. Those will make qadha later, when the

Fasting When Traveling

holy month of Ramadhaan is over.

1.
1.

2.

Traveling means having reached outside

Men and women who are not capable of

the boundaries of the city, town or

fasting because of old age are

village, in a journey that is a total of 14

completely exempt. They do not have to

miles or more outside of the city limits

make qadha later.

(28 miles both ways). On a day one has

Elderly people who find it very difficult to

the intention of traveling; one cannot

fast are also exempt; but they have to

break the fast while still at home or in the

pay a redemption fee (Fidyah) of ONE

city. The fast will be broken once you

MUDD (i.e. 1.65 lbs) of food or an

cross the boundary of your hometown

equivalent amount of money in lieu of

or pass the 14 miles.

each fast, to the poor and needy. It is

recommended that preference be given
3.

2.

At any place where you pray qasr, you

to wheat or barley.

will not fast. If you have traveled to a

A person, who, due to certain illness, is

place where your stay will be less than

unable to sustain and endure thirst, is

10 days, you will pray qasr for the 4

exempted. However, in view o f t h e

rakah salaahs and you cannot fast. You

sanctity of the holy month, s/he should

will make qadha later.

not drink water to quench the thirst fully.

Such a person will pay fidyah in place of

4.

3.

The people whose job is that of

each fast, and will make qadha if the

traveling, e.g. pilot, crew, drivers, etc or

illness is later remedied.

one who undertakes a journey for a

A mother in the advanced stage of

sinful purpose, must fast even while they

pregnancy will not fast if fasting is

are traveling, and their prayer will not be

harmful to her or the baby. She will give

qasr, either.

fidyah in place of the fasts and will make

qadha later.

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4.

To travel for the sole purpose of not

8.

A traveler can observe a Mustahab fast

fasting is allowed, but it is better if you

in Medina on three days if their main

do not do that.

purpose is for praying for the fulfillment

of their needs, and if they made a nadhr,

5.

If you travel from the place where you

it is better that those three days are

live AFTER the time of DHUHR, you will

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

have to complete that days fast.

However, if you travel BEFORE the time

9.

If a person does not know that a traveler

of DHUHR, you cannot fast once you

cannot fast and finds out during the fast,

leave the city limits.

his/her fast becomes baatil; however, if

s/he does not find out about it until

6.

If you reach the boundary of your

sunset, their fast is valid.

hometown BEFORE the time of DHUHR,

after a trip and you have not done
anything that will break your fast, then
you must fast on that day. However, if
you reach the boundary of your
hometown AFTER the time of DHUHR
you will not fast and make qadha after
Ramadhaan.
7.

If a person makes a nadhr (vow) for a

mustahab fast on a particular day and s/
he finds that s/he has to travel on that
day, then, because s/he had specified
the day s/he was going to keep the
mustahab fast, s/he can fast while
journeying; the same applies to a
person who makes a vow to keep a
mustahab fast on a particular day
regardless of whether s/he is going to
travel on that day or not. However, if a
person makes a vow to fast but does not
specify the day then s/he cannot fast if
s/he is going to travel.

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WORKSHEET 6.3
People Exempted From Fasting
1. Fidyah is:
a)

Money given to the poor for missed fasting

b)

An elderly person who cannot fast

c)

A certain amount of food given to the poor for missed fasting

d)

Money and food given to the poor for missed fasting

2. Fidyah is for: (circle all that apply)

a)

A pregnant woman

b)

A sick person

c)

Extremely advanced old age people

d)

A poor person who has no food for iftar

3. It is always OK to fast while traveling.

a) True
b) False

4. If traveling in Ramadhaan for less than 10 days,

a)

Pray qasr and keep fasting

b)

Do not pray qasr and keep fasting

c)

Pray qasr and do not fast

d)

Do not pray and do not fast

5. The people that will give qadha for missed fasts are: (circle all that apply)
a)

Sick person who does not get better

b)

Nursing mother

c)

Person who travels for work

d)

A person returning from a journey after Dhuhr

6. Maryam returns from a journey before Dhuhr. Should she fast?

a)

Yes

b)

No
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7. Sarah is a pilot. She must fast in Ramadhaan if she is otherwise able to.

8.

9.

a)

True

b)

False

Raza is traveling for less than 10 days but still fasts on the first day. After Maghrib he learns he
was not supposed to fast. His fast is:
a)

Valid

b)

Invalid (baatil)

Observing a sunnah fast in Medina is:

a)

Haraam

b)

Baatil

c)

Best done on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday

d)

Best done on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

10. Batool intended to keep a sunnah fast on Friday. She unexpectedly needed to leave her
hometown on that day. She can:
a)

Still fast

b)

Not fast

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HAJJ
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HAJJ
VOCABULARY

In this lesson, students will learn more about the Wajibaat of Hajj.

HAJJ
BAALIGH
AQIL
ISTITAAH
UMRAH AT-TAMATTU
HAJJ AT-TAMATTU

SAY: Another Wajib act that we are going to learn about today is the obligation of
performing Hajj. Hajj is Wajib upon every Muslim, at least once in his or her
lifetime if they have met certain conditions. Lets find out what you know about Hajj
already by doing an activity called LINK.

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS AN

AC R O N Y M F O R 4 TA S KS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE READING
OR FROM A TEAC HERS
LECTURE
K: KNOWLEDGE-SHOW WHAT
YOU NOW KNOW ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THROUGH A PROJECT
OR PRESENTATION

READING

S T U D E N T S C A N F O L LOW
ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHER
BY TURNING TO THE READING
PAGE

At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes
to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper so that you can re-visit their questions after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Hajj or have
them research answers on the web or by conducting interviews with
knowledgeable members of the community. This teaches them the responsibility
of researching answers for themselves instead of someone always spoon feeding
the answers to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them
in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should turn to the READING
page for this section on the subject of Hajj, located in the Task Bar.
They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes, from the reading.
You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to
each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches
others about Hajj. The ART EXTENSION activity can suffice for this part of the
LINK. If time permits, have students present to each other or to younger children.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTER THAT EXPLAINS THE
REQUIREMENTS OF HAJJ

T23

HAJJ
You must have enough time to
perform all the Wajib acts of hajj; if
you cannot do so then you have to
keep the money aside and go the
following year.
Before going for Hajj, it is good to:

All of us should think about going to Hajj

but before we do so we need to be sure of
a number of things. Lets review the
conditions for Hajj. For Hajj to be Wajib on
someone,

Make sure your money is halaal: you

have no debts, especially Wajib debts
like khums or zakaat.
Your intention is purely for hajj (i.e. your
niyyah is of qurbatan ilallaah)
You have prepared a will and given away
some sadaqah for your journey.

She/he needs to:

Be Baaligh - (reaches age of Islamic
responsibility)
Be Aqil
mind

The Wajib Hajj is made of two parts:

- Being sane and of sound

Have Istitaah - (Capability). This means:

You should be able to afford the
expense of your journey and stay
during hajj.
You must be able to maintain those
dependents that have remained at
home.
When you return, you must have
enough means to provide for yourself
and your dependents.
The journey to and from hajj must not
endanger your life, wealth, or family.

1. Umrah at-Tamattu
Performed anytime between 1st
Shawwaal and 8th Dhul Hijjah.
2. Hajj at-Tamattu
Performed from 9th to 13th Dhul Hijjah.

One may do the first part of Hajj (the Umrah

part) several days before the second part
then stay in Makkah till the 9th of Dhul
Hijjah.
We will study the first part of Hajj in this
grade and the second part in later grades.

You must be healthy. If you cannot

go due to an illness but all the other
conditions of hajj are fulfilled then you
can send someone on your behalf.
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Umrah at-Tamattu
Before entering Makkah, one must
become a Muhrim (i.e. being in a state of
ihraam). Ihraam is worn at designated
places known as Meeqaat (boundary).
The following are the five Wajibaats that
have to be observed in Umrah
at-Tamattu:

1.

Niyyah, wearing Ihraam in

Meeqaat and reciting Talbiyyah.

2.

Tawaaf of Kabah.

3.

Salaah of Tawaaf at Maqam

Ibraheem or nearby.

4.

S ae e - g o i n g s e v e n t i m e s
between the rocks of Safa and
Marwah.

5.

Taqseer - trimming a bit of your

hair or nails.

In grade 5, we looked at making niyyah,

wearing ihraam in Meeqaat, and reciting
talbiyyah.
In this grade we will learn more about the
next 4 Wajibaat of Umrah at-Tamattu.

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1. Tawaaf of Kabah
After you have worn the ihraam, you can go to Makkah. You first must perform tawaaf of the
Kabah. Tawaaf is Wajib. If you miss this, knowingly or otherwise, your Hajj is baatil.

The door of Kabah

Hijr al-Ismail

Starting
point of
Tawaaf
Hajr al-Aswad

Maqam Ibraheem

(The black stone)

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How to do Tawaaf

The number of circuits or rounds in

each tawaaf is seven. Each round
begins from Hajr al-Aswad and ends
there. A tawaaf of less or more than
seven rounds is baatil.
The starting point and the ending point
for each circle during tawaaf is the
Black Stone fixed to the wall of Kabah.
This is known as Hajr al-Aswad. When
you have made your niyyah, stand just
parallel to the Hajr al-Aswad and start
the tawaaf. Each round is completed
when you return to the starting point.
During all times when doing tawaaf, the
Kabah must remain on your left. So if
for any reason your left shoulder turns
away from the Kabah, that particular
sector of movement will not be
included in tawaaf. You will have to
return to the place where your left side
should have moved away and continue
from there.
Now, since Kabah is in a cubical
shape, it has four corners. As you
reach the corners, you will make a
gradual turn exercising care, as much
as possible, that your shoulder remains
parallel to Kabah.
There is a small wall in arc shape
adjoining Kabah on one side. This is
Hijr Ismaeel (The grave of Prophet
Ismaeel, his mother Sayyida Hajirah
and other Prophets). While making
tawaaf, this arc must be included in the

round. So do not pass between Kabah

and Hijr al-Ismaeel during tawaaf.
It is better if tawaaf is performed
b e t w e e n K ab a h a n d M a q a m
Ibraheem.

What would you do when you are in

doubt about the number of circles or
loops around the Kabah?
The rules are simple to remember:
All doubts after the completion of
tawaaf or after having moved from
the place of tawaaf should be
ignored.
When you are certain of having
completed the seven rounds, but
are doubtful if you might have
done more than seven rounds,
such doubt should also be
ignored.
If you are doing tawaaf which is
Wajib, all doubts during tawaaf
would render it baatil.
Muwaalaat is necessary in tawaaf.
This means that all seven rounds
must follow each other in
sequence.
Whilst you are doing tawaaf, you
should engage yourself in reading
Quran, dua or dhikr.

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2. Salaah of Tawaaf
Two Rakah of Salaah is Wajib immediately after the completion of tawaaf.
The Salaah is said behind Maqam Ibraheem, or at a place nearest to it.

3. Saee

Saee is Wajib and must be performed after the Salaah of Tawaaf.

Saee means to walk between the two rocks of Safa and Marwah.
Each trip begins with Safa.
As you walk from Safa ending at Marwah, this is counted as your first trip.
Your return from Marwah to Safa will be your second trip.
You will end your 7th trip at Marwah.
In between Safa and Marwah, there is a green light in one area which is meant for
harwala. When one reaches these, it is mustahab for men to trot (walk faster).

4. Taqseer
It means cutting off some hair or nails.
It is better to do it immediately, or at Marwah.
After taqseer, you can change into your normal clothes.

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Hajj Dictionary
Arafah:

A long and wide open place where

pilgrims go on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. They stay

there till sunset, worshipping Allah. The
Mountain of Mercy (Jabl ar-Rahma) is in Arafah.

Hajr al-Aswad: The black stone in the Kabah

which was brought from heaven.

Ihraam: Special state for pilgrims in which

certain things become haraam. The clothes of
pilgrims are two pieces of white unstitched
material for men and white simple clothes for
women.

Maqam Ibrahim: A stone near the Kabah with

the footprint of Nabi Ibrahim on it. Pilgrims recite
the Salaah of Tawaf behind it.

Mina: The pilgrims go to Mina on the 10th of

Dhul Hijjah. Here, they will throw 7 pebbles at
each of the three pillars symbolizing where
Iblees tried to misguide Nabi Ibraheem, carry
out the sacrifice and cut off part of their hair or
nails as Taqseer/Halq.

Meeqaat: A place from where the pilgrims put

on the Ihraam.
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Muzdalifah:

The pilgrims go to Muzdalifah at

sunset on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. They stay there

for the night there, and collect pebbles for use
in Medina.

Sacrifice: On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims

sacrifice an animal in the memory of the
sacrifice of Nabi Ibraheem (A).

Saee: Every pilgrim has to walk or run seven

times between Safa and Marwah, the two hills
near the Kabah.

Talbiyyah: The pilgrims recite the Talbiyyah as

part of the Ihraam.

Taqseer: After finishing the rituals of Hajj,

pilgrims cut off part of their hair or nails.

Wuqoof: The staying in Arafah is known as

Wuqoof.

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Locations on Map

Meeqaat
Masjid asShajarah

Medina
7K

Meeqaat
Johfa

464 KM
Meeqaat

115

22

0K

KM

Makkah

Jeddah

Meeqaat

Meeqaat

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Hajj Guide

Holy Makkah
Masjid al-Haraam

Hotel

Meeqaat
Masjid al-Shajarah

Medina
Finish
Begin
Jeddah Airport

Arafah

Muzdalifah
Mina
Mina

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WORKSHEET 7.1
Hajj

1. These are the amaal during Hajj-e-Tamattu. Mark the 5 amaal that are also Wajib during Umrah
at-Tamattu.

Rami of Jamarat
Muzdalifah
Mina
Arafah
Saee
Taqseer
Ihraam
Tawaaf
Qurbani
Salaah of Tawaaf
Tawaaf an-Nisa
Salaah of Tawaaf anNisa

2. Saee means:
Going seven times between the rocks of Safa and Marwah
Trimming a bit of your hair or nails
Hitting the stones at Jamarah (representing Shaytaan)

3. The starting point and the ending point for each circle during tawaaf is the
fixed to the wall of Kabah. This is known as
.
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95

5.

The number of circuits or rounds in each tawaaf is

6.

During tawaaf, you have to pass between Kabah the arc (Hijre Ismaeel).

TRUE

FALSE

7.

At all the time during tawaaf, Kabah must remain to your

8.

How many rakahs of Salaah are Wajib immediately after completion of tawaaf?

9.

Saee begins from Safa.

TRUE

10.

FALSE

Taqseer means cutting off some

or

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Extra credit
Name the different parts of the Kabah.

1.!

2.!

3.!

4.!

5.!
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97

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE REST

OF THE FUROO AD-DEEN
98

LESSON 1: KHUMS
VOCABULARY

In this lesson, students will learn more about Khums

KHUMS
JIHAD
AMR BILMAROOF
NAHY ANIL MUNKAR
TAWALLI
TABARRI

SAY: As Muslims, one of the components of the Furoo ad-Deen that must be
fulfilled is Khums. Lets find out what you know about Khums already by doing an
activity called LINK.

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS AN

AC R O N Y M F O R 4 TA S KS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE READING
OR FROM A TEAC HERS
LECTURE
K: KNOWLEDGE-SHOW WHAT
YOU NOW KNOW ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THROUGH A PROJECT
OR PRESENTATION

READING

S T U D E N T S C A N F O L LOW
ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHER
BY TURNING TO THE READING
PAGE

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTER THAT EXPLAINS THE
REQUIREMENTS OF KHUMS

At this time do the LINK activity located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes
to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Khums or have
them research answers on the web or by conducting interviews with
knowledgeable members of the community. This teaches them the responsibility
of researching answers for themselves instead of someone always spoon feeding
the answers to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them
in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should turn to the READING
page for this section on the subject of Khums located in the Task Bar. They should
now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the reading. You can
either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to each
other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Then, ask the following questions as a gauge for their understanding:
SAY:
Why is Khums so important for Islam to be successful?
On what items is Khums Wajib?
What are the two areas in which Khums is divided?
To whom do we give our Khums money?
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches
others about Khums. The ART EXTENSION activity can suffice for this part of the
LINK. If time permits, have students present to each other or to younger children.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

114
T24

LESSON 1: KHUMS
One of the markers of success for any religion
are the financial resources available to it. A
religion that has a lot of funds will easily be able
to spread in the world. It can fund television
channels, open hospitals and schools in poor
countries and use them as means to attract
people to its beliefs. A religion without financial
resources cannot grow nor can it sustain itself for
too long. For Islam to survive and to grow in this
world of challenges, Muslims must not shy away
from donating money. Donating money for the
sake of Allah is not money lost for Allah promises
that not only will He reward us in the afterlife for
the money we spent for His sake, but He will also
repay us in this world in ways we least expect. If
you want to make money, try investing it with
Allah whose money returns are guaranteed!
Khums is a critical part of the Islamic Ummah.
Many schools, hospitals, orphans, Masjids and
other crucial institutions in the Muslim world are
funded by Khums money. One may have the
best ideas on how to help Muslims around the
world, but without money these ideas will only
remain ideas; they will not materialize. It is for
this reason that charity taxes like Khums are so
important in Islam.
Khums is to be paid on the following:
1. Savings at the end of the year. After deducting
the necessary expenditures on maintenance
of his or her family, he or she must pay 20% on
the remaining money that one has left over.
2. Mining income.
3. If lawful and unlawful wealth gets mixed up.
4. Anything extracted from the sea (e.g. pearls.)

5. War Goods. War goods are usually taken by a

Muslim army during wartime.
6. If land is purchased by a Dhimmi. A Dhimmi
is a non-Muslim who lives in a Muslim country
and is under protection of the government.
With this purchase, the Muslim has to pay
Khums, namely 20% of the lands total value.
For example, if the total value of the land was
$100, 000, the Muslim would have to pay $20,
000.
Unlike Zakaat which is paid in livestock or
tangible items like jewelry only, Khums can be
given cash. Khums money has to be divided into
two equal parts.
One half of the total Khums is given to needy
from among the Sadaat. This is called the
portion of the Sadaat or Sahm-e-Sadaat.
Sadaat is the plural form of Sayyid, a person who
comes from the family of the Prophet (s).
The other half of the total is given to Sahm-eImam who at this moment is the 12th Imam.
During the Ghaibah of the Imam (A), this part of
the Khums is given to the most learned and
trustworthy Marja. We do taqleed of the most
learned Marja. With his permission, we use this
money to build Mosques, schools, hospitals,
support orphanages and many other forms of
charity. Many people depend on Khums money,
either for survival or as a source of income for
supporting religious institutions which so many
people depend on for their religious activities.
The Marjas and their network of followers
manage the money and spend it where they
deem appropriate.
Khums money is sometimes given directly to a
Marja or his office. However, Khums money may
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99

also be given to a trusted Masjid so that it may

be used for the needs of the community at hand.
Under certain circumstances, Khums money can
also be used directly by the individual who wants
to donate it. For example, he or she may have
Khums money in his or her hands and may
spend it on building a Masjid for the community,
or help build an Islamic school.

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WORKSHEET 8.1
Khums
1. Why is Khums necessary in Islam?

2. What are the two areas that Khums is divided into?

3. What is Sahm-e-Sadaat? What is this money used for?

4. What is Sahm-e-Imam? What is this money used for?

5. Calculate how much Khums you would need to pay on the following items:
a. A brand new shirt you havent worn, which you paid $20 for

b. $100 you received on your last birthday

c. $50 in your savings account

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LESSON 2: JIHAD
TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

In this lesson, students will talk about Jihad.

SAY: Today we are going to talk about the sixth Furoo ad-Deen. Can someone
remind me what that is?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. The sixth Furoo ad-Deen is Jihad. Lets read about the different
types of Jihad.
SAY:
What is the difference between al-Jihad al-Ashgar and al-Jihad al-Akbar?
What type of a Jihad is al-Jihad al-Akbar? Who are its fighters ?
Why do you think al-Jihad al-Akbar is the greater struggle?
Explain the struggle between the soul/mind and desires. Give an example of
this type of struggle.
How does Islam say we can fulfill our desires?
At this time, students can turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar and
then complete the WORKSHEET.

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102
T25

LESSON 2: JIHAD
Allah says in the Holy Quran:

and fighting are about self-defense only. As

O Prophet! Encourage the believers to go

a consequence, it may very well be the case

for Jihad. If there are twenty patient ones

that offensive Jihad was never allowed in

amongst you, you will overcome

Islam in the first place.

200... (8:65)
What is Jihad?

The Major Jihad (al-Jihad al-Akbar)

Jihad means to struggle for the sake of Allah.

Al-Jihad al-Akbar is a personal Jihad that

Jihad, or struggling for the sake of Allah, can

involves a spiritual struggle inside our hearts

be done in two ways.

and minds. It is called the major Jihad as it is

the most difficult to do. It is difficult because

The Minor Jihad (al-Jihad al-Asghar)

it involves an on-going struggle against bad

Al-Jihad al-Asghar is the most well-known

desires from the day a person matures to the

form of Jihad due to its wide coverage in the

day he or she dies. These bad desires can

media. Minor Jihad involves fighting against

refer to many things including jealousy,

an aggressing group or unjust ruler. In this

backbiting, watching Haraam things on TV

sense, one may think of the minor Jihad as a

or even the desire to be lazy and not help

fighting Jihad. Like soccer or most team

people. Additionally, there are other kinds of

sports, this kind of warfare can either be

desires that are not bad in and of

defensive or offensive. Defensive is fighting

themselves, but only become bad

back when your enemy attacks you first

because they are not fulfilled properly. For

whereas offensive is when you attack your

example, meat is permissible to eat but one

enemy first. Unlike defensive Jihad, most

must be careful in only eating meat that is

Marjas believe that no one is allowed to

Halaal and not eat meat that is Haraam. In

conduct an offensive Jihad unless the

this sense, the major Jihad is a deeply

Prophet or Imams ask them to. You can think

personal and spiritual Jihad and hence

of the minor Jihad as a political Jihad.

why no ones permission is needed. This

Politics refers to government matters and

Jihad must be fought in the hearts and

wars.

minds of every Muslim.

An interesting point regarding this fighting

This Jihad is a struggle between two

Jihad drawn out of the Prophet

opposite forces: the heart/mind and bad

Muhammads (S) life. A quick glance at it will

desires. In this struggle between your heart/

demonstrate that the Prophet never started

mind and your bad desires, it is your heart

an offensive Jihad. All of his wars were

and mind that must win. If your bad desires

defensive in nature, and the Quran stands as

win and control your life, then you have lost

proof for this since all the verses about wars

the personal and spiritual struggle and as

119

such, you cannot maintain a level of imaan

Most people love money and want to be rich.

or faith that is acceptable to Allah.

Islam does not prohibit the acquisition of

money but it does teach us to be careful

In Islam, our good desires are derived from

when acquiring wealth (i.e. becoming rich.) It

our Fitrah which refers to our spiritual nature.

is therefore your responsibility to ask the

The Fitrah has been given to us since the

right questions: Is your job halaal? Is your

day Allah created us. Our bad desires come

money halaal? Gray areas do exist so make

out of our Tabiyyah, which refers to our

sure to ask someone that can guide you

animal nature. Our animal nature is the

when you are in doubt.

source of our desires which, if left

uncontrolled, will not only ruin the people
around us, but also ruin our souls. Whichever
side wins depends on which side we feed
the most. If we feed our Fitrah with the food it
wants like Quran, befriending believers,
praying on time, then our Fitrah will win and
as a result, we will win the Major Jihad. But if
we feed our Tabiyyah more by feeding it with
bad deeds like gossiping, using foul
language, judging people etc. then our
Tabiyyah will win and we will lose the Major
Jihad and lose our connection with Allah.
Islam does not say that you must not fulfill
your desires; most human desires are lawful.
All that Islam wants from you is to be careful
in so far as HOW YOU FULFILL YOUR
DESIRES. There are always two ways of
fulfilling your desires: lawful and unlawful.
For example, food is one of the desires of
human beings. Islam does not say that you
cannot fulfill this desire but you have to be
careful in how you fulfill your desire for food:
is it mubah? Is it Taahir? Is it halaal?

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WORKSHEET 8.2
Jihad
1. Jihad is not just a fight; it is actually a
struggle to maintain your
.

5. Why do you think the battle between the

soul and desires is called the Greater
Jihad? What makes it greater than the
Minor Jihad? Explain in your own words.

a.

Fighting position

b.

Wealth

c.

Self-control

d.

Anger

2. Jihad is a struggle between two opposite

forces: _____________ versus ____________.

3.

a.

India; Pakistan

b.

East; West

c.

Islam; others

d.

Mind; desires

What is the greater jihad?

a. the battle between two countries

fighting for freedom
b. the struggle between ones souls
and ones desires
c. fighting your parents so you can go
to your friends house
d.
desires

the struggle between two different

4. Describe a way you have done jihad

(something you did just because you felt
it was the right thing to do).

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LESSON 2: AMR BIL MAROOF/NAHY ANIL MUNKAR

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

In this lesson, students will look closer at Amr bil Maroof and Nahy anil
Munkar.
SAY: Today, we are going to learn about the 7th and 8th Furoo ad-Deen. Who
can remind me what these are?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. They are Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil Munkar. Lets learn more
about them and why we need them.
At this time, complete the READING located in the Task Bar. Then ask the following
questions to gauge students understanding.
SAY:
Why must we practice Amr bil Maroof and Nahy anil Munkar?
What are the conditions for practicing Amr bil Maroof and Nahy anil Munkar?
What method should you use to do Amr bil Maroof and Nahy anil Munkar?

At this time, students can complete the WORKSHEET located in the TASK BAR.

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T26

LESSON 2: AMR BIL MAROOF/NAHY ANIL MUNKAR

The fifth Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A)
once said, Doing Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil
Munkar is of the most important obligations
because upon it depends the performance of all
other obligations. If Amr bil Maroof and Nahy
Anil Munkar are done, the earth will become a
safe place, enemies will be defeated, and all
other matters will be done appropriately."
Anarchy is a state of disorder due to the
absence of an authority who can enforce rules
and punishments. Without authority and an
enforcement of rules and punishments, humans
become free to do whatever they want.
Sometimes this may be good, but often enough
people abuse this freedom and commit evil acts
like murder and theft. In order to keep a society
functioning and keep it from falling apart, it is
necessary that there be some kind of authority
along with some rules that can be enforced. It is
also necessary that there be some kinds of
punishments in order to deter people from
committing crimes. Part of established authority
is that there needs to be security cameras,
police officers and good citizens that can report
or stop crimes from happening.
Every country has a set of rules and morals that
people must follow. If you pass the red light on a
street, you have done something illegal and you
may receive a ticket if you are stopped by a
police officer. Tickets are not given in order to
hurt you, they are there to discourage you from
disobeying the rules as the rules are there to
make life safe for everyone.
Similarly, bullying is not allowed in school. If you
see someone getting bullied, it is your duty to
report it to a teacher or the school office. This is
a form of Nahy Anil Munkar. If someone is

destroying school property, it is our duty to stop

the person from committing this crime.
Amr bil Maroof means Enjoining the Good and
Nahy Anil Munkar means Forbidding Evil.
Allah has taught us through His prophets and
common sense (aql) in terms of what is good
and bad. Not only do we have to practice
performing the good and staying away from the
bad ourselves, we must also help others towards
the right path, after all, we are a community of
brothers and sisters in Islam. For example, Allah
has revealed that we should perform our Salaah
everyday, so part of your duties is to remind
others to do this good act as well. This is part of
Amr bil Maroof or Enjoining what is Good.
Enjoining means to instruct or urge someone to
do something. It is not the same as the word
enjoy which means something else entirely!
Maroof is all that is good. What is good comes
from Allah as He is the absolute Doer of Good
(al-Barr) which is one of His Divine Names. The
word Maroof comes from the word Urf in Arabic
which means custom. This means that there
are things in our cultures that we consider good
and it would therefore be a good idea to enjoin
people to do them as long as they dont
contradict the ethical principals and laws of
Islam. For example, if a man extends his hand in
order to shake the hand of another man, it would
be good if the person reciprocates and extends
his hand as well. Shaking hands can be
considered a cultural practice and not something
strictly religious yet encouraging it would still be
considered Amr bil Maroof if you do it for the
sake of Allah. Allah loves all that is good!
Nahy Anil Munkar is to forbid others from doing
what Allah considers evil. For example, if you
123

see someone stealing from the Masjid, it is your

duty to stop them from doing so either through
words or in action.
Conditions for Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil
Munkar
There are different conditions that must be in
place before one should do Amr bil Maroof and
Nahy Anil Munkar. The person must:
1) Be aware of what is good and bad in Islam
2) Must believe that there is a possibility that the
Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil Munkar will
have some kind of benefit. If he or she is
100% sure that the other person will not listen,
then under some circumstances it is no longer
Wajib to do Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil
Munkar. This is usually applicable to smaller
personal issues and not larger social and
political ones.
3) The person undertaking Amr bil Maroof and
Nahy Anil Munkar must be confident that no
harm will come to him, either to his or her
body, personal life and finances nor will it be
the cause of suffering for someone else.
4) If the issue at hand is so problematic that it is
putting a community at serious risk, then it
becomes a Wajib duty to tackle the problem
even if one knows that it might not lead to
anything. When matters become so large (e.g.
when they are political problems) then the
condition of the possibility of Nahy Anil
Munkar working is dropped and the person or
persons in charge of the Nahy Anil Munkar
must do it regardless of its consequences.

Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil Munkar can be

done in three ways:
1) Talking to the person and politely asking the
person to either perform a particular action or
refrain from an evil deed.
2) By being a good example. Sometimes talking
to people does not work but being a good role
model does. People often do not do what you
say, they do what you do!
3) The final stage, especially in matters
regarding Nahy Anil Munkar, one should
report the matter to the resident Aalim or
imam of the Masjid. From that point on the
imam will consult with the appropriate Marjas
office and if need be, take appropriate action.
4) If the matter requires immediate attention and
there is no time to take up the issue with a
scholar, and one knows with certainty that the
issue at hand is clearly a problem, then one
may take an active role beyond just speaking
politely. For example, if you see one of your
brothers or sisters in Islam being assaulted in
the street, it becomes your duty to do Nahy
Anil Munkar and physically stop the
aggressor. Of course, this will only be
considered Nahy Anil Munkar if you do it for
the sake of Allah.
You are the best nation produced [as an
example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right
and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If
only the People of the Scripture had believed, it
would have been better for them. Among them
are believers, but most of them are defiantly
disobedient. (Surah Aal Imran 3:110)

Method of Doing Amr bil Maroof and Nahy

Anil Munkar
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WORKSHEET 8.3
Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil Munkar
Answer the following questions in complete
sentences.

5. For the previous example, what can you do

instead if you cannot say anything to the
person?

1. Why should you do Amr bil Maroof and

Nahy Anil Munkar?

2. What three conditions must be in place for

you to do Amr bil Maroof and Nahy Anil
Munkar?

3. You found out that whenever your friend

goes to the grocery store with her mom,
she steals a candy bar and puts it in her
backpack. What should you do?

4. If someone is doing something wrong and

you want to do Nahy Anil Munkar, but you
know that he will hurt you if you tell him
anything, should you still say something?

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LESSON 4: TAWALLI
TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

POSTER THAT EXPLAINS THE
REQUIREMENTS OF TAWALLI
AND TABARRI.

In the next two lesson, students will learn more about the 9th Furoo ad-Deen, Tawalli
and the 10th Tabarri.
Note to Teachers: Many people pronounce the 9th and 10th Furoo ad-Deen as
Tawalla and Tabarra, but the correct Arabic pronunciation is Tawalli and Tabarri.
SAY: In 5th grade, we went over the subject of Tawalli and Tabarri. Who remembers
what Tawalli was?
Wait for answers
SAY: Good. Tawalli is the 9th pillar of Islamic practice or Furoo ad-Deen. It means to
love and follow the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (A). The loving and following
teachings of the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt is none other than loving and obeying
Allah.
SAY: Does anyone remember the difference between Tawalli and Tabarri?
Wait for answers
SAY: Good! As Tawalli is an expressiong of love and obedience to the Ahlul Bayt
(A), Tabarri, the 10th Furoo ad-Deen, is the opposite; it is distancing oneself from
people or places that are hostile to the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt. In this section,
we are going to learn more about these two aspects of our Furoo ad-Deen.
Students should now turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar. Then, ask the
following questions to assess the level of their understanding.
Students can now complete the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar. Students
may also work on the Art Extension if time permits.

126
T27
T25

LESSON 4: TAWALLI
On a beautiful day, a man came to the prophet
Muhammad (s) with a sad look on his face. The
Prophet asked him, What is wrong? The man
replied, We come to you during the day and
night, we look at you and sit with you. Tomorrow,
you will be raised with the other prophets of
Allah, and we will not be able to see you
anymore. The Prophet (S) did not say anything,
but later angel Jibraeel came down and revealed
to him the following verse: Those who obey
Allah and His messenger shall be among those
whom Allah has bestowed His blessings: the
prophets, and those who never deviated from the
truth, and those who [with their lives] bore
witness to the truth, and the righteous ones; and
how good a company are these! (4:69)
This verse means that the only way to show ones
true love for the Prophet (s) and his Ahlul Bayt is
to obey Allah.
Say if you love Allah, follow me, Allah will love
you and forgive your sins. For Allah is AllForgiving and All-Merciful (3:31)
Tawalli is the 9th pillar of Islamic practice or
Furoo ad-Deen. It means to love and follow the
teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (A). Loving and
following the teachings of the prophet and his
Ahlul Bayt is none other than loving and obeying
Allah.
In the Holy Quran, Tawalli has been translated as
a direction towards which Muslims are to look
for guidance.
The Holy Quran says:
And everyone has direction to which he turns,
therefore hasten to do good work. (2:148)

The Ahlul Bayt (A) are a beacon of the true path.

They are a model and example of human ethics
and conduct (akhlaq), guidance, and good work.
They have set examples for us, and given us a
direction to follow so we dont fall away from the
right path.
Love of the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt is
mandatory for all Muslims. Prophet Muhammad
(S) said that he was leaving behind two things
for guidance: the Quran and his Ahlul Bayt. This
means that we must love whom Allah loves.
Loving what Allah loves helps us grow closer to
Him. As such, without loving the Ahlul Bayt (A)
our closeness to and relationship with Allah will
be limited.
A good way to think about the importance of
Tawalli is the following. When we think about the
Mercy of Allah, His Kindness, or any other
attribute of Allah, it is quite difficult to grasp.
What do we mean by Allahs Mercy? Allah is so
infinitely High that it is difficult to grasp His
attributes with our minds. The prophets of Allah
on this earth embody some of the attributes of
Allah to a certain (but not absolute) degree.
What this means is that since the prophets have
perfect knowledge, they know what Allahs
attributes (e.g. His Mercy) are and are thus able
to exemplify them in human form for us. For
example, Allah is All-Merciful, but the prophet
Muhammad and his Ahlul Bayt are also a mercy
to this world and by observing the Messengers
mercy (as well as that of his Ahlul Bayt), we get
an idea of Allahs Mercy may be like as the
Prophet embodies the Mercy of Allah on this
earth. In this sense, the prophets are there to
demonstrate for us the greatness of Allahs
attributes. By associating ourselves with and
loving Allahs prophets, what we are doing in
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reality is associating ourselves with and loving

Allah for Allah is so beyond our minds that the
only realistic way of knowing Him is through the
perfection of His prophets. This is why Tawalli is
so crucial in Islam for it is the only door through
which we can truly get a proper idea and feel
of what Allahs greatness is and what His
attributes are really like.
Questions to think about:
What is this love that we are commanded to
show to the Ahlul Bayt (A)?
Secondly, in what ways can one express love for
the Ahlul Bayt (A) and remain aloof (standing
apart) from their enemies?
It is reported in Al Kafi (Vol 2, Page 74, Hadith
Number 3) that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A)
was addressing Jabir and said:
Oh Jabir, do you think that it is enough for
anyone just to claim by his tongue that he loves
the Ahlul Bayt? Does he, by such a claim,
become one of our Shia? Jabir, I swear by the
Almighty that until a person fears Allah and
obeys him, he cannot claim to be of our Shia. He
must have humility, be just, fulfill his obligations
of Salaah and fasting, show affection and
sympathy and obedience to his parents, assist
and be kind to his neighbors, the poor, those in
debt, as well as to show sympathy and affection
to orphans. He must always be truthful. He
should read and study the Quran, There must
never be any malice in his heart. Without these
qualities he cannot qualify to claim that he loves
us and cannot claim to be among our Shia
It is easy to say something but it is even harder
to act upon it. Actions speak louder than words.

Our actions should serve as testaments to the

fact that we are the followers of the Ahlul Bayt
(A). By doing this and exemplifying their
behavior, we partake in the greatness of Allah
who is the originator of all that is good.
Imam Muhammad Baqir (A) further added:
Oh Jabir, it is not enough for any person only
to say by word of mouth that he loves Imam Ali
and the Ahlul Bayt. He must follow the
Seerah (way of life) of the Holy Prophet (S) and
his Ahlul Bayt (A) and act according to the
recommended acts (mustahabaat) established
by them. If he does not, then his claim of love for
the Ahlul Bayt cannot benefit him.
The Imam then emphasized that without
taaah (obedience and submission) nobody
can achieve closeness to Allah and mentioned:
We do not like them to claim our friendship if
they do not fulfill all the conditions. A sinful
person is our enemy. Without good deeds and
abstinence from sins, any claim of friendship to
us is of no avail.
Our knowledge and emotions are often two sides
of the same coin. We often adopt the beliefs of
those whom we love and admire and reject the
beliefs of those whom we dislike. This is why
conversion to a religion is not just an intellectual
process but a deeply emotional one. Many
people converted to Islam because of the
greatness of the Quran, but many other people
converted to Islam thanks to the kindness and
compassion of the Prophet Muhammad (S). As
the Quran says, if he had been harsh few people
would have converted! What is important to note
here is that by loving the Prophet and Ahlul Bait
we will be more willing to practice Islam sincerely
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and by practicing Islam seriously and sincerely

we show our true devotion to Allah.
Quick Pointers on how to do Tawalli
1. Study the biography of the Prophet
Muhammad (s) and his Ahlul Bayt (A) and
learn ways to imitate them in your daily life.
2. Make sure to study the ahkaam or rulings of
Islam so you can better obey Allahs
commandments as taught by the Ahlul Bayt
(A)
3. Participate in Muharram programs to further
acquaint yourself with the akhlaq of the Ahlul
Bayt (A).
4. If possible, go on Ziyaarah and visit the
graves of the Ahlul Bayt (A) thereby showing
your devotion to them and asking them to
intercede on your behalf in this world and in
the next.
5. Do Salawaat constantly and ask Allah to instill
love for the Prophet (S) and his Ahlul Bayt (A)
in your hearts.

Tawalli
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WORKSHEET 8.4
1. In order to properly practice Tawalli, one must:
a. Love the prophet (S) and his Ahlul Bayt (A).
b. Follow the commands of Allah.
c. Have proper Akhlaq (Good Manners)
d. All of the above

2. Circle either T for True or F for False.

Loving the Ahlul Bayt (S) is enough for us to be counted among their Shia

3. In your own words, write down examples on what you can do in your daily life and what areas you
can improve upon in order to be counted among the Shia of the Ahlul Bayt.

4. Give two ways on how doing Ziyaarah of the Masoomeen could be counted as Tawalli.

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LESSON 5: TABARRI
TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn about the concept of Tabarri.

SAY: In the last lesson, we learned about Tabarri. Today we are going to
learn more about Tabarri. Who can remind us what Tabarri means?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Tabarri is the last of the 10 Furoo ad-Deen or actions that are Wajib
upon Muslims. We will read about Tabarri to understand it better.
At this time, students can turn to the READING, located in the TASK BAR.
Have several students take turn reading while others follow along.
Afterwards, students can complete the WORKSHEET, located in the TASK
BAR.

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

BROCHURE THAT CONTAINS
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
EVENT OF GHADEER.

GALLERY WALK

PUT UP POSTER PAPERS FOR

E AC H Y E A R A H . T H E R E
SHOULD BE 10 POSTERS
THAT ARE LABELED WITH
T H E Y E A R . T H E N H AV E
STUDENTS WALK AROUND
A N D D R AW O R W R I T E
DOWN SOMETHING THEY
REMEMBER ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED IN THAT YEAR.

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T28

LESSON 5: TABARRI
Once you have learnt what Tawalli is, Tabarri is
quite easy to grasp since it is simply the
opposite of Tawalli. We earlier defined Tawalli as
the 9th pillar of Islamic practice or Furoo adDeen. It means to love and follow the teachings
of the Ahlul Bayt (A). The loving and following
teachings of the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt is
none other than loving and obeying Allah. Tabarri
is the practice of disassociating oneself from
those who oppose Allah and/or express hostility
in any way towards the Prophet Muhammad (S)
and his Ahlul Bayt (A).
The Quran states:

This is a [declaration] of disassociation
(baraaah, i.e. tabarri) from Allah and His
messenger towards the polytheists (who hate
and fight the Prophet) whom you made a treaty
with.
Surah al-Tawbah, verse 1
Many people make the mistake of thinking that if
they say by word of mouth is the same as action.
Say for example that you have a friend that is a
bad influence on you. When you hang out with
this friend, you do not do your homework, you
dont do your Salaah, you disrespect your
parents, you dont take school seriously, you act
rudely with your siblings and are quick to see
faults in everyone except for yourself. These are
qualities that you may not have had before but
ever since you started hanging out with this new
friend of yours, your attitude has completely
changed. Now you realize this and by word of
mouth you say that this friend of yours is a bad
influence. But do you think that just by stating

this it is enough? Can you really become better

by just saying this friend is a bad influence if you
still keep hanging out with him or her? The
answer is a clear no. As the saying goes, you
cant just talk the talk, you must walk the walk!
Acknowledging that this new friend of yours is a
bad influence is only the first step, you must go
the extra step and disassociate yourself from him
or her.
The same applies for religious matters. There is a
famous hadith from the Prophet which states:
A person imitates the religion and behavior of
his friend, so be careful in who you take as a
friend.
The friends and associations we choose for
ourselves, as well as those whom we select as
role models and those whom we choose to love
deeply affect our behavior. If we chose someone
who is hostile towards Allah and/or His Prophet/
Ahlul Bayt, we might not perhaps come to hate
Allah or the Ahlul Bayt, but surely our love for
Him and His chosen representatives on this earth
will diminish.
The Quran says


Say [O Prophet!] If you love Allah, you should
follow me and Allah will love you and forgive you
for your sins. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful
(3:31)
Once cannot evoke the love of Allah in our loves
if we associate with people who dislike Him and/
or the Prophet (S) and the Ahlul Bayt (A). It is
therefore for this reason that Tabarri becomes
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Wajib as it is a means to saving our Imaan and

relationship with Allah.
Quick Pointers on how to do Tabarri
1. It is not enough to talk the talk, you must walk
the walk. If you know someone who is against
Allah, His Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt, you
must not only acknowledge that they may be a
bad influence on you, but you must take steps
in disassociating yourself from him or her.
2. If there are people in history who were hostile
towards the Ahlul Bayt (A), then you must
reject them as a religious role model.
3. If the person you meet is hostile towards the
Ahlul Bayt (A) but you feel that it is out of
ignorance, it is best that you leave the
persons guidance to someone who has
wisdom and is knowledgeable in Islam. Often
enough we try to take up the task for ourselves
but due to our lack of experience, wisdom and
knowledge we often make things worse by
either giving incorrect information, or not
knowing when to say what at the appropriate
time or by losing our cool and putting the
person off.

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WORKSHEET 8.5
Tabarri
1. Name one example in your life when you had to do Tabarri

2. Suppose you have a family member that you live with whom you need to disassociate from, how
can you go about doing this?

3. Give 2 reasons why Tabarri in all aspects of life is important.

4. Give 3 examples on how a person who dislikes the Ahlul Bayt (A) may badly influence you.

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114

IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED

115

IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED

VOCABULARY
IJTIHAD
TAQLEED
MUJTAHID
IJMA
FATWA
RISALAH

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS AN

AC R O N Y M F O R 4 TA S KS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE READING
OR FROM A TEAC HERS
LECTURE
K: KNOWLEDGE-SHOW WHAT
YOU NOW KNOW ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THROUGH A PROJECT
OR PRESENTATION

READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn more about Ijtihad and Taqleed.
SAY: Why does Islam give us so many laws?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Does anyone know what the process of deriving laws is called?
Wait for answers.
SAY: It is called Ijtihaad. We are going to learn more about this today. First, we will
do LINK to see how much you know about Ijtihaad and Taqleed.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes
to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper so that you can re-visit their questions after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Ijtihad/Taqleed
or have them research answers on the web or conduct interviews with
knowledgeable members of the community. This teaches them the responsibility
of researching answers for themselves instead of always having them spoon fed
to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them in future
grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of Ijtihad/Taqleed located in the
Task Bar. They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the
reading. You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they
can read to each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Then, ask the following questions to gauge for understanding.
SAY:
Why cant humans make our own laws?
How did Allah communicate His laws with us?
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. This can be done through the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

T29
T26

IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED - PART I

Islam is a complete way of life and has laws for every aspect of life. Laws are necessary for a
human being because one has to live with others and needs to consider the rights of others.
When people live in a society, there must be rules that everyone has to follow.
If there were no laws, people would be free to act as they pleased. Most would think only of
themselves. If everyone acted like this, human rights would be trampled, and there would be no
order and justice in society and the world would be a very difficult place to live in.
But if laws are necessary, who should make them?

One man?

A
group of
men?

Allah
the
Creator

If people were left to make their own laws, they might make laws according to their own desires.
For example, if a fast driver was making a law, then he would make sure that there was no speed
limits on the roads; and if a wealthy man was making a law, then he would make sure that rich
people did not have to pay tax.
However, when the Creator makes laws,
He makes them for the good of all human beings.
He does not favor anyone because He loves us all equally.
T h e r e i s a l s o a n o t h e r r e a s o n w h y t h e C r e a t o r s h o u l d m a k e t h e l a w s .
Think of a person who has invented something like a computer. When s/he sells his computer, s/he
also writes an instruction booklet for the users. He or she writes the instructions, because s/he
knows exactly how the computer works and how to use it. If we follow his or her instructions, the
computer will work nicely. If we dont follow the instructions, we may damage the computer.
In the same way, since Allah is our Creator, He knows what is good for us, what will harm us, and
what will help us achieve real success.
This is why Allah is the only one who can write the laws for us.
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He has sent an instruction booklet for life in this world. If we follow His instructions properly, we will
achieve true success. If we dont, we may ruin ourselves.

Allah

Angels

Messengers

People

Allah conveyed His laws to mankind through His Messengers. These Messengers had the duty of
conveying Allahs laws mankind.
According to Islam, the laws were sent through Angel Jibraeel to the Holy Prophet (S). The verses
revealed to our Prophet (S) were compiled in a book called the Holy Quran. So, the Quran is the
main source of laws.
The Holy Prophet (S)
When the Holy Prophet (S) was alive, he explained the rules of the Quran. The Quran is a guide,
but a silent one. The Prophet (S) is a talking guide who accompanies the book. What he said and
did was in order to show us how to follow the laws of Allah. What he did and said are known as
ahadith (plural of hadith). The ahadith are the second source of laws.
The Imams (A)
After the death of the Holy Prophet (S), the Divine Imams (A) became the chosen and divine
guides for mankind.
They continued teaching and guiding people the way the Prophet (S) had. The duty of every Imam
(A) was to convey the laws revealed to the Prophet (S), and help people understand and follow
them. What the Imams (A) said and did to guide the people are also known as ahadith. The Imam
of our time is the twelfth Imam, Imam Mahdi (A).

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WORKSHEET 9.1
Ijtihaad & Taqleed
Circle either T for True or F for False.
1. Islam is a complete way of life and has laws for all of its aspects.

2. If we dont follow our Creators instructions, we will ruin ourselves.

3. Allah sends His laws through His messengers .

4.The Quran is the second source of laws.

Circle the letter of the best answer.

5. Why shouldnt people make the laws?

6.

a.

Because people are too busy to make laws.

b.

Because people will think only about themselves when making laws.

c.

Because angels make the laws for them.

What are ahadith?

a.

A collection of what the Prophet (S) and the Imams (A) said and did

b.

A weird Arabic word

c.

The main source of laws

Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions.

7.

What are the two sources of laws?

8.

What would happen if there were no laws?

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Why should Allah be the one who makes our laws?

10.

What is the role of the Prophet and the Imams regarding laws?

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IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED - PART II

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

In this lesson, students will learn more about Ijtihad and Taqleed.
SAY: Who can remind me why we need laws in Islam?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. Today we are going to learn more about how we get these laws
during the ghaybah of our 12th Imam.
At this time, turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar. Then, ask the following
questions to gauge for understanding.
SAY:
What is Ijtihaad?
What is a Mujtahid?
How does a Mujtahid come up with laws?
In what area do we do taqleed?
Students can then complete the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

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IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED - PART II

Today our twelfth Imam is in ghaybah
(occultation), but people still need a guide.

Once we believe in Allah and His prophets,

They need somebody to help explain the

we need to act as Allah has commanded.

Laws of Allah somebody who knows a lot

These actions are the Furoo ad-Deen, the

about the Quran and hadiths. This person is

branches of religion. We do not have to

known as a Mujtahid.

understand these on our own, because

once we have faith in Allah we will accept

A Mujtahid is an expert in ijtihaad (forming

that the laws He has sent down are for our

laws by studying the Quran and ahadith). A

own good. After all, who else but our

Mujtahid is also the representative of the

Creator would know what is best for us and

twelfth Imam. Apart from the Quran and

guide us towards heaven?! Therefore, when

ahadith, the Mujtahid makes use of aql

the Mujtahids present these laws to us, we

(intelligence or common sense) and ijma

will follow them.

(agreement with other Mujtahids) in order to

derive laws.
Because we cannot all be experts in Fiqh
(Islamic Laws) and practice ijtihaad, we
need to follow those who can. When

The Fundamentals of Religion (Usool ad-Deen):

We must understand on our own
The Branches of Religion (Furoo ad-Deen):
We must follow from a Mujtahid

somebody practices ijtihaad and becomes

a Mujtahid, we do his taqleed. To do
someones taqleed means to follow the

Following an expert is not something

rules a Mujtahid compiles. These rules are

unusual.

known as fatwas and are collected in a

book called the Risalah.

For example, when we go to our doctor, we

trust that the doctor is an expert in medicine

However, Muslims are not allowed to follow

and knows the treatment for our illness. If

others (even a Mujtahid) when it comes to

he or she asks us to do anything we will do

the Usool ad-Deen, the fundamental beliefs

it assuming they know what is best.

of Islam. For example, our belief in only one

such, even if our doctor gives us medicine

God should not be based on a fatwa of a

that may taste really bad, we will still take it

Mujtahid. The five main roots of religion

because the doctor knows better than us

must be understood and accepted by us

about medicine.

As

on our own without imitating someone else.

We should be convinced individually on the

In the same way, a Mujtahid is an expert in

truth of these beliefs.

the field of religious laws. He has studied

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the religion for years. We follow his laws not

because we cannot think for ourselves, but
because we cannot all be experts in such a
big field. Thus, when a Shia Muslim
becomes baaligh, he or she must make the
niyyah (intention) of doing taqleed of a
particular Mujtahid.

Imam Mahdi (A) has said:

For any new circumstances that you are
worried about, you should turn (for
guidance) to the narrators of our hadith, for
they are my proof over you just as I am
Allahs proof.

Ijtihaad is a very important practice of

Islam. Both the Quran and the ahadith
mention the importance of experts in
religion to guide others.
From the Quran:
Allah says in the Quran:
And why should not a part from every
section of them (the Believers) go forth to
become learned in the Religion, and to
warn their people when they return to them,
so that they may beware? (9:122)
From the Ahadith:
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A) has said:
If there is anyone among the fuqaha
(experts in fiqh) who is in control over his
own self, protects his religion, suppresses
his evil desires and is obedient to the
commands of his Master, then the people
should follow him.

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WORKSHEET 9.2
Ijtihaad & Taqleed

Circle either T for True or F for False.

1. Imam Ali (A) is the Imam of our time.

2. We cannot all be experts in fiqh.

3. We must do taqleed of a Mujtahid on the Usool Ad-Deen.

4. A Mujtahid is the representative of the 12th Imam.

Place the matching letter in the spaces on the left.

5.

Forming laws by studying the Quran and ahadith.

6.

Intelligence

7.

To follow a Mujtahid.

A. Taqleed
B. Risalah
C. Mujtahid
D. Fatwa

8.

The disappearance of the 12th Imam.

E. Ghaybah

9.

The rules given by a Mujtahid.

10.

An expert in forming Islamic Laws.

11.

A book of Islamic rules.

F. Aql
G.Ijtihaad

Short Answer Questions

12.

Why do people need a guide - Why dont they just interpret the Quran themselves?

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13. Give an example of following an expert (other than the doctor example).

14. What advantage do Shias have over other sects of Islam who do not have ijtihaad? Tip: read
and think about the hadith by the 12th Imam (A).

15. Write down the names of two present day Mujtahids whom you can follow or do taqleed of.

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IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED - PART III

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING ALOUD.

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING.

In this lesson, students will learn more about Ijtihad and Taqleed.
SAY: Previously, we learned about Mujtahids and how they come up with laws.
Does anyone know any famous Mujtahids?
Wait for answers.
SAY: Good. Today we will talk about who can become a Mujtahid and how you
can decide which Mujtahid to follow.
At this time, turn to the READING, located in the Task Bar. Then, ask the following
questions to gauge for understanding.
SAY:
What are the qualifications to become a Mujtahid?
How do you decide which Mujtahid to follow?
Students can then complete the WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

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IJTIHAAD & TAQLEED - PART III

Who Can Be a Mujtahid?
The knowledge of a Mujtahid is
tremendous. Before he can be accepted as
a Mujtahid, he has to go through many
courses of scientific knowledge. Since the
responsibility of a Mujtahid is very great, it
is obvious that not everyone can be a
Mujtahid. Therefore, before a person can
be a Mujtahid, he must have the following
qualities/qualifications:
1. He must be sane (sensible).
2. He must be baaligh.
3. He must be a Shia Ithnaasheri.
The Mujtahid must believe in the
twelve Imams (A) as the rightful
successors of the Holy Prophet (S).
We cannot follow a learned person
from any other sect.
4. He must be male.
5. He must be alive. Doing taqleed
(following) of a deceased Mujtahid
is not allowed. Referring to
Mujtahids who have died cannot
solve the problems of our time. A
Mujtahid living in our time will be
able to understand our problems
and guide us accordingly.
6. He must be aadil. This means he
must be just, have a pious
character and does not commit
any major sins. Having knowledge
alone is not enough. The Mujtahid
must also be a devoted follower of
the faith.
7. He should be a legitimate child
(born of married people).
Apart from the above qualities, the Mujtahid
whose taqleed we do must also be alam.

This means that from all the Mujtahids, he

must be the most knowledgable. There are
many Mujtahids at a time, so it is better to
follow the one who is more knowledgeable
than others.
How to Decide Which Mujtahid to Follow
We should do taqleed of a Mujtahid who is
the most knowledgable, but how do we
know who is the most learned from all the
Mujtahids currently alive? There are three
basic ways of finding out which Mujtahid is
alam:
1. When an educated person is are
of all the Mujtahids and how
knowledgeable they are, he or she
can choose the one with the most
expertise.
2. When two learned and just people
say that a particular Mujtahid is
alam. The only condition for this is
that two other learned and just
people do not contradict the first
two.
3. When a group of learned and just
people certify that a Mujtahid is
alam and we are satisfied with
their statement.
A Few Mujtahids
It might be useful to know the names of a
few Mujtahids in our time. Some of them
are:
1. Ayaatullah Sayyid Ali Khamenei
2. Ayaatullah Sayyid Ali Sistaani
3. Ayaatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi

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WORKSHEET 9.3
Ijtihaad & Taqleed

Circle either T for True or F for False.

1.

One quality of a Mujtahid is that he must be a baaligh.

2.

A Mujtahid can be of any sect, whether Shia or Sunni.

3.

Mujtahid has a lot of knowledge.

4.

When two learned and aadil people say that we can do taqleed of a certain Mujtahid and two
other learned and aadil people say that we cannot do taqleed of that Mujtahid, then it is okay if
we follow the first two peoples advice.
T
F

Circle the letter of the best answer.

5.

6.

What does alam mean (for a Mujtahid)?

a.

It means a person who is pious

b.

It means a person who is learned

c.

It means a Mujtahid who is the most learned

What is one way we can know if it is appropriate to do taqleed of a certain Mujtahid?

a.

If at least two learned and pious people say we can

b.

If the Mujtahid himself says we can

c.

If the US government says we can

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Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions.

7.

What are the two sources of laws?

8.

Name the Mujtahid that you do taqleed of. If you dont already do taqleed of one, you must
choose a Mujtahid. What three ways can you do this?

9.

Write down five of the seven qualities a person must have before he can be a Mujtahid?

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10

HALAAL & HARAAM FOOD &

DRINK
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READING: HALAAL & HARAAM FOOD

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

poisonous or narcotic substances.

O People, eat from the land what is

II. Living Creatures: These can be

permitted and good and do not follow in the

footsteps of Shaytaan, for he is an open
enemy to you. (Al-Baqarah, Verse 168)
Since food and drink are essential for the
survival of humanity, Allah has given clear
guidelines on what can and cannot be
consumed.

divided into three groups:

1.

Those that live in the sea.

2.

Those that live on the land.

3.

Birds.

1. Sea Creatures
In order for the fish to be halaal:
It must be removed alive from the

In addition to this, we have also been

instructed in eating manners/behavior
through which a Muslim may remember the
bounties of Allah and observe the rules of

water.
It does not matter who has done
the fishing or what method was
used to catch the fish.

the Shariah; Islamic law.

Furthermore, Allah has made the habit of

Halaal

We are allowed to eat any fish

as long as it has scales.

Haraam

All other sea creatures such as

whales, sharks, turtles, lobsters
and crabs.

Exception

Prawns and shrimps can be

eaten.

eating an important factor in establishing

social unity. He has encouraged the sharing
of food with others and stressed the merits
of giving food to the poor and needy. This
becomes obligatory when certain sins are
committed, for which the kaffara or penalty
is to feed poor Muslims. Thus we can see
that this subject covers a wide and
important area of Islamic Shariah.
Foods can be primarily divided into two
sections:

This term covers all animals that live on the

I. Plants, fruits, vegetables and grains:

All these can be eaten as long as they
are not harmful to human beings. This
means that they m u s t

2. Land Creatures

not

contain

face of the earth. Allah has permitted the

eating of some and forbidden others. The
first five verses of Surah al-Maidah (Surah
no. 5) give a summary of the commands
regarding what is permitted to eat
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3. Birds
The body is covered with feathers.
Those whose flapping of wings
while flying is more than gliding.

Domestic animals: Camels, cows,

If a particular birds flight is not

goats and sheep:

known, then before eating one must

They all possess a hoof or cloven

check for the presence of one of the

hoof.
Halaal

following:

Wild animals (not kept in

enclosures) : Mountain sheep,

birds food passage. In the crop,

wild cows and asses, gazelles

and deer are permitted.
Locusts are permissible
Makrooh
Horse, donkey or mule.
Animals that possess Canine
teeth (pointed) or fangs. Examples
of such animals that are
sometimes eaten by man are
dogs, rabbits, elephants and
monkeys.
Haraam There are specific verses in the
Holy Quran forbidding the eating
of a pig.
It is not permitted to eat reptiles
such as snakes and tortoises.
Insects such as fleas and lice are
also forbidden.

A crop (a bag-like swelling of a

Halaal

food is prepared for digestion)

A gizzard (a second stomach,

where the food from the first
stomach is ground up)

A spur (a fork-like extension on

the birds foot which performs the
function of a talon).

Thus chickens, turkeys, pigeons and

all small birds are permissible to eat.
Even ostriches and peacocks are
allowed.
Birds who prey (possessing talons
claws).
Every bird which, when in flight
glides more than it flaps its wings
and has talons cannot be eaten.
Birds who prey like eagles, hawks
Haraam and vultures are haraam to eat.
Crows, rooks and ravens should not
be eaten either.
Other animals which fly but are not
classified as birds such as bats, bees
and other flying insects are also
haraam.

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Note that in cases where one is in danger of

6.

Alive Animal: The animal must show

dying through starvation, anything,

some sign of movement after being

including forbidden things, can be

slaughtered, especially if there was

consumed to save life. However, this must

some doubt whether the animal was

be done as a last resort and only the

alive before being slaughtered.

absolute minimum must be eaten.

Guidelines to eating at restaurants
Slaughtering according to Shariah

When eating out it is important to

establish who owns the restaurant. If it

All animals and birds that are permissible to

is owned by a Muslim who apparently

eat are nevertheless forbidden to a Muslim

is mindful of the religion then no

unless they have been correctly

further investigation is necessary and

slaughtered. The laws for hunting differ

all food served is halaal.

slightly and can be obtained from the

If a Muslim who appears to be

Risalahs (books of Islamic law) of various

unmindful of the religious laws owns it,

jurists.

for instance he serves or allows

alcohol on the premises, then he must

The correct method of slaughtering involves

be questioned about the source of his

the simultaneous cutting of the gullet,

meat, the handlers of the food and its

windpipe, carotid artery and jugular vein of

contents. You can eat there only if you

the animal with a sharp knife. The

are certain that it is halaal.

conditions for the slaughtering are as

According to Ayaatullah Sistani and

follows:

Ayaatullah Khamenei, Christians and

Jews are Taahir, so their followers can

1.
2.
3.
4.

Muslim: The one who carries out the

eat food prepared by them.

slaughtering must be a Muslim.

If a restaurant is owned by a non-

Iron: If possible, the instrument used to

Muslim or ownership is unknown, then

slaughter should be made of iron.

the meat cannot be eaten, unless one

Qiblah: The creature to be slaughtered

becomes convinced that it is halaal

must be made to face the Holy Kabah.

and the food has been cooked by a

Bismillah & Allahu Akbar: The person

Muslim, Christian or Jew.

performing the slaughter must mention

As regards to vegetable products, the

the name of Allah as he slaughters the

method of preparation has to be

animal.
5.

checked. For instance, when buying

Normal Bleeding: There must be a

french fries, one has to ask the owner

normal emission of blood from the

whether the oil used for frying is

animal after the slaughter.

vegetable oil and whether meat

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products are fried in the same oil.

5.

To blow on food or drink to cool it.

Note: this is because we live in a

6.

To throw a fruit before one has fully

society where restaurants tend to mix

eaten it.

vegetables and meat products while

7.

cooking.

such a manner that nothing remains on it.

Products that are advertised as

8.

suitable for vegetarians or fish based

eaten with their skin.

To scrape off meat from a bone in

To peel those fruits which are normally

products like cod burgers are halaal,

unless one is sure that the contents
include animal products or that they
have been handled by people other
than Muslims or Ahlul Kitaab i.e.
Christians and Jews.
Eating Manners (acts that are
encouraged when taking a meal):
1.

Washing of the hands before eating.

2.

Washing hands and drying with a dry

towel after eating.

3.

To recite the name of Allah (Bismillah)

before eating.
4.

The host should begin eating first and

end last.
5.

To eat with the right hand.

6.

To take small bits of food and chew

thoroughly.
7.

To collect and eat the bits of food

scattered on the tablecloth.

8.

To take salt before and after the meal.

Acts that are discouraged when taking a

meal:
1.

To eat when not hungry.

2.

To over-eat.

3.

To gaze at others while eating.

4.

To eat food while it is very hot.

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WORKSHEET 10.1
Halaal and Haraam Food
1.

Foods can be primarily divided into the following two sections:

a.
Plants and vegetables
b.
Fruits and vegetables
c.
Plants/grains and living creatures
d.
Desserts and Meat

2.

In order for the fish to be halaal, it must be

a.
Removed alive from the water
b.
It does not matter who has done the fishing
c.
It does not matter what method was used to catch the fish
d.
All of the above

3.

Domestic animals, wild animals (not kept in enclosures) and locusts are
animals with canines are
.
a.
Halaal, Haraam
b.
Haraam, Makrooh
c.
Makrooh, Haraam
d.
Haraam, Halaal

4.

The following animals are makrooh to eat:

a.
Donkey or Horse
b.
Reptiles
c.
Pig
d.
All of the above

5.

Birds that may be halaal to eat are:

a.
Those whose flapping of wings while flying, is more than gliding
b.
Birds of prey that have claws, such as eagles
c.
Animals that fly but are not classified as birds
d.
All of the above

6.

If a particular birds flight is not known but it has a crop (a bag-like swelling of its food
passage) then one can consider it halaal.
a.
True
b.
False
c.
Only if it also has a spur
d.
None of the above

while

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7. A bird can be considered halaal if it has either a fork-like extension on the birds foot which
performs the function of a talon, a crop, or a
a.
Gizzard (second stomach)
b.
Claw
c.
Beak
d.
A large tail
8.

When in danger of dying through starvation, anything, including forbidden things, can be
consumed to save life.
a.
If you make sure you eat only the minimum required amount
b.
If you make sure to read the kalimah over the forbidden food
c.
If you make sure you are eating this only as a last resort
d.
Both a and c
e.
Both b and c

9.

All animals and birds that are permissible to eat are nevertheless forbidden to a Muslim unless
they have been:
a.
Washed and cleaned
b.
Raised on farms
c.
Tested for chemical contamination
d.
Correctly slaughtered

10.

The person performing the slaughter must

a.
Mention the name of Allah as he slaughters the animal
b.
Be a Muslim
c.
Make the animal face the qiblah
d.
All of the above

Put an E next to the act that is encouraged and a D next to the act that is discouraged by Islam:
1.

To collect and eat the bits of food scattered on the tablecloth.

2.

To eat when not hungry.

3.

To throw a fruit before one has fully eaten it.

4.

To peel those fruits which are normally eaten with their skin.

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READING: ALCOHOL
Islams Position on Alcohol

moderate amounts it can be beneficial.

Allah says in the Holy Quran,

Islam totally forbids the consumption of

alcohol in any amount. It also forbids

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say: in

both these there is great sin and also (some)
profit for men, but their sin is greater than their
profit (2:219)

Muslims from any involvement in its

production, distribution or sale.
The greatest gift of Allah to humans is their

The Shaytaan only desires to cause enmity

ability to reason. This distinguishes us from

and hatred to spring in your midst by

all other creatures. Without our ability to

means of intoxicants and games of chance,

reason, we become no different from the

and to keep you off from the remembrance

animals. It is because alcohol destroys this

of Allah and from prayer. (5:90)

Imam Ali ar-Ridha (A) has said:

faculty of reason that it is haraam.

One who sits at a dining place at which
others drink liquor is cursed (by Allah).

Allah has prohibited liquor on account of

resulting from it and because it renders
reason and intellect of no effect and
destroys Haya modesty and sense of
shame.
The following saying is by Imam Jafar as-Sadiq
(A) and has also been repeated by other Imams
(A):
Do not associate with drunkards because
when calamity befalls upon them,
it will also engulf their associations
(friends).
In modern society, alcohol is the most
dangerous legal drug. Under its influence,
man is not only danger to himself, but to
those around him also.
While it is universally accepted that excess
in alcohol is harmful, it is thought that in
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WORKSHEET 10.2
Alcohol
Answer the following questions:
1.

According to Surah al-Maidah, what good acts does alcohol prevent a person from doing?

2.

According to Imam ar-Ridha (A) what does alcohol destroy in a person?

3.

What is the greatest gift of Allah to humans that is affected by the use of alcohol?

4.

Masood and his friend go to a restaurant that advertises halaal food. When he sits down to
enjoy the delicious looking steak and fries he notices the cook taking his break. His friend
recognizes the cook as an acquaintance from India who is Hindu. Is the food that Masood
ordered halaal? Explain your answer.

5.

Zahra eats at a restaurant that serves halaal food. However, the owner is Christian. Should she
ask the owner if the meat is halaal?

6.

Suppose in the above situation Zahra does ask and the owner who is known to be a very honest
man says that it is halaal. Is it all right for her to eat the meat?

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159

11

HIJAB
136

HIJAB
VOCABULARY

In this lesson, students will learn more about Hijab.

HIJAB
MODESTY
CULTURE
KHIMAAR
MAHRAM
NON-MAHRAM
SOCIAL HIJAB

SAY: Who can tell me what the word Hijab means?

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS AN

AC R O N Y M F O R 4 TA S KS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE READING
OR FROM A TEAC HERS
LECTURE
K: KNOWLEDGE-SHOW WHAT
YOU NOW KNOW ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THROUGH A PROJECT
OR PRESENTATION

READING

STUDENTS CAN TAKE TURNS

READING

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Wait for answers.

SAY: Good. Hijab means veiling, that is, veiling all the parts the Shariah requires
in front of non-Mahram people as well as Salaah. This includes both men and
women although the details of Hijab differs between the two genders. We are
going to learn more about Hijab today, but first we will do LINK to see how much
you know about this topic.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes
to do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Hijab or have
them research answers on the web or by conduct interviews with knowledgeable
members of the community This teaches them the responsibility of researching
answers for themselves instead of someone always spoon feeding the answers to
them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them in future
grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should turn to the READING
page for this section on the subject of Hijab, located in the Task Bar.
They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes from the reading.
You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can read to
each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Then, ask the following questions to gauge for understanding.
SAY:
Why must Muslims observe Hijab?
What is the most obvious extra piece of clothing that Muslim women must wear?
What does Mahram and non-Mahram mean?
Can you give examples as to who a non-Mahram may be?
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know by making a poster and presenting it. They can also complete the
WORKSHEET, located in the Task Bar.

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READING: HIJAB
O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and
believing women to draw their veils (cloaks)
close unto themselves. This is better so that they
may be recognized (as modest women) and
therefore not be bothered and Allah is muchforgiving and merciful. (Surah Al-Ahzaab: 59)
How we dress says a lot about our character.
How we dress affects how we carry ourselves
during our daily lives.
The way you dress deeply affects your mood
and perception of yourself. It is not just a piece
of clothing you wear. It says something about
your personality and it also affects your state of
mind. Our dress codes, in short, are part of who
we are.
Modesty is often defined as a regard for
decency in, among other things, speech, dress,
behavior, manners and eating. Modesty is
central to the moral universe of mankind. One
must act decently during a family dinner and not
make inappropriate gestures and sounds.
Similarly, every culture in this world has a
particular notion as to what modesty in dress
should be like. For example, how modesty is
understood in Zimbabwe might be different than
how modesty is understood in Sri Lanka. Another
example is shyness. In some cultures, shyness is
considered a virtue whereas in other cultures it is
considered a sign of weakness.
Modesty in dress is also a concern for all people
across the world even if they disagree as to what
this modesty should be like! Even within
particular cultures, there are times and places to
dress a certain way and times and places to
dress another. For example, in the United States,

many malls prohibit people from walking inside

its stores without shoes.
In Islam, Allah has revealed what He expects
modesty for men and women to be like. Both
men and women are asked to dress decently
and we are expected to respect and follow the
commands of Allah as He is our Creator and
knows what is best affects our souls.
As it was mentioned earlier, our dress codes are
not just an expression of our personality, but the
way we dress deeply affect our moods and
behavior. They affect our personality, the way we
see the world and how we carry ourselves in it.
Allah, being our Creator, is very well aware of this
and has thus prescribed a particular way of
dress for us in order to shape the way we think
and the way we carry ourselves in the world;
both for men and women.
Just like in any other culture in the world, dress
codes for men and women differ. You dont often
see men dressed up as women and women
dressed up as men when you go to school or the
shopping center. You will rarely see men wear
dresses or walk in high heels.
Islam is no different in so far as it creates
different dress codes for men and women. One
particular feature that stands out for women in
Islam is what is popularly known as Hijab. Hijab
is Allahs way of taking care of His faithful
servants and a tool He gives them in order to
instill a particular kind of being.
Hijab comes from the word root word H-J-B in
Arabic, which means to cover up, or to veil. Hijab
is commonly understood as a a headscarf, but
this is not entirely correct. The word Hijab refers
to the covering of all body parts that need
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covering according to Islamic law. The actual

word for a headscarf in Islam is known as
Khimaar. The root word of Khimaar is KH-M-R
which also means to cover. This explains why the
word for wine in Arabic is known as Khamr,
something that covers up your mind and doesnt
let you think!

believes that womens hair is a sacred area that

should be kept modest.

The Holy Quran says:

Mahram people are those whom are related to

you in which observing Hijab with is not
obligatory. Remember that not all family
members are considered Mahram. Cousins for
example are not considered Mahram. The
following is a list of who is Mahram to you:

...women should place their scarfs (Khumur)

over their bosoms... (Surah al-Nur, Verse 30)
Pre-Islamic women use to cover their heads, but
they would leave their necks and upper chests
exposed. Islam did not believe this to be modest
enough and asked women to wear larger scarfs
that were big enough to cover their necks and
upper chest.
Based on this verse, Prophet Muhammad (S)
and his Ahlul Bayt (A) taught us women should
cover their hair and bodies, including their feet in
front of non-Mahram people. The only body parts
that can be shown are ones hands and face. In
Islam, this becomes obligatory for a woman
when she becomes a Baalighah. Similarly, males
need to be serious when observing their own
modesty when they become Baaligh although
unlike women, they do not need to cover their
hair as Islam believes that mens hair does not
illicit as much attraction as womens hair do. You
will often see men who are bald or who have
shaved hair. Often enough this is not seen as a
big problem and may even be considered
suitable for many men. Yet for a woman to be
bald, or have all of her hair shaved off can often
be a great source of pain, or unfortunately,
ridicule. For this and many other reasons, mens
hair is not as important as womens hair. Islam

Before we go into the details of Hijab, let us

begin by defining who Mahram and non-Mahram
people are.
Mahram and Non-Mahram

1. Ones fathers father, grandfather, and all direct

ancestors from the fathers side.
2. Ones mothers father, grandfather, and all
direct ancestors from the mothers side.
3. Ones brother and his children and their
children and so on.
4. Children of ones sisters and their children and
their childrens children and so on.
5. Ones uncle from the fathers side and his
fathers uncle, and so on.
6. Ones mothers uncle, his mothers uncle, and
so on.
7. Ones husband and father-in-law.
8. Ones father-in-laws and mother-in-laws father,
grandfather, and so on.
9. Ones husbands sons and their descendants
10. Ones sons and all their children and
childrens children and so on.

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11. Ones daughters children, and their

childrens children and so on.

areas, it is fine in Islam. Looseness of dress is a

point that cannot be emphasized enough.

12. Ones sons-in-law and their sons-in-law, and

so on.

Many people believe that by covering all the

required areas, they have fulfilled the Islamic
requirements of Hjiab, but this is far from the
truth. Women are not only required to cover all
the necessary areas of the body, but the clothes
cannot be tight either. They must be loose
enough where the shape of the body is not
shown. Furthermore, the fabric of the clothes
must be thick enough so that the skins color
cannot be seen.

The above list are people who are Mahram to

you through blood ties. Mahram comes from the
word haraam which means to be prohibited. In
other words, you can never marry the above
Mahram people according to Islamic law. A
cousin is someone you can marry in Islam which
means that they are not Mahram and you must
wear Hijab in front of them. It does not matter if
you have known them ever since you were little
nor does it matter if you consider them to be like
a brother or sister, you still have to wear Hijab in
front of them.
In matters concerning Hijab, there are always
conditions and exceptions that may slightly
change some rulings. For example, if a nonMahram man has become so old that he has
begun to lose some of his senses, then it is not
Wajib anymore to wear the veil in front of him.
Similarly, if a woman has become very old, then
Hijab is not Wajib for her to wear in front of nonMahrams. However, it is still Mustahab to keep
the Hijab on.
What parts are to be covered in front of a nonMahram?
Imam al-Sadiq (A) was once asked what parts a
woman does not need to cover when wearing
Hijab. He answered the face and two hands.
There is no specification in Islam as to what kind
of Hijab one should wear. One is free to wear an
abaya,, loose fitting dress, chador, etc. As long
as it is loose enough and covers all the required

Hjiab during Salaah

Hijab is also required during Salaah. All the rules
pertaining to Hijab during the presence of nonMahrams also applies in Salaah. The only
exception are the feet. If there are no nonMahrams around, then the feet can be
uncovered. However, if there are non-Mahrams
around, then the feet must be covered as well
during Salaah.
This might sound a bit odd! Why
observe full Hijab when I am alone in
and praying to Allah? Allah is the
created me, why should I cover myself
Him?

should I
my home
one who
in front of

Remember that Salaah is supposed to be an

embodiment of your morals and values. This
means that during Salaah, you practice your
manners by speaking to Allah respectfully. This
helps you embody the value of respect in you.
You are also supposed to be clean during
Salaah and this helps you embody cleanliness in
you. Similarly, you are to be modest in front of
Allah during Salaah so that you may embody the
value of Islamic modesty within you. Your Salaah
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is a central point that helps guide and shape

your daily life. For you to be respectful with
others, you need to be respectful in your Salaah.
For you to be modest in dress with others, you
need to be modest in dress during your Salaah.
Social Hijab
Hijab is not just a way of dressing, it is a way of
life. The social Hijab is a term Muslims often
use for modesty in character and behavior. This
means that dressing properly is only part of the
story of being an ideal Muslim and that good
behavior is the other part of the story. For
example, it is wrong to talk in an improper
manner with a non-Mahram person whether it is
in person, in a chatroom or through texting. In
the same manner, our laughing, walking, and
other mannerisms should be properly observed,
especially in front of non-Mahrams.
Knowing what the red lines are in terms of proper
behavior with non-Mahram people is part of what
we call the social Hijab, i.e. our social modesty.
There is a popular argument against Hijab
circulating among some people today. The
argument goes like this: it is better to be true to
oneself and not be a hypocrite. In other words,
there are some Muslims who act like hypocrites;
they wear the Hijab but they do many
inappropriate things so it is better not to be a
hypocrite and just take the Hijab off!
But this argument is flawed. Just because a cup
is half full doesnt mean you should throw out
whatever water is left. If someone is wearing
Hijab but not acting appropriately, this person
has fulfilled 50% of their duty but has another
50% left which is his or her behavior. Why should
this person throw away the 50% he or she
already has and go back to 0%?? Some might
have good behavior, but no Hijab, they also have

50% only and have another 50% to go. Isnt

100% better than 50%? Isnt 50% better than
0%?
Some might also make the following argument
against Hijab: some girls dont wear Hijab but
they behave very well whereas there are some
who wear Hijab but act worse than some of
those who dont wear it, so Hijab really doesnt
matter, what matters is a persons behavior and
inner purity!
We already answered part of this objection with
the 50% duty argument. But here is another way
to look at the matter:
Imagine a box factory that makes 10 boxes a
day. Let us call this factory A. Now imagine
another factory, which has a wider capacity to
make boxes, makes a 100 boxes a day. Let us
call this factory B. Now imagine that we install a
new system in factory A. Thanks to this new
system, factory A is now doubling its output to 20
boxes a day. Now, do you think it is fair to say
that this new system is no good because
factory B is still making more boxes? Absolutely
not! If the new system was not there, factory A
would still be making 10 boxes a day.
Furthermore, if the new system was installed on
factory B, then it would be making 200 boxes a
day.
The point of this story is this: some people wear
Hijab, but do not behave appropriately. This
does not mean that Hijab is bad. In fact, the
opposite is most likely to be true. If you were to
take away Hijab from these people, they might
be worse than what they already are. Similarly, if
the Hijabless well behaving people were to
start wearing Hijab, they would become even
better than what they already are!
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140

WORKSHEET 11.1
Hijab
Answer the following questions:
1.

Describe the three stages of Hijab.

2.

What does Non-Mahram mean?

3.

Give two examples of proper social hijab.

4.

If you see a person who wears Hijab, but has bad social hijab, should that person take off their
hijab and not be a hypocrite? Explain why or why not.

5.

Describe the details of how to observe hijab i.e. how you should be dressed.

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141

Circle the correct answer:

6.

7.

8.

9.

If it is in style to wear skintight clothes that reveal your figure,

a.

Everyone should wear tight clothes

b.

If you wear these you should make sure you do so in WOMEN-ONLY gatherings

c.

You should wear them everywhere so you dont stand out as being out of fashion

d.

You should never ever wear them

People that dress indecently are doing everything BUT the following:
a.

Displeasing Allah

b.

Submitting to the will of Allah

c.

Encouraging evils of society

d.

Causing our Imams to be sad

People who dress decently and cover themselves well,

a.

Look respectful

b.

Are submitting to the will of Allah

c.

Please our Imams

d.

All of the above

When a girl (nine and above) wears hijab, she

a.

Is conveying that shes a Muslim

b.

Is following the rules of Islam

c.

Is showing she has the confidence to do what she believes in

d.

All of the above

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PART III: HISTORY

clxviii

PART III: HISTORY

Chapter 1: Before Hijrah, Hijrah, and 1st Year After Hijrah (AH).......................................................1
Before Hijrah at a Glance............................................................................................................2
Lesson 1: The Pledges of Aqabah.............................................................................................3
Worksheet 1.1.............................................................................................................................5
Lesson 2: The Hijrah to Medina..................................................................................................7
Worksheet 1.2...........................................................................................................................12
Worksheet 1.3: Art Extension....................................................................................................16
After Hijrah................................................................................................................................17
Lesson 3: Important Events in the First Year.............................................................................18
Worksheet 1.4...........................................................................................................................20
Chapter 2: 2nd-5th Years AH..............................................................................................................21
Lesson 1: Second Year AH........................................................................................................22
Worksheet 2.1............................................................................................................................25
Lesson 2: Third Year AH............................................................................................................26
Worksheet 2.2............................................................................................................................29
Lesson 3: Fourth Year AH..........................................................................................................30
Worksheet 2.3............................................................................................................................33
Lesson 4: Fifth Year AH.............................................................................................................34
Worksheet 2.4............................................................................................................................36
Worksheet 2.5: Art Extension.....................................................................................................37
Chapter 3: 6th-8th Years AH...............................................................................................................38
Lesson 1: SixthYear AH.............................................................................................................39
Worksheet 3.1............................................................................................................................42
Lesson 2: Seventh Year AH.......................................................................................................45
Worksheet 3.2............................................................................................................................51
Worksheet 3.3............................................................................................................................55
Lesson 3: Eighth Year AH..........................................................................................................56
Worksheet 3.3............................................................................................................................62
Worksheet 3.4............................................................................................................................66
Chapter 4: 9th-10th Years AH.............................................................................................................67

Lesson 1: Ninth Year AH............................................................................................................68

Worksheet 4.1............................................................................................................................73
Lesson 2: Tenth Year AH............................................................................................................75
Worksheet 4.2............................................................................................................................77
Death of the Prophet (S)............................................................................................................79
Worksheet 4.3............................................................................................................................81
Chapter 5: After the Prophets (S) Death...........................................................................................83
Prophet Muhammads (S) Family Tree.......................................................................................84
Death of Prophet Muhammad (S)..............................................................................................85
Islam Before Karbala.................................................................................................................86
Worksheet 5.1............................................................................................................................89
Map of the Middle East..............................................................................................................91
Route of Imam Husain (A)..........................................................................................................92
Events at Karbala.......................................................................................................................93
Day of Ashura Events.................................................................................................................95
Shaheeds on the Day of Ashura.................................................................................................96
Essay........................................................................................................................................100

BEFORE HIJRAH, HIJRAH AND

1ST YEAR AFTER HIJRAH (AH)
1

LESSON 1: BEFORE HIJRAH

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will review and learn more about events that occurred before
Hijrah.

LINK

SAY: In this lesson we are going to review and learn more about events that
occurred from the time that the Prophet (S) received revlation until right before hijrah.
Does anyone know what hijrah means?

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT

READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

PROJECT

HAVE STUDENTS BEGIN AN

ONGOING TIMELINE THAT
WILL COVER EVENTS
BEFORE HIJRA ALL THE WAY
UNTIL THE PROPHETS (S)
DEATH.

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: Hijrah is when the Prophet (S) and the Muslims moved or migrated out of
Makkah to Medina and it is also the start of the Islamic Calendar. Events taking
place after hijrah are considered the years AH which stand for after hijrah. Today we
are going to look at events before hijrah. Lets find out what you already know about
the events in Islamic History before hijrah, by doing an activity called LINK.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes to
do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes to do
the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart paper, so
that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson. After this lesson is complete,
challenge students to answer their own questions about Events Before Hijrah or
have them research answers on the web or by conducting interviews with those that
are knowledgeable in the community. This teaches them the responsibility of
researching the answer, instead of someone always spoon feeding the answers to
them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will help them in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the READING
page for this section on the subject of the Events Before Hijrah, located in the Task
Bar. They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes, from the
reading. You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up so they can
read to each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.
Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they now
know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches others
about the attributes of Events Before Hijrah. If time permits, have students present to
each other or even to younger children.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET and PROJECT located in the Task Bar.

T33
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BEFORE HIJRAH AT A GLANCE

Important Events in Prophet Muhammads (S) Life

Before Hijrah
YEAR

AGE

EVENT

569 A.D.

Father Abdullah dies before birth

570 A.D.

Birth of Prophet Muhammad (S)

576 A.D.

6 years

Mother Amina dies

578 A.D.

8 years

Grandfather Abdul Muttalib dies

595 A.D.

25 years

Marriage to Lady Khadijah (A)

610 A.D.

40 years

Bethat -1st Revelation

615 A.D.

45 years

Birth of Sayyida Fatimah (A)

622 A.D.

52 years

Miraj

622 A.D.

52 years

Pledges of Aqabah; Hijrah to

Medina

23

LESSON 1: THE PLEDGES OF AQABAH

During the Hajj season, tribes from all over

In the following year, 12 people came to

Arabia came to Makkah to perform their

Makkah to meet the Holy Prophet (S). The

pilgrimage. Although their worship was not

meeting took place at 'Aqabah and resulted

anything like the Hajj that Islam has taught us,

in the first Islamic agreement. After

they regarded the Holy Kabah as an

embracing Islam, they took a pledge not to

important building. The Holy Prophet (S) took

associate anyone with Allah, steal, bury their

advantage of this time of the year by meeting

daughters alive, or slander one another and

the visitors and introducing the teachings of

to perform good deeds instead.

Islam to them.
The people of Medina, known as Yathrib in
those days, also used to come to Makkah
every year. The two main tribes in Medina
were the Aws and the Khazraj. They were
great enemies and were constantly fighting
against each other.
In the eleventh year after the beginning of the

The Holy Prophet (S) promised them that if

Holy Prophet's (S) mission, he met 6 people

they acted according to the pledge, Allah

from the tribe of Khazraj in Makkah during the

would reward them with Paradise. This

Hajj season. When he spoke to them about

agreement is called the "First Pledge of

Islam, they were very interested because they

'Aqabah." The 12 people returned to Medina,

had heard from the Jews of Medina that one

their hearts filled with faith. They wrote back

day there would be a Prophet who would

to the Holy Prophet (S) asking him to send

come from Arabia. The Jews knew this

someone to Medina who could teach them

because it was written in their Holy Book, the

more about Islam.

Tawrat, which had been revealed to Prophet

Musa (A). The people of Khazraj believed that

The Holy Prophet (S) sent Musab bin Umayr

this was the same Prophet, so they became

and Ibne Umme Maqtoom to teach them.

Muslims.

The missionaries did their work so well that

On their return to Medina, they made efforts to

there was a great change in thinking in

teach people about Islam, and soon, many

Medina. People eagerly waited for the Hajj

people wanted to know more about this new

season so that they could meet the Holy

religion.

Prophet (S) and personally declare their

readiness to help Islam.
34

The next year, a Hajj caravan consisting of

500 people, mainly from the tribe of Khazraj,
left Medina for Makkah. It included 73
Muslims, two of whom were women. The rest
of the people wanted to find out more about
the religion before becoming Muslims. They
met the Holy Prophet (S) on the 13th of Dhul

CRITICAL THINKING: A point to note is that

so many people of Medina had accepted
Islam after only a few years of being
introduced to the religion, whereas after 13
years of preaching, only a few Makkans had
become Muslims. Why do you think this is the
case?

Hijjah at 'Aqabah.
There are two possible causes for this:
During the meeting, the Holy Prophet (S)
addressed them and recited verses from the

1.

The people of Medina had heard about

Holy Quran. The words of the Holy Prophet

an Arabian Prophet from the neighboring

(S) made a great impression on all the

Jewish tribes. The Jews claimed that when

listeners and they all were ready to express

that Prophet would appear, he would preach

their faith in Islam at his hands. Everyone

Judaism. In any case, the Aws and Khazraj

swore the oath of allegiance (Bayah) at the

tribes were more prepared to believe the Holy

hands of the Holy Prophet (S). This event is

Prophet (S) when he claimed to have been

known as "the Second Pledge of 'Aqabah."

appointed by Allah.

The Holy Prophet (S) then promised the

2.

people that he would soon come to Medina

tired of the endless quarrels between their

himself. Once the ceremony was over, the

tribes, who had been at war on and off for

people left for their homes.

over 120 years. They looked forward to the

The people of Aws and Khazraj were

arrival of an authority that would bring peace

to their region.
Time was now ripe for the Holy Prophet (S) to
leave his home in Makkah. Life in that city was
becoming more and more difficult for the
Muslims, who faced endless persecution at
the hands of the Quraish.
VOCABULARY:
Missionary: a person sent on a religious
mission
Allegiance (Bayah): loyalty or commitment to
a cause
Quarrel: an angry argument or disagreement
Persecution: hostility and ill-treatment,
especially because of ones religious beliefs.

45

WORKSHEET 1.1
Important Events in Prophet Muhammads (S) Life Before Hijrah
Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks:
1.

During the

season, tribes from all over Arabia came to Makkah to

perform their pilgrimage.

2.

The Holy Prophet (S) took advantage of this time of the year by meeting the visitors and
introducing the teachings of

3.

to them.

The people of Medina (the city was called

in those days), also used

to come to Makkah every year.

4.

The two main tribes in Medina were the

and the

. They were great enemies of each other. They looked forward to the
arrival of an authority that would bring peace to their region.
5.

They had heard from the

Prophet who would come from

of Medina, that one day there would be a

. The Jews knew this because it was

written in their Holy Book, the _____________________, which had been revealed to Prophet
_____________ (A).
6.

12 people from the tribe of

came to Makkah to meet the Holy

Prophet (S). The

meeting took place at

and resulted in the first Islamic agreement

called the "First Pledge of 'Aqabah".

7.

The Holy Prophet (S) sent two

to Medina who could teach them

more about Islam.

56

8.

The next year a Hajj caravan consisting of 500 people met the Holy Prophet (S) on the 13th
of Dhul Hijjah at Aqabah. During the meeting, the Holy Prophet (S) addressed them and
recited verses from the Holy

. The words of the Holy Prophet (S)

made a great impression on all the listeners and they all were ready to express their faith in
Islam at his hands. Everyone swore the oath of

9.

(Bay ah).

The Holy Prophet (S) then promised the people that he would soon come to
himself.

10.

So many people of Medina had accepted Islam after only a few years of being introduced
to the religion, while in 13 years of preaching only a few

had

become Muslims.

67

LESSON 2: THE HIJRAH TO MEDINA

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn about the Hijrah to Medina.

SAY: Does anyone remember what Hijrah means?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. Hijrah means migration, when there is a movement from one place to
another. We are going to learn about the hijrah taken by the Prophet (S) and the
Muslims during the early years of Islam. Does anyone know from where and to where
the Prophet (S) made hijrah?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. Hijrah was made from the city of Makkah to the city of Medina, both
located in what is now called Saudi Arabia. Why do you think that the Prophet (S)
made hijrah to Makkah and also predict how easy or difficult this trip may have been
and why?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. The Muslims were facing a lot of difficulty practicing Islam in Makkah.
Let us read about the Hijrah to Medina and the details of the trip.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student understanding
of the text.
SAY:
Describe the level of Iman (faith) of Imam Ali (A) to sleep in the Prophets (S) bed,
even though he knew that there were men waiting to kill the Prophet (A).
Describe the relationship between Imam Ali (A) and the Prophet (S). How did Imam
Ali (A) conduct himself when the Prophet (S) was away?
Why do you think the hijrah to Medina is such a significant event in our history? (It
was the first step in the Muslims establishing a community, through which Islam
would benefit greatly In the future)
Students can then do the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

8
T34
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LESSON 2: THE HIJRAH TO MEDINA

When the Quraish realized that the Muslims now

arrangements were being made for these last

had the support of the people of Medina, they

few Muslims to also leave.

were very angry. In order to crush the spirit of the

Muslims, they increased their efforts at
persecuting and harassing them.

The Quraish were enraged at this mass escape.

They knew that the Muslims would now become
a danger to them. At the meeting assembly of

The companions of the Holy Prophet (S)

Daar-un-Nadwa, where all the important

complained to him about the harsh treatment

decisions were made, the Quraish decided that

they were receiving at the hands of the

the only action that would stop the spread of

unbelievers. The Propeht (S) asked them to give

Islam would be to murder of the Holy Prophet

him a little time to make a decision. After a few

(S). This idea was popular and the only problem

days, he advised all the Muslims to migrate to

was the revenge that the Bani Hashim, the family

Medina secretly, and await his arrival there.

of the Holy Prophet (S), would take on the killer.

Finally, Abu Jahl suggested that instead of
sending a single man to kill the Holy Prophet (S),
they should send one young man from each
tribe. That way, the Bani Hashim would find it
impossible to lay the blame on any one person.
This plan was approved and 40 young men were
selected to carry out the cowardly deed.
On the same night that the Quraish planned to
kill the Holy Prophet (S), he was commanded by

When the order to migrate was given, the

Allah to leave Makkah for Medina. The angel

Muslims left Makkah one by one, giving excuses

Jibraeel (A) informed the Holy Prophet (S) of the

for their departure. Because they were afraid of

Quraishs wicked intentions.

the Quraishs reaction, they kept their destination

secret. As a result, most of them had to leave
their possessions and wealth behind.
The Quraish suddenly realized that the Muslims
were all leaving Makkah. They managed to
detain a few, but by that time the majority of
them had already escaped and they were on
their way to Medina. In Makkah there only
remained the Holy Prophet (S) and his family,
Imam Ali (A), and a few old and ill Muslims. Final

The Holy Prophet (S) said to Imam Ali (A),

"Sleep in my bed tonight and cover yourself with
the green sheet that I use when I sleep."
He then instructed Imam Ali (A) to return the
amanah, or items, that certain people of Makkah
had left him then follow him to Medina. Imam Ali
(A) was quite content to obey the orders he had
been given because he knew that his actions
would mean the safety of the Holy Prophet (S).
He used to say in later years that despite the
79

deadly danger, he slept peacefully the whole

The Quraish were frustrated at their failure but

night.

they left Imam Ali (A) unharmed because they

As night approached, forty men of the Quraish

encircled the house of the Holy Prophet (S). They

had no quarrel with him. They left the house,

regretting their decision to wait till the morning.

decided to wait till morning before carrying out

The sacrifice of Imam Ali (A), when he took the

their assignment.

place of the Holy Prophet (S) on the night of

When half the night was over, the Holy Prophet

(S) left his house to begin his journey. As he

migration, pleased Allah so much that He

revealed the following verse:

came out of the house he threw some sand

And among men there is one who sells his soul

towards the men who were waiting to kill him and

to seek the pleasure of Allah; and truly Allah is

recited the following verse:

And We have set before them a barrier and

affectionate to His (such) servants.

Baqarah, 2: 207

behind them a barrier and We covered them

Meanwhile the Holy Prophet (S) was undergoing

over so that they do not see. (36:9)

further adventures on his journey to Medina,

As The Holy Prophet (S) continued on his way,

the men were not able to see him, so he was
able to escape without raising their suspicions.

knowing that he was safe from the enemy

because he had the protection of Allah. In the
Holy Quran, Allah says:

In the morning, the men burst into his house and

Remember how the unbelievers plotted against

headed for the bed, making a great noise as

you. They wanted to take you captive or kill you

each tried to be first to strike a blow.

On hearing the commotion, Imam Ali (A) calmly
raised his head from the pillow and pulled the

or banish you. They devised plans - but Allah too

made a plan, and Allah is the best planner.
(8:30)

green sheet

Before he left the city, Prophet Muhammad (S)

aside. The

met Abu Bakr on the way and took him along

sight of Imam

with him. The Holy Prophet (S) knew that the

Ali (A) stopped

Quraish would waste no time in pursuing him

the would-be

once they learnt of his departure, so he took

killers in their

refuge in the cave of Thaur, which was to the

tracks.

south of Makkah on the way to Medina.

"Where

is

When the Quraish found out that the Holy

Muhammad?"

Prophet (S) had left Makkah, they sent men to

they demanded. Imam Ali (A) replied, "Did you

block all routes leading to Medina. They also

hand him to me, so that I may deliver him back

hired some men who could trace the location of

to you? Anyway, he is not in the house at

travelers by their footprints. It was declared that

present."

whoever gave correct information about the

810

hiding-place of the Holy Prophet (S) would be

in trust with the Holy Prophet (S), or had loaned

rewarded with 100 camels!

him anything, he should claim it from Imam Ali

One of the best trackers of the Quraish, a man

(A).

named Abu Karz, traced the footprints of the

He further instructed Imam Ali (A) to make

Holy Prophet (S) to the cave of Thaur. However,

arrangements for the Fawaatim (The three

when some men came near the mouth of the

Fatimahs: Fatimah az-Zahra (A), Fatimah binte

cave, they saw that its entrance was blocked by

Asad, and Fatimah binte Zubayr), as well as any

a spider's web and some wild pigeons had laid

other members of Bani Hashim who wished to

eggs in a nest at the entrance.

leave Makkah. Imam Ali (A) was to escort these

The men knew that the spider and pigeons

people personally to Medina.

On the fourth day, Imam Ali (A) sent three camels
to the cave along with a reliable guide named
'Urayqit. The Holy Prophet (S) and Abu Bakr then
left with the guide for Medina, traveling along the
coastal route so as to avoid the Quraish riders.
It is from this night that Muslims mark the
beginning of the Islamic Era or the Hijrah
calendar. This is because the migration marked
the beginning of a central location for Muslims in

would not have made their homes if there had

been anyone in the cave. Also, if the web had

Medina and the setting up of the first Muslim

state.

been there from before, it would have been

damaged if someone had entered the cave.
They therefore returned without looking inside.
By this miracle, Allah protected His beloved
messenger!
The Holy Prophet (S) remained in the cave for
three days and nights.
On one of these nights, Imam Ali (A) came to
visit him. The Holy Prophet (S) told him to
arrange for camels for Abu Bakr and himself. He
also directed him to announce in Makkah the
following day that if anybody had left something

The journey to Medina was a distance of some

400 kilometers, and they traveled mostly at night
911

and rested during daytime. Despite their care, a

then, he laid the foundation of a Masjid for the

man spotted them and went immediately to the

Bani Awf. This was the first Masjid of Islam.

Quraish to report what he had seen.

Meanwhile, in Makkah, Imam Ali (A) declared to

In order to claim the reward alone for their

the people that whoever had left any belongings

capture, a man called Saraqah convinced the

in trust with the Holy Prophet (S) should come

Quraish that the man had seen some other

and claim them. He stayed in Makkah for three

people and that it would be a waste of time to

days until everything had been returned to its

follow them. He then went to his house, armed

rightful owner. Then, he gathered the women of

himself, and rode a swift horse to the spot where

the Holy Prophets (S) household and any

the Holy Prophet (S) had been last seen.

Muslims who still remained in Makkah and

Saraqah was a strong man, so Abu Bakr became

very worried when he saw him coming near.

prepared to leave. The group left for Medina at

night.

However, the Holy Prophet (S) told him the same

Even though Imam Ali (A) left secretly, the spies

thing he had said to him when they had nearly

of the Quraish came to know about the migration

been discovered in the cave of Thaur:

of this last group of Muslims and pursued them.

Do not be afraid, Allah is with us. (9:40)

They caught up with Imam Ali (A) at a place

called Zajnaan. The Quraish insisted that the

In the meantime, the Holy Prophet (S) prayed to

Muslims should return to Makkah, and hot words

Allah to be protected from the mischief of

were exchanged between the two groups.

Saraqah. Suddenly, the man was thrown violently

from his horse. He realized at once that it was
not an accident, but rather a warning due to his
bad intentions.

The women were getting very nervous at the

p re s e n c e o f t h e
Quraish, and finally,
Imam Ali (A)

He therefore turned to the Holy Prophet (S) and

realized that he had

asked for his forgiveness and offered to help him

no alternative but to

in any way he could. The Holy Prophet (S) told

defend the Muslims

him to return to Makkah and stop people from

by force. He

pursuing them. Saraqah then returned to

therefore turned to

Makkah, telling whomever he met on the way

the Quraish and

that there was no trace of the Holy Prophet (S) on

said,

that route.

wishes that his

"Whoever

body be cut into pieces and his blood to be

On the 12th of Rabiul Awwal, the Holy Prophet

shed should step forward".

(S) arrived at Quba, just outside Medina. Here,

he awaited the arrival of Imam Ali (A), and until
12
10

Seeing the look in the eyes of Imam Ali (A), the

Quraish became frightened, so they changed
their attitude and let them go.
Imam Ali (A) managed to guide his group into
Quba three days after the arrival of the Holy
Prophet (S). His feet were swollen and bleeding,
a sight which brought tears to the eyes of the
Holy Prophet (S).
One day after the arrival of Imam Ali (A), the Holy
Prophet (S) proceeded to Medina. Both the
Muhaajirs (the Muslims who had migrated from
Makkah) and the Ansaar (the Muslims of
Medina) lined the streets of Medina eagerly
awaiting the first appearance of the Holy Prophet
(S). When his camel came down at a place
called Thaniyatul Wida and set its foot on the
land of Medina, he came into view of the waiting
people. They greeted him warmly and began
singing in joy:
"The moon rose for us from Thaniyatul Wida. It is
our duty to be thankful for this blessing till the
day when even one person, who prays to Allah
and worships Him, is left on the face of the
earth".

VOCABULARY:
Detain: to keep someone back by force
Enraged: very angry; furious
Muhaajirs: the Muslims who migrated from
Makkah to Medina
Ansaar: The Muslims of Medina

13
11

WORKSHEET 1.2
Hijrah to Medina
Fill in the blanks:

1.

The Holy Prophet (S) advised all the Muslims to migrate to

2.

The Muslims left Makkah one by one, giving excuses for their departure because they were

afraid
3.

of the reaction of the

secretly.

Abu Jahl suggested that instead of sending a single man to kill the Holy Prophet (S), they should
send one young man from each

That way, the Bani

would find it impossible to lay the blame on any one person.

4.

While Imam

(A) lay on his bed, the Holy Prophet (S) began his journey out

of Makkah. Before he had left the city, he met

on the way and took him

along with him.

5.

One of the best

of the Quraish, a man named Abu Karz, traced the

footprints of the Holy Prophet (S) to the

of Thaur. However, when some

men came near the mouth of the cave, they saw that its entrance was blocked by
and some wild pigeons had laid eggs in a nest at the entrance.
6.

One of the best

of the Quraish, a man named Abu Karz, traced the

footprints of the Holy Prophet (S) to the

of Thaur. However, when some

men came near the mouth of the cave, they saw that its entrance was blocked by a
and some wild pigeons had laid eggs in a nest at the entrance.
7.

The Holy Prophet (S) remained in the cave for

days and nights.

14
12

8.

It is from this night that Muslims mark the beginning of the Islamic Era or the
calendar. This is because the migration marked the beginning of
centralization of Muslims in

and the setting up of the first

state.
9.

On the 12th of Rabiul Awwal the Holy Prophet (S) arrived at

Medina.

, just outside

Here he awaited the arrival of his cousin Imam Ali (A). Here, he laid the foundation of

a Masjid for the Bani Awf. This was the

Masjid of Islam.

10. One day after the arrival of Imam Ali (A), the Holy Prophet (S) proceeded to Medina. Both the
( t h e M u s l i m s w h o h a d m i g r a t e d f ro m M a k k a h ) a n d t h e
_______________________ (the Muslims of Medina) lined the streets of Medina eagerly awaiting
the first appearance of the Holy Prophet (S).

15
13

Short Answer Questions:

1.
When the Quraish realized that the Muslims were all leaving Makkah, what did they decide
was the only action that would stop the spread of Islam?

2.

What did the Holy Prophet (S) ask Imam Ali (A) to do and why?

3.

How did the Holy Prophet (S) manage to get past the men who were waiting for him?

4.
What does this verse refer to: And among men there is one who sells his soul to seek the
pleasure of Allah; and truly Allah is affectionate to His (such) servants. Baqarah, 2: 207

5. What three instructions did the Holy Prophet (S) give Imam Ali (A) when he came to see
him? What occasion marks the beginning of the Islamic era or the Hijrah calendar?

16
14

6.

Who was Saraqah and what happened when Saraqah approached the Holy Prophet (S)?

7.

Why did Imam Ali (A) wait another 3 days before leaving Makkah to join the Holy Prophet (S)?

17
15

WORKSHEET 1.3: ART EXTENSION

Draw what the opening to the Cave of Thaur looked like when the Prophet (S) was inside. Then
explain why the Quraish didnt think the Prophet (S) was inside.

18
16

LESSON 3: AFTER HIJRAH AND 1ST YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

GALLERY WALK

WRITE DOWN THE EVENTS

THAT OCCURRED DURING
THE 1ST YEAR AH ON
DIFFERENT, LARGER POSTER
PAPERS. PUT THESE PAPERS
U P O N T H E WA L L I N
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE
CLASSROOM. SPLIT
STUDENTS UP AND HAVE
EACH GROUP OF STUDENTS
S TA R T AT A D I F F E R E N T
POS TER. THE S TUDENTS
SHOULD THEN PUT THEIR
THOUGHTS, QUES TIONS
AND WONDERINGS ABOUT
THE EVENTS ON THE PAPER
AND PROCEED AROUND
THE ROOM. THEN AS A
CLASS, VISIT THESE
THOUGHTS, QUES TIONS
A N D WO N D E R I N G S TO
H AV E A C L A S S RO O M
DISCUSSION.

In this lesson, students will learn about events After Hijrah, during the first year.
SAY: What do you think happened after the Prophet (S) arrived in Medina?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good ideas. For the rest of this class, we will be looking at events that took
place year after year, after hijrah. Today, we will focus on the 1st year AH.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student understanding
of the text.
SAY:
Give examples of the Prophets (S) generosity, hard work and fairness from her
reading.
Why did everyone want the Prophet (S) to live near them?
Students can then do the WORKSHEET, GALLERY WALK, and ART EXTENSION
located in the Task Bar.

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS DRAW A

PICTURE OF MASJID NABI
A N D R E S E A R C H FA C T S
ABOUT THE MASJID AS IT
S TA N D S TO DAY A N D
COMPARE THOSE FACTS
WITH THAT CONTAINED IN
THE READING ABOUT HOW
THE MASJID LOOKED WHEN
IT WAS FIRST BUILT.

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AFTER HIJRAH
Timeline of Important Events in the Years After Hijrah (AH)
First year AH
Building of Masjid an-Nabawi
Establishment of Brotherhood
between Muhaajiroon and
Ansaar

Seventh year AH
The Prophet (S) writes letter of
invitation to neighboring states
Battle of Khyber
Story of Fadak
The lapsed Umrah

Second year AH
Marriage of Imam Ali (A) &
Sayyida Fatimah (A)
Change of Qiblah from
Jerusalem to KabahBattle of
Badr

Eighth year AH

Battle against Romans at Muta

Death of Jafar bin Abu Talib
Conquest of Makkah
Battle of Hunayn
Battle of Taaif

Third year AH
Birth of Imam Hasan (A)
Battle of Uhud
Fourth year AH
Birth of Imam Husain (A)
Tragedy of Bir Maunah
Prohibition of alcohol
Fifth year AH
Prophets (S) marriage to Zainab
binte Jahash
Battle of Ahzaab/Khandaq

Ninth year AH

Battle of Tabook
Plot to kill the Holy Prophet (S)
Story of Masjid Dhiraar
Prophet (S) mourns for his son
Ibrahim
Mubaahala with Christians of
Najraan
Tenth year AH
Imam Ali (A) sent to Yemen
Appointment of Imam Ali (A) as
successor to the Prophet at
Ghadeer al-Khum

Sixth year AH
Battle of Banu Mustaliq
Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
Pledge of Ridhwaan
17

LESSON 3: IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE FIRST YEAR

Building of Masjid an-Nabawi
The arrival of the Holy Prophet (S) in Medina was
a cause for great celebration among the
Muslims. As his camel entered Medina, the
chiefs of various tribes hurried forward to hold
the reins of the animal, each insisting that the
Holy Prophet (S) be his guest and stay at his
house.
The Holy Prophet (S) took care of this delicate
problem by saying, "Let the camel walk. I shall
stop wherever it kneels down."

The Holy Prophet (S) wished to build a Masjid

over the plot where his camel had stopped. The
orphans, whom the property belonged to,
wanted to give the land as a present to him, but
he kindly refused the offer, and asked to buy it
instead. He paid the price of the plot, which was
10 gold dinars.
After the purchase, the ground was cleared of
the trees and a Masjid, which 162 feet wide by
180 feet long long (about half the size of a
football field), was built over it with clay and
mud. The roof was made with palm-wood and

Everybody waited eagerly to see where the

covered with palm branches and leaves. To one

camel would finally stop.

side, apartments were built for the Holy Prophet

(S) and his family, and on the other side, rooms

The camel stopped and bent its knees in a large

were provided for about 70 of the poorer people

piece of land, which belonged to two orphan

of Medina who had no house of their own. These

boys, Sahl and Suhayl. The land was used for

rooms were called Suffa.

drying dates and agriculture. The nearest house

was that of Abu Ayyub Ansaari. His mother

The construction work was shared equally

grabbed the opportunity and quickly took the

between everyone. The Holy Prophet (S) also

possessions of the Holy Prophet (S) to her

shared in the work, although Ammar bin Yasir, an

house.

early convert and faithful companion, seldom

allowed him to do anything and used to do the

Next, the competition for which person would be

Holy Prophet's (S) share himself. Ammar was the

able to cook food for the Holy Prophet (S) began,

first person to begin work on the foundation of

but the Holy Prophet (S) cut short all the

the Masjid.

arguments by changing the subject and asking,

"Where are my belongings?"

Although the Masjid was very simple in structure,

it was a very special Masjid. It became the

When he was told that Abu Ayyub's mother had

center of Muslim activity in Medina. The daily

taken them, he went towards that house. Abu

and Friday prayers were held there. From this

Ayyub was delighted to have the honor of being

Masjid, the Holy Prophet (S) taught people about

the host of the Holy Prophet (S), who stayed with

the religion of Allah and thousands became

him for about seven months, until his house next

Muslims.

to the Masjid was ready.

21
18

The Masjid was called Masjidun Nabawi, the Masjid of the Prophet, and still stands in Medina today,
although it is much larger.
Before the migration of the Holy Prophet (S), Medina was called Yathrib, but after his arrival, it
became known as Medinatun Nabi (The City of the Prophet) or Medina for short.
The Muslim Hijrah Calendar began from that year. Today, it is over 1400 years since those early days
of the arrival of the Holy Prophet (S) in Medina. May Allah give us the strength to remain firm on the
path of religion as taught by our Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa - peace be upon him and his
family.

VOCABULARY:
Suffa: Rooms built on the side of Masjid anNabawi for the poor people of Medina
Seldom: not often; rarely

22
19

WORKSHEET 1.4
Important Events in the First Year AH
Answer the following questions:

1.

Upon arrival in Medina how did the Prophet (S) decide where to stay?

2.

On whose land did the Prophets (S) camel stop?

3.

What did the Prophet (S) want to do on this piece of land? Did he purchase the land?

Fill in the blanks:

4. The Masjid in Medina was called Masjid an

today.

and still stands in Medina

5. Before the migration of the Holy Prophet (S), Medina was called
after his arrival, it became known as Medinatun Nabi or

, but
for short.

23
20

2ND-5TH YEARS AH
21

LESSON 1: SECOND YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

RESEARCH

STUDENTS WILL DO A
RESEARCH REPORT THAT
COMPARES AND CONTRAST
THE HISTORY OF BAYTUL
MUQADDAS AND THE HOLY
KABAH.

In this lesson, students will learn about the events during the 2nd Year AH.
SAY: What do you think the Quraish in Makkah, that had bothered the Muslims for
years, would do next, now that the Muslims were establishing a community in
Medina?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good Ideas! It is important to note the faith of several key individuals during
the events that took place and how they represent Islam. Let us read more about
what happened during the 2nd year AH.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student understanding
of the text.
SAY:
How was the original Qiblah of the Muslims which was at Baytul Muqadas, a test of
faith for the Muslims.
Why did Imam Ali (A) follow the change of the Qiblah immediately.
How did the people in Media treat the prisoners from Makkah and how does this
reflect on Islam? What does this teach us about how we should act and how it
reflect on Islam?
Students can now do the WORKSHEET and RESEARCH located in the Task Bar.

25
T36
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LESSON 1: SECOND YEAR AH

Marriage of Sayyida Fatimah (A) and Imam

revelation about this matter. The following

Ali (A)

verse was revealed at this time:

In the 2nd year AH, one notable event that

Many a time We have seen you turn your face

took place was the marriage of

towards heaven. We will make you turn

Imam Ali (A) and Sayyida

towards a Qiblah that will please you. (2:144)

Fatimah (A) binte

The fact that the Qiblah was the same as that

Muhammad (S). It was

of the Jews was also because it was a test of

literally a marriage made

for the people. The true faith of the followers

in heaven. As we all

would be tested by seeing if any of them

listen in ahadith, Allah

refused or delayed to turn towards the new

chose Imam Ali (A) for His Messengers

Qiblah as chosen by Allah. This is confirmed

daughter.

in the Holy QuranQuran in the following verse:

The Change of Qiblah

When Allah first ordered the Holy Prophet (S)
and all Muslims to offer the daily Salaah, they
were required to pray facing Baytul
Muqqaddas (Jerusalem). This was the

We decreed your former Qiblah only so that

We may know the Prophet's true followers and
those who were to deny him. It was indeed a
hard test, but not for those whom Allah
guided (2:143)

practice in Makkah and continued in Medina

One day, while the Holy Prophet (S) and the

until the seventeenth month after Hijrah.

Muslims were praying together, the command

In Medina, the Jews also said their prayers

facing Baytul Muqqaddas. They did not like
the fact that the Muslims had the same Qiblah
as they did, and tried to use this fact to
discredit Islam and the Holy Prophet (S).
They said to the Muslims, "Muhammad claims

came from Allah to change the Qiblah from

Baytul Muqqaddas to the Holy Kabah in
Makkah. After the Holy Prophet (S) had
already completed two Rakaahof the noon
prayer, Angel Jibraeel (A) communicated to
him the command of Allah.

to have a religion whose laws supersede all

He held the hand of the Holy Prophet (S) and

other previous laws, yet he does not have an

turned him towards the Holy Kabah in Masjid

independent Qiblah, and offers his prayers

ul Haraam in Makkah. The Holy Prophet (S) at

facing the Qiblah of the Jews."

once changed his direction in the middle of

After the Holy Prophet (S) heard this, he used

to go outside at night and wait for Allahs

Salaah. Imam Ali (A) followed this change

immediately. The other Muslims were
confused by this action, and only a few
26
22

followed the example of the Prophet (S) and

from Makkah to Syria under the leadership of

Imam Ali (A).

Abu Sufyaan, who was a Kaafir, a non-

The Masjid where this happened is known as

believer.

"Masjid ul Qiblatain" which means "The Masjid

The Quraish had taken away the property of

with the two Qiblahs." This Masjid still exists in

all the Muslims who had migrated from

Medina today and the old and new Qiblahs

Makkah, and therefore, the Holy Prophet (S)

can still be seen today.

decided to take the property of the Makkans

The Holy Prophet (S) turned towards the new

Qiblah without hesitation. It was one of the

in return, since most of it belonged to them

anyways.

Holy Prophet's (S) miracles that he turned

Although the Muslims followed Abu Sufyaan,

exactly to face the Holy Kabah without the

they were not able to reach him. However,

use of any scientific instrument or calculation.

they knew when the caravan would return

because the Quraish always used to return
from Syria to Makkah in the early autumn.
The Holy Prophet (S) left Medina and went
towards the valley of Badr, where he awaited

the return of the caravan.

Abu Sufyaan realized that the Muslims would
wait for him at Badr, since there was a well
there, which was a common stopping place
The Battle of Badr
The Quraish were very angry when they heard
of Prophet Muhammads (S) success in
spreading Islam in Medina. As a result, they
started fighting battles with the Muslims.
Some of these battles were the Battles of
Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq.

on the route to Makkah, so he sent an urgent

message to Makkah for help. The Makkans
immediately sent out a large army under the
command of Abu Jahl to fight the Muslims at
Badr. The Holy Prophet (S) was informed of
the Makkan army and asked the Muslims
what they thought about engaging in a battle.
Although some Muslims wanted to return to

The first battle of Islam was fought at Badr (80

Medina, one true Muslim stood up and

miles from Medina) against the Kuffar (non-

declared, "O Prophet of Allah, we are with you

believers) of Makkah.

and we shall fight."

Two years after Hijrah, the Prophet (S) came

Meanwhile, Abu Sufyaan decided to take a

to know that a large trade caravan was going

longer route back home to avoid Badr. Once

27
23

he was safely in Makkah, he sent a message

achieved a great victory. They had lost 14

to Abu Jahl to return, but Abu Jahl was too

men, while 70 Makkans had been killed.

arrogant to go back and wanted to crush the

Muslims with his large army.

The Muslims took 70 prisoners. The citizens of

Medina treated the prisoners with much

The two ar mies clashed on 17th of

kindness and some became Muslims.

Ramadhaan 2 AH. The Muslim ar my

"Blessings on the men of Medina," said one of

consisted of 313 soldiers, having between

these prisoners in later days, "they made us

them only 2 horses and 70 camels. On the

ride, while they themselves walked; they gave

other hand, the Makkan army had 900

us wheat and bread to eat when there was

soldiers, 100 horses, and 700 camels. They

little of it, eating only dates". The rich

were much better equipped than the Muslims.

prisoners paid ransom and were set free.

According to Arab custom, there was single

combat before the battle began. Single
combat was when one soldier from each side
would fight against each other one-on-one.

Others were asked to teach 10 children each

to read and write while the Holy Prophet (S)
released the rest, and allowed them to return
to Makkah.

For this, the Holy Prophet (S) sent Ubaydah,

The victory at Badr strengthened the faith of

Hamzah, and Imam Ali (A), who killed enemy

the Muslims and further spread the name of

soldiers with great ease. The Quraish were

Islam.

disturbed to see the skill of the Muslim

warriors and began to attack together.
The Holy Prophet (S) held back his small
army and ordered them to fire arrows at the
enemy. This organized attack broke up the
ranks of the Makkans, and the Holy Prophet

VOCABULARY:
Discredit: to harm the good reputation of
someone or something
Supersede: to take the place of a person or
thing previously in use
Kuffar: Unbelievers; enemies of Islam

(S) then ordered a general attack. The

Muslims began to fight with confidence, and
the valley of Badr rang with the sounds of
battle. Then, Imam Ali (A) tore into the heart of
the Makkan army, killing enemy soldiers with
terrifying ease. His power and skill with the
sword struck terror into the hearts of the
Makkans, who began to flee. Before long, the
battle was over and the Muslims had
28
24

WORKSHEET 2.1
2nd Year AH
Fill in the blanks:

1.

A notable event of this year is the marriage of

(A) and

(A).
2.

The original Qiblah was in

3.

The new Qiblah is the Holy Kabah in

4.

The true

of the followers would be tested by seeing if any of them

refused to turn towards the new Qiblah as chosen by Allah.

5.

One day, while the Holy Prophet (S) and the Muslims were praying (which prayer?)
together, the command came to our Holy Prophet to change the Qiblah.

6.

Imam

7.

The Masjid where this happened is known as Masjid ul-Qiblatain which means The Masjid
with the

8.

Before this event, the

(A) followed this change immediately.

Qiblahs.

of Medina also used to face the Qiblah in

Jerusalem.

9.

This change in Qiblah occurred in the seventeenth month after

10. The first battle of Islam was known as the battle of __________
11. It was fought against the _________ of Makkah who were under the command of _______________
12. There were ________ (number) Muslims against ___________ non-believers, yet the Muslims won
this battle.

29
25

LESSON 2: THIRD YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

DRAW WHAT YOU THINK

THE BATTLEFIELD OF UHUD
MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE
AND INCLUDE STATISTICS
AND FACTS ABOUT THE
BATTLE.

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 3rd Year AH.
SAY: So far, how do you think things are going for the Muslims in Medina? What
predictions do you have for events to come?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. We will continue to learn about the events that established Islam as a
universal religion. Today we focus on the 3rd Year AH. Lets read about the events
that year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student understanding
of the text.
SAY:
What did the Prophet (S) say about Imam Hasan (A) when he was born?
Discuss the reasons why the Battle of Uhud took place.
Describe Imam Alis (A) role in the battle.
If everyone had listened to the Prophet (S), could the outcome of the battle been
different? How?
Students can then do the WORKSHEET and ART EXTENSION located in the Task
Bar.

30
T37
T35

LESSON 2: THIRD YEAR AH

Birth of Imam Hasan (A)
In the third year AH, Prophet Muhammad (S)

until they had fully avenged their dead

companions.

was blessed with the birth of his grandson

The final straw was when the Holy Prophet (S)

Imam Hasan (A). Prophet Muhammad (S) was

blocked the trade routes of the Quraish to

overjoyed. He offered two Rakaahof Salaah

Iraq. The chiefs of the Makkans decided that

of shukr, made Dua, and recited the Adhaan

they now had enough reasons to march

and Iqamah in Imam Hasans (A) ear.

against the Muslims. The Quraish traders

According to our Prophet (S), this Imam

would regain access for their caravans if the

would become one of the leaders of the youth

Muslims were defeated, so they agreed to

of paradise.

pay all the expenses of the proposed war.

Abu Sufyaan was aware of the bravery of the
Muslims, and he knew that he would have to
outnumber them if he wanted to win. He
therefore enlisted men from different tribes,
promising them weapons and full supplies for
the journey.
A large number of slaves also joined the
Quraish army, tempted by promises of
freedom. Amongst them was Wahshi, an
Ethiopian slave. He possessed great skill in
the use of the throwing spear and had been
promised his freedom if he killed the Holy
Prophet (S), Imam Ali (A), or Hamzah, the
Prophets uncle.
The next year, after the Battle of Badr, Abu
Sufyaan managed to prepare a large army

The Battle of Uhud

consisting of 700 armor-clad men, 3,000

camel soldiers, a cavalry of 200 men, and a

The Makkans were determined to take

revenge for their defeat at Badr. Abu Sufyaan
wanted to keep the anger of the people high

group of foot soldiers. This army marched

towards Medina and camped at the foot of
the hills of Uhud.

and he forbade any mourning within Makkah

31
26

The Holy Prophet (S) had already received

frightening figure, and upon seeing him, none

news of the Quraishs plans from his uncle

of the Muslims dared to come forward. Imam

Abbas, who lived in Makkah. After

Ali (A) killed this man with a single blow.

consultation with the Muslims, he decided to

meet the enemy outside the city limits of
Medina.
The Holy Prophet (S) began to set up his
army. 50 archers were posted at a pass
between the hills of Uhud to guard the army
from any attack from the rear. They had strict
orders not to leave their post, regardless of
the outcome of the battle.
On the side of the Makkans, Abu Sufyaan had
divided his army into 3 parts. The armored
men were placed in the middle. Preparations
were now complete, and the small band of
Muslims stood against the large army of

Watching his men being so easily killed, Abu

Sufyaan ordered a general attack. The two
armies met, and the air was filled with the
sound of weapons.
At this time, the Ethiopian slave Wahshi
creeped up behind Hamzah unnoticed. With
a swift and accurate throw, the accursed man
managed to pierce the abdomen of Hamzah
and kill him with a spear.
The Muslims continued to attack the enemy
successfully, and the Makkans began to lose
heart. After losing a lot of men, they decided
that they had enough and fled the battlefield.

unbelievers, ready to sacrifice their lives for

It was at this point that the Muslims made a

the sake of defending Islam.

terrible mistake. Instead of following the Holy

Talha bin Abi Talha, a great warrior from the

Prophet's (S) orders and staying at their

army of Abu Sufyaan, began the Battle of

Uhud. He entered the battlefield and
challenged the Muslims to individual combat.
Imam Ali (A) accepted the challenge, and
very soon, Talha's dead body lay on the
ground. His two brothers took the standard,
but arrows from the Muslims cut them both
down.
Thereafter, nine people of the Makkan army
took the flag, one after the other, but every
one of them was defeated by Imam Ali (A).
After them, an Ethiopian soldier by the name
of Sawaab came to the field. He had a
32
27

posts, they lay down their own weapons and

against the rest of the continuous furious

started gathering the booty (weapons, etc.

attack of the Makkans.

left behind by the enemies).

Imam Ali (A) fought so hard in this battle that

One of the Makkan commanders, Khalid bin

his sword broke, and the Holy Prophet (S)

Waleed, was fleeing when he saw the

then gave him own sword, "Dhulfiqaar." In

opportunity to attack the Muslims from

appreciation of this bravery, the voice of the

behind. He gathered his men and launched a

Angel Jibraeel (A) was heard from above

furious attack from the rear.

saying,

The Muslims were taken so much by surprise

that they did not know what to do. In the

confusion, their ranks became disorganized.

"There is no warrior except Ali; there is no

The retreating Makkan forces started another

sword except Dhulfiqaar."

attack from the front. So, the Makkans were

The Makkans satisfied their desire for revenge

now able to attack them from behind and the

by committing horrible crimes upon the slain

front, sandwiching the Muslims in between.

and the injured, cutting off their ears and

Then, in addition to this, some Makkans

noses and mutilating their bodies. The brave

raised a cry that the Holy Prophet (S) had

Hamzah was amongst the martyrs. His liver

been killed. This threw the Muslims into total

was torn out and chewed by Hind, the wife of

shock and further chaos.

Abu Sufyaan.

Then a Muslim saw the Holy Prophet (S) and

In this battle, 70 Muslims were martyred and

shouted at the top of his voice that he was still

70 wounded. Imam Ali (A) was also heavily

alive. The spirit of the Muslims revived, but

wounded. The Makkans lost 22 warriors, 12 of

the Holy Prophet (S) now became the chief

them at the hands of Imam Ali (A).

target of the Makkan forces. The Makkans

This tragic defeat was a test for the Muslims,

attacked him, and one of their swords broke

and as a result, they emerged more eager

his two upper teeth. He fell into a pit where

and determined to defend their faith and the

Imam Ali (A) found him and protected him

cause of Islam
VOCABULARY:
Forbid: to refuse to allow something
Mourning: the expression of deep sorrow
for someone who has died
Avenge: to inflict harm in return for an
injury or wrong done to oneself or another
Revived: restored to life or consciousness
33

28

WORKSHEET 2.2
3rd year AH

1.

A large number of slaves also joined the Quraish army tempted by promises of freedom.
Amongst them was

2.

The Makkans were determined to take revenge for their defeat at

3.

4.

, an Ethiopian slave.

managed to prepare a large army to fight the Muslims.

The Prophets (S) uncle, __________________________ , informed the Prophet (S) of the plans of
the Quraish.

5.

6.

7.

Muslims were fighting well and Makkans became discouraged and began to ___________.

The Muslims disobeyed the Prophets order and started to collect __________________________.

_______________________________ saw the opportunity to attack the Muslims from the rear
because the front line of the Muslim fighters had left their posts.

8.

______________________________________ broke his sword, so the Prophet (S) gave him his.

9.

The _______________ (S) was hurt in this battle and Imam Ali protected him from further injury.

10. ________________________________, the uncle of the Prophet (S), was martyred in this battle.

34
29

LESSON 3: FOURTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

DRAW AND EXPLAIN ONE

EVENT FROM THE 4TH YEAR
AH.

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 4th Year AH.
SAY: Explain why you think battles were being fought during the early years of
Islam?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. We will continue to learn about the events that established Islam as a
universal religion. Today we focus on the 4th Year AH. Lets read about the events
that year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student understanding
of the text.
SAY:
What did the Prophet (S) do when Imam Husain (A) was born?
Was it the intention of the Muslims to engage in war?
What was the method for outlawing alcohol and why is alcohol considered so bad?
Students can then do the WORKSHEET and ART EXTENSION located in the Task
Bar.

35
T38
T36

LESSON 3: FOURTH YEAR AH

Birth of Imam Husain (A)
The third year of migration, with all its bitter

be under my protection, and I guarantee that I

will protect them from any harm.

events, came to an end and the fourth year

Forty well-educated Muslims left for Najd and

started. One of the most joyous events of this

encamped by the side of Bir (well) Maunah.

year for Prophet Muhammad (S) was the birth

The Prophet (S) wrote a letter to one of the

of his grandson Imam Husain (A). Prophet

chiefs of Najd named Amir, inviting him to

Muhammad (S) was overjoyed at this event.

Islam. Not only did Amir not read the letter,

He recited Adhaan in the babys ear and

but he also put its bearer to death. He then

offered a 2 Rakaah Salaah of shukr.

sought assistance from nearby tribes and had

his men encircle the missionary encampment
to start an attack. It is important to note that
Abu Baraa and his tribe respected the
Muslims and were not part of this attack. Abu
Baraa had been true to his word, but Amir
had solicited the help of the other tribes.
The Muslim missionaries were not only senior
and proficient, but they were also brave
warriors. They therefore thought it a shame to

Tragedy of Bir Maunah

surrender, and put up a tough fight. However,

since they were outnumbered, they were all

That same year, Abu Baraa, the chief of the

martyred, except one. The only survivor was

tribe of Bani Amir came to Medina, and the

Kab bin Zaid, who reached Medina with a

Prophet (S) invited him to embrace Islam.

wounded body and informed them about

Even though he did not agree, he said to the

what had happened. This tragic event and

Prophet (S), "If you send a strong missionary

that of Rajee were due mainly to the Muslims

force to the people of Najd, they might

tragic defeat at Uhud. The defeat had

embrace Islam, as they are much inclined to

encouraged the nearby tribes to join hands

it." The Prophet (S) replied, "I am afraid of the

and plot against the Muslims.

deceit and enmity of the people of Najd. I fear

that the tragedy of Rajee, which resulted in
many missionaries being killed, may be
repeated. Abu Baraa said, "Your force will

36
30

Food for Thought:

The two events of Rajee and Maunah are
examples of instances where Muslims
attempted to spread Islam peacefully. Their
intention was only to educate different tribes
about Islam. In both instances, though,
initially unarmed people were ganged up
upon and attacked, even though they did not
pose a threat. Both the events ended up in
tragedy, but some people still accuse Islam
of being spread by the sword.
Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks
Another notable event of 4 AH was the
prohibition of alcohol. Wine and intoxicating
drinks in general are one of the most harmful
objects for human society. A persons
success depends upon his wisdom. The

declare it unlawful without taking certain steps

beforehand. To wage a decisive war against
alcohol, he had to prepare the temperament
of the society. The Prophet (S) started with
general advice about alcohol and continued
until he was successful in declaring its use to
be unlawful. A careful study of the four verses
revealed about alcohol tells us about the
method adopted by the Prophet (S) to spread
the laws of Islam.
First:
The basic condition for campaigning against
an evil practice is to first awaken the thinking
of the society and point out the
disadvantages and harmful effects of the
practice.

biggest difference between humans and

Hence, in the first instance, the Holy Quran

other living beings is that the human has the

told society that preparation of wine with

power of intellect, and alcohol is considered

dates and grapes was har mful. This

to be the greatest enemy of wisdom and

awakened the thoughts of the people by

intellect. Perhaps this is why all the Prophets

bringing their attention to the subject:

have prohibited the use of alcoholic drinks. In

fact, alcohol has been prohibited in all the

(We provide you) fruits of the date palm and

revealed religions.

vine from which you derive strong drink and

wholesome food. (16:67)

In the Arabian Peninsula, drinking alcohol

prevailed like a contagious disease.

This verse prepared peoples temperaments

so that the Prophet (S) might make his tone

To really change this habit needed quite a

stronger and declare through other verses

long and thought out process. Hence, the four

that the harms of alcohol outweigh the

verses revealed to outlaw alcohol are all

benefits.

different.
Second:
The Arab society and their conditions in
general did not permit the Prophet (S) to

They question you about strong drink and

game of chance. Say: in both is great sin, and
37
31

some benefit for men; but the sin of them is

all Muslims would have accepted this ban

greater than their usefulness. (2:219)

wholeheartedly. Finally, this verse was

Showing people that something is more evil

revealed:

than good is enough to make intelligent

Wine, gambling, idols, and Azlam (a sort of

people stay away from it. However, many

lottery) are filthy acts of Satan, and all of you

people do not avoid an evil practice unless it

should refrain from them. (5:90)

becomes totally forbidden.

Third:
In general, though, people did become ready
to accept that wine should be prohibited at
least in some special circumstances.
Therefore, it was declared openly that
Muslims were not allowed to offer prayers
while intoxicated:
Believers, do not pray when you are drunk,
till you know what you say. (4:46)
As a result, a group of people permanently
gave up drinking, using the argument that if
something was harmful for prayers, it
deserved to be eliminated completely.
Fourth:
However, some others did not forsake this

As a result of this clear order, those people

who had been drinking wine until that time
also began to refrain from it.
VOCABULARY:
Inclined: have a tendency to do something
Deceit: the action of deceiving someone by
hiding the truth.
Prohibition: the action of forbidding
something, especially by law
Encamped: to settle in or establish a camp
Solicit: to ask for or try to obtain something
from someone
Proficient: skilled in doing or using
something
Prevail: to be widespread in a particular
area at a particular time
Temperament: a person or animal's nature,
especially as it permanently affects their
behavior
Forsake: abandon

habit, so much so that a person from amongst

the Ansaar arranged a feast, and even though
he was aware of the above verse, he served
wine as well. The guests, after having drunk
wine, began to argue and hurt one another,
causing chaos.
These unpleasant incidents had by made it
such that if wine had became totally banned,
38
32

WORKSHEET 2.3
4th Year AH
1.

In the tragedy of Rajee, a number of missionary forces had been

2.

did not become a Muslim, but respected the religion and promised to
help if a missionary force was sent to the people of Najd.

3.

well educated Muslims left for Najd and encamped by Bir (the well of)
.

4.

The Prophet (S) was attempting to spread the word of Islam in a ____________ manner.

5.

One chiefs of_______________ invited to Islam by the Prophet (S) sought assistance from nearby
tribes and had his men encircle the missionary encampment to start an attack.

4.

When they were attacked by

s men, the missionaries decided to

back.
5.

Muslim missionaries were outnumbered so they were all martyred, except one. The survivor was
__________________.

6.

_____________ was NOT part of this attack on Muslims.

Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

1.

According to Islam, why is alcohol so undesirable?

2. Describe the four steps in which alcohol was made haraam.

39
33

LESSON 4: FIFTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

I L LU S T R AT E W H AT YO U
T H I N K T H E BAT T L E O F
AHZAB/KHANDAQ LOOKED
LIKE AND INCLUDE FACTS
ABOUT THE BATTLE.

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 5th Year AH.
SAY: Why do you think Islam was such a threat to the non-Muslims in Arabia?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. We will continue to learn about the events that established Islam as a
universal religion. Today we focus on the 5th Year AH. Lets read about the events
that year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.
SAY:
Describe the roles of Salman al Farsi and Imam Ali (A) in the battle of Khandaq.

Students can then do the WORKSHEET and ART EXTENSION located in the Task
Bar.

40
T39
T37

LESSON 4: FIFTH YEAR AH

Battle of Ahzaab (Khandaq)
When the Jews of Bani Qaynqaa were expelled

gathered 10,000 soldiers. They then marched

to Medina under the command of Abu Sufyaan.

from Medina because of their trouble making,

When the news of these preparations reached

their sister tribe, the Bani Nuzayr, were very

Medina, the Holy Prophet (S) consulted his

angry. They became deadly enemies of Islam

companions. Salman Farsi advised to dig a

and waited for an opportunity to harm the

deep and wide ditch on the unprotected side of

Muslims. Once, the Holy Prophet (S) and some

Medina. This plan was accepted, and the

of his companions went to the fort of Bani

Muslims were divided into groups of 10, and

Nuzayr. While he waited outside the fort, the

each group was assigned to dig 10 yards.

Jews sent one of their men to climb out from

inside and kill him by throwing a huge rock on
his head. The Holy Prophet (S) came to know of
this evil scheme just in time and immediately
left the place. Since the Bani Nuzayr had
broken the treaty to not cause harm, the Holy

The Holy Prophet (S) himself also participated

in this task. The ditch or moat (Khandaq) was
DISCUSSION: What are some examples of
moral excellence that make a person superior
than another?

Prophet (S) gave them ten days to leave

Medina. After some resistance, they left

completed in time, just three days before the

Medina, demolishing their houses so that the

enemy forces reached Medina. They camped a

Muslims could not occupy them. They were

few miles outside Medina. The Muslims could

allowed to take away all the possessions that

only gather 3,000 men to oppose this huge

they could carry, except for weapons of war.

army. The enemy was astonished to see the

Some of them went to Syria, and others settled

moat because it was a new war technique for

with the Jews of Khyber.

the Arabs. They tried day and night to cross

On settling down at Khyber, the Banu Nuzayr

became determined to take revenge on the
Muslims. They contacted the Quraish in
Makkah. 20 leaders from the Jews and 50 from

over the moat, but each time the Muslim

soldiers repelled them. The enemy began to
shower arrows and stones at the Muslims in
their frustration.

Quraish signed an agreement in the Holy

Finally, some of the Quraish's warriors,

Kabah that so long as they lived, they would

including the famous Amr bin Abdiwad,

fight the Holy Prophet (S). Then, the Jews and

succeeded in crossing the moat at a point

Quraish sent their agents to contact allies from

where it was not very wide. Amr was one of the

different tribes for help. In this way, they

best warriors in all of Arabia. In battle, he was

considered equal to 1,000 warriors. He began
41
34

to challenge the Muslims to fight, but his

O you who believe! Remember the blessing of

reputation made them hesitate. The Holy

Allah unto you when the tribes came to you. We

Prophet (S) urged the Muslims to fight Amr

sent upon them a strong wind and an army that

three times. Each time, only Imam Ali (A) stood

you did not see. And Allah sees all that you

up. Finally, the Holy Prophet (S) allowed him to

do. (33:9)

go, giving him his own sword and tying a

special turban on his head. As Imam Ali (A)
went to the battlefield, the Holy Prophet (S)

The battle was brought to an end because of

three factors:

exclaimed, "Today, all of Kufr (falsehood) is

The enemy was demoralized by the death of

fighting against all of Haqq (Truth)!" A fierce

Amr ibn Abdiwad.

battle followed.
Severe winter caused the enemies' horses to
For a time, so much dust covered both warriors

die and food to run out

that nobody knew what was happening. Amr

sent a murderous blow to the head of Imam Ali

The Holy Prophet (S) signed an agreement of

(A). Although Imam Ali (A) blocked it with his

peace with some of the tribes who had

shield, Amr's sword broke through and inflicted

gathered to fight the Muslims.

a serious cut on his head. Imam Ali (A) then

struck a blow to Amr's feet that brought Amr
down. Suddenly, the shout of "Allahu Akbar"
was heard from Imam Ali (A) as he beheaded
Amr. The killing of Amr shocked the other
warriors who had crossed the moat, and they
fled.
The severe winter weather was causing the

VOCABULARY:
Khandaq: ditch or moat
Repel: drive or force away
Demoralized: having lost confidence or hope

enemys horses to die, and their food was

almost finished. Also, a fierce storm had
uprooted their tents, sending their belongings
flying on all sides and causing terror amongst
their soldiers. So, the Makkans and Jews fled
away from the battlefield. This battle is known
as Ahzaab (Battle of the Tribes) or Khandaq
(Battle of the Moat), and the Muslims emerged
victorious despite their fewer numbers. The
Holy Quran says:
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WORKSHEET 2.5
Complete the diagram by filling in the blanks and numbering them in order of
occurrence:
The tribe of

that settled in Khyber and were

very angry at Muslims and
According to

wanted to take revenge

They gathered

on them

10,000 soldiers to fight for

them under the command of
Abu Sufyaan to fight against

Absolute faith went to fight

Absolute in fidelity

The Holy Prophet (S)

consulted his companions
and was advised to dig a
deep and wide ditch on the

was the only person

unprotected side of

brave enough to face this

famous warrior
of Arabia

One of the best warriors of

Arabia who succeeded in
crossing the
moat or ditch

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WORKSHEET 2.6: ART EXTENSION

5th Year AH

Illustrate what you think the Battle of Ahzaab (Khandaq) looked like if you were watching it, using
descriptions from the reading. Then, in your own words, describe what this battle was fought and
what the outcome was.

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6TH-8TH YEARS AH
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LESSON 1: SIXTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 6th Year AH.

READING

SAY: In order to make Hajj, where would the Muslims have to travel?

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

Wait and listen for answers.

WORKSHEET

SAY: Good. Muslims would have to travel to Makkah. What problems do you
foresee the Muslims facing if they were to travel to Makkah?

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: There would probably be some difficulty, being that they Muslims left Makkah
because of initial troubles in practicing their religion. How do you think Muslims
were able to complete Hajj then?

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

THAT EXPLAINS WHY THE
P R O P H E T E N GAG E D I N
BATTLES.

Wait and listen for answers.

SAY: Good. We will learn the answer to that in todays lesson and continue to learn
about the events that established Islam as a universal religion. Today we focus on
the 6th Year AH. Lets read about the events that year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.

SAY:

What was the pledge Ridhwan?

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah?

Students can then do the WORKSHEET and ART EXTENSION located in the Task
Bar.

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LESSON 1: SIXTH YEAR AH

In the sixth year of migration, the military

Most of the battles took place for this

power of the Muslims was much stronger, so

reason.

much so that their special units could freely

approach places adjoining Makkah and then

Battle of Bani Mustaliq

return. However, this military strength had not

The Bani Mustaliq were a branch of the tribe

been acquired to conquer the territories of the

of Khuzaah, who were the neighbors of the

tribes or to seize their properties; it was

Quraish. Reports were received in Medina

primarily to defend themselves.

that the chief of the tribe intended to besiege

If the polytheists had not deprived the

Medina. As on other occasions, the Prophet

Muslims of their freedom, the Prophet would

(A) decided to check this information and,

not have purchased even one sword or sent

therefore, marched towards the tribe of Bani

even one soldier to fight. However, since the

Mustaliq along with his companions and met

Muslims and their missionary parties were

them by the Well of Marisee. Fighting started

continuously threatened by the enemies, the

between the two parties. The bravery of the

Prophet was naturally and morally obliged to

Muslims frightened the Arab tribes and made

strengthen the defensive power of Islam.

the enemies disperse after a brief battle, in

which ten of their men and one Muslim (by

The real causes of these battles, which took

mistake) were killed. Consequently, a large

place up to the sixth year of migration and in

war booty fell to the share of the army of

fact up to the last moment of the Prophet's

Islam.

life, were as follows:

The Pledge of Ridhwaan
1. To give replies to the cowardly attacks by
the idolaters (like the Battles of Badr,

In 5 AH, the Holy Prophet (S) had received

Uhud, and Khandaq).

the commandment of Allah to make Hajj

Tamattu Wajib on all Muslims. In the following

2. To punish the tyrants who had killed the

year (the 6th AH), he dreamt that he was

Muslims or their missionary parties in the

actually performing the Hajj along with his

deserts or far-off places, or those who

companions. He therefore decided to perform

had violated their pacts with the Muslims

Hajj that very year.

(such as the battles fought against the

three Jewish tribes).

The Holy Prophet (S) announced to the

Muslims that he intended to go for pilgrimage

3. To cut down the enthusiasm that was

to Makkah in the month of Dhulqaada of 6 AH

brewing up amongst the tribes who

wished to gather forces to attack Medina.
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About 1,400 Muslims prepared to accompany

of allegiance from the Muslims that they

the Holy Prophet (S) to Makkah.

would support him even in the face of death.

The Holy Prophet (S) ordered Muslims not to

carry any arms other than swords. Along the
journey, the Holy Prophet (S) and his
companions put on their Ihraam and chose 70
camels for sacrifice during the Hajj.
After traveling through rough country, they
reached a place where there was a well by
the name of Hudaybiyyah, 10 miles away from
Makkah.
Here, the Holy Prophet (S) ordered the
Muslims to stop and pitch their tents. He then
sent a message to the Quraish that he wished
to enter Makkah for Hajj. He also let them
know that he had come in peace and wished
to settle matters by discussions.

This famous allegiance was taken under an

acacia tree and is known as the Pledge of
Ridhwaan. The event has been mentioned in
the Holy Quran as follows:
Indeed Allah was well pleased with the
believers when they pledged their allegiance
to you under the tree. He knew what was in
their hearts, so He sent down peace on them
and rewarded them with an immediate
victory. (48:18)
Soon afterward, Uthman returned from
Makkah, safe and unharmed. With him was a
man named Suhail who was sent by the
Quraish with instructions to settle the dispute
peacefully. As a result of the discussions
between Suhail and the Holy Prophet (S), a

The Holy Prophet (S) sent Uthman bin Affan,

peace treaty was signed between the

who was the nephew of Abu Sufyaan, the

Muslims and the Quraish. This was known as

chief of the Makkans, to act as representative

the treaty of Hudaybiyyah.

of the Muslims and go to Makkah.

Because he was related to Abu Sufyaan,
Uthman was warmly received in Makkah. The
Quraish told him that he was free to do the
Hajj himself, but they would not allow the rest
of the Muslims to enter the city. Uthman
refused to perform the Hajj alone, so he was
detained in Makkah.
When Uthman did not return, the Muslims
feared that he had been killed. The Holy
Prophet (S) said that there was a possibility of
battle breaking out, so he took a solemn oath
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Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
The conditions of the treaty were:

Umrah. After 3 days, the Muslims left

according to the agreement of the Treaty.

1. The Muslims should return to Medina that

year without performing Hajj.
2. They could return the next year, but their
stay would not exceed 3 days.
3. The Muslims should not bring any arms
with them except sheathed swords.
4. There would be no war between the
Quraish and the Muslims for 10 years.
5. Any idolater or Makkan Muslim visiting
Medina without permission of his tribe
would be sent back to Makkah, but a
Muslim of Medina going to Makkah without
permission would not be allowed to
return.
6. Any tribe of Arabia would be free to join
any of the parties to the treaty and this
treaty would also bind the allies.
Although some of these terms seemed to be
against the interests of the Muslims, it proved

VOCABULARY:
Adjoining: next to or joined with
Seize: take hold of suddenly and
forcibly
Besiege: surround (a place) with
armed forces in order to capture it
or force its surrender
Solemn: characterized by deep
sincerity

not to be the case. The treaty actually brought

welcome peace to Arabia after a long period
of unrest. In the 2 years after this treaty, more
people accepted Islam than in the whole 19
years since the beginning of the Holy
Prophet's (S) mission.
In the following year, the Prophet (S) and
2,000 Muslims went to Makkah to perform

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WORKSHEET 3.1
6th Year AH

1.

Name 3 causes for the battles that took place in Islam?

2.

Which battle took place in the 6th AH?

3.

What was the status of the army of Islam at this point?

4.

Why did this battle take place?

5.

How many years after Hijrah did the Prophet (S) decide to perform Hajj and go to Makkah?

Fill in the blanks or choose the correct answer:

6.

The Muslims stopped and pitched their tents 10 miles from Makkah near by a well. This place was
known as

7.

The Holy Prophet (S) sent Uthman bin Affan, a

of Abu Sufyaan to go to

Makkah as a representative of the Muslims.

8.

With a possibility of a battle breaking out, The Prophet (S) took an oath from the Muslims. This

famous oath is known

as: The

9.

of

In this allegiance to the Prophet (S), the Muslims said that they would:
a.

Support him in the face of death

b.

Perform Hajj this year with him

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10.. A peace treaty was signed between the Quraish and the Muslims.
TRUE
11.

FALSE

Did the Muslims go to Makkah to perform Hajj that year?

YES

NO

12. According to the treaty, any idolater or Makkan Muslim visiting Medina without permission of his
tribe would be
sent back to Makkah, but would a Muslim of Medina going to Makkah without
permission be allowed to return?
YES
13

NO

This peace treaty said that there would be no war between the Muslims for a period of
10 years

14.

2 years

This treaty brought peace to Arabia after a long period of unrest and battles. In the 2 years after

this treaty, more

people accepted Islam than

since the beginning of the Holy

Prophet's (S) mission.

15.

a.

In the whole 19 years

b.

In the whole life of Prophet Muhammad (S)

c.

In the whole lifetime of any Prophet

In the following year, the Prophet (S) and 2000 Muslims went to Makkah to perform

a. Hajj
b. A miracle
c. Umrah

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LESSON 2: SEVENTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL COMPARE

BATTLES THEY HAVE
LEARNED ON A CHART.

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 7th Year AH.
SAY: Why do you think the Prophet (S), up until now, hadnt sent more invitations to
people to come to Islam?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. We will learn the answer to that in todays lesson and continue to learn
about the events that established Islam as a universal religion. Today we will focus
on the 6th Year AH. Lets read about the events that year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.
SAY:

What took the Prophet (S) so long to invite others to Islam?

What method did the Prophet (S) use to spread Islam?

Why was the battle of Khyber fought?

What allowed Imam Ali (A) to lift the gate of Khyber?

Students can then do the WORKSHEETS and ART EXTENSION located in the Task
Bar.

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LESSON 2: SEVENTH YEAR AH

Invitation of States to Islam
The Peace Pact of Hudaybiyyah relieved the
Prophet (S) of worries from the southern part
of Makkah. He seized the opportunity and

from power. Nevertheless, he wrote a letter to

the Prophet (S) expressing his faith and
devotion to him and sent him several
presents.

started correspondence with the rulers of the

The ruler of Egypt read the Prophets (S) letter

time, the chiefs of the tribes and the religious

and thought over the contents for a long time,

leaders of the Christians, presenting his

but was not prepared to give up his position

religion to the nations of that period. By this

as the head of the Coptic Church. He wrote a

time, the religion had gone a step forward

letter of regret to the Prophet (S).

from a merely simple belief and had become

a universal faith. It could now bring the entire
humanity under the banner of monotheism
(belief in one God) and sublime social and
ethical teachings.

Negus, king of Abyssinia, received the

messenger of the Holy Prophet (S) with great
respect and kissed the letters before reading
them. On reading the invitation to Islam, he
immediately recited the Kalimah and became

At the time, there were four powerful states

a Muslim. He also obeyed the request of the

around Arabia: Iran; Byzantine, known as

Prophet (S) regarding the return of the

Rome among the Arabs; Egypt, which had

Muslims who had migrated there and sent his

been part of the Byzantine Empire, but was

own son with them.

now independent; and Abyssinia, which lay to

the south of Egypt and whose influence
extended to other populated areas in Africa.

These were the first steps that the Prophet (S)

took after a nineteen-year conflict with the
stubborn Quraish. If the internal enemies had

The Holy Prophet (S) sent a letter inviting

not kept him busy in bloody battles, he would

Khusro Parvez, the emperor of Iran to Islam.

have invited the distant nations to Islam much

Khusro flew into a rage, tore the letter to

earlier. However, the cowardly attacks of the

pieces, and rudely turned the messenger out

Arabs had forced him to spend a major part

of his court.

of his time defending Islam.

Hercules, the Kaiser of Rome, received the

Currently, the texts of 185 letters that the

Messenger (S) with honor and was impressed

Prophet (S) wrote to the princes, kings, chiefs

with the contents of the letter inviting him to

of the tribes, and distinguished spiritual and

Islam. However, he was afraid that if he

political personalities are available to us.

openly declared himself as a Muslim, the

Historians have preserved them in their

influential Christian priests would remove him

records. All these letters show that the

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method of invitation adopted by the Prophet

(S) clearly told him in front of hundreds of

(S) was that of logic, and not that of war and

hungry soldiers, "In my religion, violating ones

the sword, as is commonly thought.

trust is one of the greatest crimes. Take the

Battle of Khyber
Another notable event of this year was the
battle of Khyber. To the north of Medina was a
fertile land known as the Valley of Khyber.
20,000 Jews who were skilled in farming and
warfare populated the area. They had built
seven strong forts in Khyber to protect
themselves from any attack.
When the Jewish tribes of Bani Qaynqaa and
Bani Nuzayr were expelled from Medina
because of their plots against Islam, some of
them settled at Khyber. Here, they continued
in their old ways, encouraging and helping
the Arab tribes to harm the State of Islam.
Even after the Jews had lost against the
Muslims in the Battle of Ahzaab, they

sheep to the gate of the fort and hand them

over to their owners".
Through his action, the Holy Prophet (S)
showed clearly that he was not in Khyber to
conquer land and wealth, but his aim was to
remove the threat to Islam from the Jews. In
spite of the needs of his men, he would not
allow the unlawful use of the enemy's
property.
As days went by, Muslims captured one fort
after another. They then turned their attention
to the forts that were very heavily guarded.
They could not gain victory over these even
after trying for ten days.
Finally, the Holy Prophet (S) made a famous
announcement. He declared:

remained a source of danger to the Muslims.

"Tomorrow I shall give the standard to a

To remove this source of danger, the Holy

person who loves Allah and the Prophet, and

Prophet (S) decided to advance his army to

who is loved by Allah and the Prophet, and

attack the forts. The siege of the forts began.

Allah will accomplish the conquest of this fort

As the siege continued, the Muslims began to

run out of food and were forced to eat the
meat of horses, which is Makrooh, but not
Haraam, to eat.
At this difficult time, one shepherd who
tended the sheep of the Jews approached
the Holy Prophet and became a Muslim.
When he asked what he should do with the

at his hands. He is a man who has never

turned his back to the enemy and does not
run away from the battlefield".
All the soldiers were curious to learn who that
person would be, and the next morning they
gathered around the Holy Prophet (S) to see
who would be chosen to lead the soldiers.
The Holy Prophet (S) asked, "Where is Ali?"

sheep that were in his care, the Holy Prophet

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He was informed that Imam Ali (A) was

The Jews sent out one of their best warriors,

suffering from an eye infection so severe that

Harith the brother of Marhab, to fight the

he was unable to see. The Holy Prophet (S)

Muslims. The soldiers of Islam were struck

ordered that Imam Ali (A) be brought to him.

with fear when they saw the powerful Harith

When Imam Ali (A) came, the Holy Prophet

advance toward them. However, Imam Ali (A)

(S) rubbed his eyes and prayed for his

met his challenge and after a brief fight,

recovery. The eyes of Imam Ali (A) were

Harith lay dead on the ground.

instantly cured, and he never had trouble with

them again.

The death of his brother enraged Marhab. He

came out of the fort fully armed and in a

The Holy Prophet (S) then ordered Imam Ali

deadly mood. He was dressed in a heavy

(A) to advance against the enemy. He told

coat of armor and wore on his head a cap

him to ask the chiefs of the forts to accept

made of stone that he had covered with a

Islam. If they refused, he was to ask them to

helmet. As he challenged the Muslims, he

surrender and live freely under Muslim

recited his war poem stating,

protection and pay tax to the Muslim state. If

this offer was also refused, then he should
fight.
Imam Ali (A) approached the forts wearing a
strong coat of armor and carrying his twintongued sword, Dhulfiqaar.

"The walls of Khyber testify that I am Marhab.

I am the best of warriors and those who face
me in the battlefield are colored with their own
blood."
Imam Ali (A) stepped forward and recited his
own poem, stating,
"I am the person whose mother named him
Haider, a wild lion. In battle, I get rid of my
enemies quickly."
The words of Imam Ali (A) were carefully
chosen. He knew that Marhab had been
recently having bad dreams about being
ripped apart by a lion, and his words
therefore caught Marhab by surprise and
disturbed him. Still, Marhab advanced with a
terrible fury, determined to use all his skill to
avenge his dead brother.

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The blows of the two warriors struck awe in

the hearts of the onlookers. Suddenly, Marhab
plunged his three-pronged lance towards
Imam Ali, who avoided the thrust and struck a
powerful blow to the head of Marhab. The
sword of Imam Ali (A) broke through the
helmet, stone cap, and head of Marhab and
finally stopped at his teeth.
A silence fell as the Jews unbelievingly
watched their champion fall dead. As Imam
Ali (A) shouted "Allahu Akbar in victory,
several experienced Jewish soldiers
surrounded Imam Ali (A). However, they could
not match his skill and they, too, soon lay
dead.
During the fight, someone struck a blow at
Imam Ali (A), breaking his shield. He turned to

The Story of Fadak

the gate of the fort and wrenched it off its

hinges and used it as a shield. When he
finally threw it away, even 10 Muslims could
not lift it. Imam Ali (A) later commented that
he had lifted the gate by the strength granted
to him by Allah due to his firm faith in the Day
of Judgment.
As a result of the bravery of Imam Ali (A), the
fort was taken, and soon, all forts were within
the hands of the Muslims. Muslims lost 20
men in this battle, while the Jews lost 93 men.
After the victory, the Holy Prophet (S) restored
all the land of the Jews to them with the
orders that half of the profit from their
agricultural activity should be given over to
the Muslims in return for protection.

The Jewish village of Fadak was a fertile

territory 180 kilometers north of Medina. The
chief of the village preferred peace, and in
return for the protection of the Muslims, he
agreed to give half of the produce of the
region to the Holy Prophet (S).
According to the rules of Islam, lands
conquered through war and military power
are the property of all the Muslims, and their
administration lies with the ruler of the
Muslims. However, those lands that are
submitted to the Muslims without war, as in
the case of Fadak, belong to the Holy Prophet
(S), and after him, to the Holy Imam (A) of the
time. They have the right to distribute such
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properties as they see fit. This is evident from

the following verse:

And Sulayman inherited from

Dawood. (27:16)

Whatever God has bestowed on His Prophet

Although Abu Bakr was ashamed of his

from the people of the towns is for God and

conduct and decided to return Fadak to her,

the Prophet and his relatives and the orphans

Omar al-Khattab felt that Fadak was still not

and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it may

proven as hers. So, Sayyida Fatimah (A)

not circulate among the rich ones of you.

(59:7)

could not get it back.

After this, Fadak remained in the hands of

The land of Fadak thus came into the

successive rulers until the time of the

possession of the Holy Prophet (S), and he

Umayyad Caliph Omar bin Abdul Aziz, who

gifted Fadak to his dear daughter Sayyida

returned it to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A).

Fatimah (A).

However, the next Caliph took it away and it

remained with the Bani Ummayah Caliphs

However, after the Holy Prophet (S) passed

until their rule ended. During the rule of the

away, Abu Bakr took Fadak away from

Bani Abbas, it was returned briefly, but then

Sayyida Fatimah (A). Sayyida Fatimah (A)

taken away forever.

decided to fight for her right by legal means.

The Lapsed Umrah

Even then, Abu Bakr would not agree and he

One of the conditions of the Peace Treaty of

quoted a fake tradition saying,

Hudaybiyyah was that the Muslims would be

"The Holy Prophet has said, `We, the group of

permitted to visit Makkah the following year to

Prophets do not inherit, nor are we inherited

perform Umrah. They would be allowed to

from, and what we leave is for alms.'"

stay there for three days to carry out their

religious duties.

This was a blatant lie and no one except Abu

Bakr claimed to have heard it.

After a year had passed, the Holy Prophet (S)

declared that the Muslims should prepare for

Sayyida Fatimah (A) then gave an eloquent

the Umrah. Everyone was over joyed,

lecture in which she first explained about the

especially the Muhaajirs, who had not seen

Oneness of Allah and the nature of the

their relatives and hometown in seven years.

mission of her father. She then proved that

2,000 Muslims prepared to make the journey.

Abu Bakr was lying by quoting the following

verse:

The Holy Prophet (S) put on his Ihraam in the

Masjid and the others followed him. Then, the
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52

Muslims proceeded to Makkah reciting the

At this stage, he ordered that the Muslims join

Talbiyyah.

him in saying:
"There is no god but Allah. He is One and

They took with them 80 camels for sacrifice.

The sight of this caravan, which possessed so
much majesty and dignity, made many
idolaters inclined towards Islam. As a result,
many became Muslims.
One of the conditions of the treaty was that,
when entering Makkah, the Muslims should
be unarmed, except for a single travelers
sword. The Holy Prophet (S) knew that this
made them vulnerable to attack from the
Quraish, whom he did not trust. Therefore, he
sent 200 well-armed men in a valley near

Matchless. He has acted according to his

promise (He had promised that the Muslims
would visit the Holy Kabah soon). He helped
His servant. He raised the army of One God
to the highest rank and condemned the
armies of the idol worshippers to loneliness."
On that day, all the centers of pilgrimage and
the places where ceremonies of Umrah are
performed, including Masjid ul Haraam, the
Holy Kabah, and the hills of Safa and
Marwah were under the control of the
Muslims.

Makkah and told them to wait there for his

Seeing the Muslims perform their sacred rites

arrival.

at these places made a great impact on the

When the Quraish learned of this action of the

Holy Prophet (S), they realized that it was
useless to plan any surprise attacks on the

leaders of the Quraish, and now they finally

believed that this mighty religion and its
leader could never be stopped.

Muslims. They therefore opened the gates of

The time for noon prayers arrived. The Holy

Makkah and left the city for the nearby

Prophet (S) ordered Bilal to recite the Adhaan.

mountains and hills. From here, they could

Bilal with the command of the holy Prophet

observe all the activities of the Muslims during

climbed onto the roof of the Holy Kabah, and

their three days' stay.

loudly announced the call to prayer.

The Holy Prophet (S) entered Makkah with the

Muslims and the sound of "Labbayk" echoed
throughout the city, filling the Makkans with
awe. He performed Tawaaf of the Holy Kabah
while mounted on his camel.

Afterwards, the Holy Prophet (S) led the

Muslims in performing Saee between the hills
of Safa and Marwah. Some people had
spread the rumor that the Muslims had
become weak due to the poor climate in
Medina. To show them that they were wrong,
the Holy Prophet (S) did "Harwala" during part
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of the Saee, and the Muslims followed him.

Harwala is a type of quick walking, just short
of running.
Then, the Muslims sacrificed their camels,
came out of the state of Ihraam, and then did
taqsir, or had their hair cut. The Prophet (S)
then asked 200 Muslims to replace the
soldiers at the valley so that they could come
and perform their Umrah, too.
After the Umrah came to an end. The
Muhaajirs went to their homes to meet their
relatives. They also invited some Ansaa to
return some of the hospitality that the Ansaar

VOCABULARY:
Correspondence: communication by
exchanging letters with someone
Monotheism: the belief that there
is only one God
Administration: the process of
running a business, organization,
government, etc.
Blatant: very obvious
Eloquent: fluent and persuasive in
speech
Standard: war flag
Harwala: a type of quick walking,
jus short of running
Taqsir: The cutting of the hair done
after completing Umrah

had shown them on their arrival in Medina.

The short visit of the Muslims and the glory of
Islam had made a deep impression on the
citizens of Makkah. Many of them were left
with a desire to learn more about the religion,
and the conduct of the Muslims had won a
greater victory than any war.
The Holy Quran says:
Allah made the dream of His messenger
come true for a genuine purpose. If Allah
wills, you (believers) will enter the Sacred
Masjid in security with your heads shaved,
nails cut, and without any fears in your heart.
(48: 27)

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WORKSHEET 3.2
Seventh Year AH
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

In the 7th AH, the states surrounding Arabia were:

a.

Iran and Byzantine

b.

France

c.

Egypt and Abyssinia

d.

Both a and continued

The person that was rude and tore the invitation letter from Prophet Muhammad (S) was:
a.

Khusro Parvez

b.

Hercules

c.

Negus

d.

Saad

The Prophets (S) strategy of spreading the religion of Islam to the whole world was one of
and not of
alone.
a.

Friendship; enemies

b.

Logic; war

c.

Anger; peace

d.

Revenge; anger

To the north of Medina was a land where some of the Jews who had been expelled from Medina
had settled. This was known as the
a.

The Khyber Pass

b.

Fort of Khyber

c.

Valley of Khyber

d.

Valley of Abu Talib

Here, the Jews continued to encourage and help the Arabs to harm the
they were an imminent threat to Muslims.
a.

Wildlife

b.

People of Medina

c.

Enemies of Islam

d.

State of Islam

. So,

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6.

7.

8.

The Jews had built 7 forts to protect themselves. The Muslims attacked these one by one. The
last ones, that were heavily guarded were the most difficult to conquer. That was when Prophet
Muhammad (S) announced he would give the
to a person who is loved by
and the Prophet (S).
a.

Standard; Allah

b.

Award; everyone

c.

Prize; the army

d.

Trophy; Arabs

That person was

whose eye was miraculously cured by the

a.

Salman Farsi; Imam Ali (A)

b.

Imam Husain(A); Imam Ali (A)

c.

Imam Ali (A); Prophet Muhammad (AS )

d.

Marhab; Harith

The Holy Prophet (S) asked Imam Ali (A) to first

to

. Then, if they refused, he was

.Then, if this offer was also refused, he should

a.

Ask the chiefs of the forts to accept Islam

b.

Ask them to surrender & live under Muslim protection by paying tax

c.

Fight

9.

i.

a, b, then c

ii.

b, a, then c

iii.

c, a, then b

iv.

Prophet Muhammad (S) did not ask Imam Ali (AS ) to do any of these.

Marhab and Harith were both defeated and killed by:

a. Prophet Muhammad (S)

b. Imam Ali (A)
c. Imam Hassan (A)
d. Abul Fadhlil Abbas (A)

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10.

The Holy Prophet (S) gave Fadak to his daughter Sayyida Fatimah (A)
a.

As a gift, after a revelation from the Quran to do so.

b.

As a loan, since Fatimah (S) asked for one.

c.

As a reward

d.

None of the above

11. The person that stole Fadak away from Sayyida Fatimah (A) after the Prophet (S) passed away
was

12.

13.

14.

a.

Yazeed

b.

Muawiyah

c.

Omar

d.

Abu Bakr

We, the Prophets, do not inherit was

a.

A fake tradition quoted by the person who stole Fadak.

b.

An important tradition to remember

c.

A tradition that nobody else had heard of

d.

Both a) and c)

The famous Quranic quote of Sayyida Fatimah (S) in response to the fake tradition was And
inherited
.
a.

Dawood; Sulayman

b.

Sulayman; Dawood

c.

Muhammad; Ali

d.

Ali; Hassan

According to the rules of Islam lands that are submitted to the Muslims without war, as in the case
of Fadak, belong to the Holy Prophet (S) and after him, to the Holy Imam (A) of the time.
a.

True

b.

False

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15.

16.

17.

18.

The Prophet waited

after the signing of the Peace Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
before going to Makkah to perform Hajj.
a.

Two years

b.

One month

c.

6 months

d.

One year

The Prophet (S) sent 200 well armed men to a valley near Makkah to
a.

Fight against all Non- Muslims

b.

Protect the pilgrims against an attack from the Quraish

c.

Protect the people of that valley

d.

None of the above

Harwala refers to

a.

Hajj

b.

Umrah

c.

A type of quick walking

d.

Holy Places

What happened to the gate of Khyber and how was this possible?

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WORKSHEET 3.3
From the information in your textbook, fill out this informational chart on 4 major battle fought in the
early years of Islam:
Name of Battle

Badr

Uhud

Ahzaab/
Khandaq

Khyber

Reason for Battle

Outcome of Battle

Special Events
(Death, victories)

Reason why the

battle is named
how it is

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LESSON 3: EIGHTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 8th Year AH.
SAY: Why do you think the Prophet (S) put so much importance in spreading the
message of Islam?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. We will learn the answer to that in todays lesson and continue to learn
about the events that established Islam as a universal religion. Today we focus on
the 8th Year AH. Lets read about the events that year.

WORKSHEET

At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.

GALLERY WALK

SAY:
What were the rules the Prophet (S) gave his army before going to battle show
about Islam?
Why is Jafar known as Tayyar?
Explain why Abu Sufyaan decided to give in and become Muslim.

STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE

A VENN DIAGRAM ABOUT
THE BATTLES FROM THIS
LESSON.
PUT THE NAMES OF THE
D I F F E R E N T BAT T L E S O N
DIFFERENT PAPERS ON THE
WALLS. HAVE STUDENTS
WALK AROUND AND EITHER
D R AW S O M E T H I N G O R
WRITE A REFLECTION OR
QUESTION ABOUT THE
BATTLE. THEN HAVE A CLASS
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT
IS ON THE POSTERS.

Students can then do the WORKSHEETS and GALLERY WALK located in the Task
Bar.

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LESSON 3: EIGHTH YEAR AH

The Battle of Muta
By 8 AH, there was security in most of Arabia,
and the call of Islam had extended to many
parts. The Jews in the north and the Quraish in
the south had been subdued by the victories of
the Muslims in battle and they did not pose a

then Abdullah bin Rawaahid would assume

command. If he, too, was killed, then the Muslim
army should select their commander from
amongst themselves. Before dispatching the
expedition, the Holy Prophet (S) instructed them
to observe the following rules:

threat any longer.

The Holy Prophet (S) sent envoys to neighboring
countries and invited their rulers to embrace
Islam. Some of these envoys were well received,
while others were mistreated and even killed.
One such envoy, Harith bin Umayr Azdi, was
sent with a letter to the ruler of Syria. Before he

1. Not to interfere with the monks and nuns who

were worshipping in their monasteries.
2. Not to hurt or harm any women, children or old
people.
3. Not to cut down trees or destroy buildings.

could reach his destination, he was captured at

Muta by Shurahbil, the governor of Syria in the
border towns. Disregarding the universal law
about the safety of envoys, Shurahbil killed
Harith. In a separate incident, 15 missionaries
sent to the Syrians were also killed.

CRITICAL THINKING: What do these

instructions of the Prophet (S) say about
Islam?
These instructions were an example of the Holy
Prophet's (S) vision and the efforts he was

When the Holy Prophet (S) received the sad

making to bring about changes and reforms in

news, he was deeply grieved and decided to

all walks of life, in a period in Arabia when no

punish Shurahbil and those who obstructed the

one paid close attention to the morality of their

spread of Islam. He gave orders for Jihad, and

actions, particularly in war. He was teaching

3,000 men assembled a military station of

people to respect innocent lives and property.

Medina. He instructed the army to march

towards Muta and first invite the people to
become Muslims. If they accepted Islam, the
murder of the envoy would not be avenged, but if
they resisted, the Muslims should fight against
them in the Name of Allah.
Jafar bin Abu Talib was appointed as the
commander of the army, and the Holy Prophet
(S) said that if Jafar was killed, then Zaid bin
Harith would lead them, and if he were killed,

Upon hearing that the Muslim army was coming,

Hercules of Rome and the Syrian Ruler sent their
best troops to the borders, and Shurahbil
gathered an army of 100,000 soldiers.
In addition to being hopelessly outnumbered, the
Muslims were also facing a professional army.
Due to their constant wars with Iran, the Romans
had become experts in war strategy and tactics.
They were also equipped with better weapons

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and transport. Also, the Romans had the

presence of thousands of idol worshippers, who

advantage that they were fighting at home while

were the enemies of Islam.

the Muslims were in a foreign land.

There was one exception to this though; the

Despite being in a weaker position, the Muslim

Quraish had encouraged a tribe to launch an

forces fought courageously. Jafar divided his

unexpected attack on another tribe (the Bani

men into 3 divisions, and the armies met near

Khuzaah), who were allies of the Muslims and

Muta. The battle began with single combats but

under their protection.

soon turned into a full-scale war. The Muslims

fought courageously, but soon, the differences in
number proved too great. Jafar was surrounded
and lost one arm, and then the other. Eventually,

The Bani Khuzaah, who were caught by

surprise, could not offer much resistance and
were killed in their beds and in prayers.

he was killed with a blow to the head, and after

When this news reached the Holy Prophet (S), he

him Zaid and then Abdullah were also martyred.

promised to avenge the innocent blood of the

The Holy Prophet (S) was much grieved at the

Bani Khuzaah.

loss of Muslim lives and especially that of his

The Holy Prophet (S) decided to use this

cousin Jafar. He saw in his dream that Jafar had

opportunity to bring Makkah under the control of

been given two wings, like Angels in heaven and

Islam once and for all. He planned to move

since then Jafar is known as Tayyaar - the one

swiftly and secretly to Makkah with a huge army.

who flies.

He hoped that when the Makkans would be

Two years after the death of the Holy Prophet (S),

a powerful Muslim army did return to Syria and

faced with a powerful army that appeared by

surprise, they would lose heart in fighting.

conquer the Romans in the battle of Yermuk,

According to this plan, the Holy Prophet (S)

bringing a large part of Syria under Islam.

gathered the Muslim army on the 10th of

The Conquest of Makkah

Another notable event of 8 AH was the conquest
of Makkah. In 6 AH, the chiefs of the Quraish of
Makkah and the Holy Prophet (S) had signed the
treaty of Hudaybiyyah. An important part of this
treaty said that there would be no fighting
between the two parties or their allies.
In the years following the treaty, there was
general peace, and the Muslims went freely to
Makkah to perform their pilgrimage in the

Ramadhaan, 8 AH and marched towards

Makkah with about 10,000 men.
The Muslim army finally stopped to camp a few
miles from Makkah. The Makkans, who were
unaware of the Muslim presence, were shocked
when they suddenly saw the hills around Makkah
light up with hundreds of fires from the Muslim
camp.
Abu Sufyaan and some other chiefs of the
Quraish came out of Makkah to investigate. He
was met by Abbas, the Prophets uncle, who
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protected him from the swords of the Muslims

He broke many idols himself. Some of them were

and guided him to the Holy Prophet's (S) tent.

placed too high for him to reach, so he asked

When the Holy Prophet (S) saw him, he said,

"Has the time not come for you to accept that
there is no god but Allah?" However, Abu
Sufyaan was not very willing to give up his belief

Imam Ali (A) to stand on his shoulders and pull

the idols down. Thus, the last traces of idol
worship were removed from the Holy Kabah and
Masjid ul-Haraam.

in idols. Seeing him hesitate, Abbas warned him

By now, the time for Dhuhr prayers had set in.

that if he waited for much longer, his life would

The Holy Prophet (S) asked Bilal to recite the

not be safe. Abu Sufyaan realized the danger he

Adhaan. All the Muslims offered their prayers led

was in and accepted Islam, although in his heart,

by the Holy Prophet (S), who then delivered a

the hatred for the Holy Prophet (S) burned as

speech in which he told the message of Islam.

strong as ever. He went back and told the

The entire population of Makkah then offered

Makkans what he had seen and added that it

their allegiance to the Holy Prophet (S).

would be impossible to attack an army so large

and well equipped.
The Holy Prophet (S) entered the city of Makkah
with great dignity, riding on his camel al-Qaswa.
Nobody stood to oppose him.

Allah had kept the promise he had made to his

beloved Prophet (S) when He said in the Holy
Quran:
(O Muhammad,) Allah, Who has commanded
you to follow the guidance of the Quran, will

Each unit of the Muslim army entered the city

through different gates. Soon, the entire city of
Makkah surrendered to the Muslims. The Holy
Prophet (S) won the hearts of the Makkans by
saying that he would take no revenge for their
past actions, and that they were all free.

certainly return you victoriously to your place of

Battle of Hunayn

As the Holy Prophet (S) performed tawaaf, he

looked after its political problems and the

knocked down the three idols at the door of the

religious matters of its inhabitants. When he left

Kabah and recited the following verse from the

that place, he appointed suitable people on

Holy Quran:

different posts there.

Say, Truth has come and falsehood has been

banished; and falsehood is certainly a vanishing
thing. (17:81)

At the time of the Battle of Hunayn, the Prophet

The Holy Prophet (S) then entered the Holy

theirs became the cause of their initial defeat.

Kabah to clear it of the idols that were in there.

They had started to pride themselves on the

birth. (28:85)

The Prophets (S) usual practice was that

whenever he conquered a region, he personally

(S) had a huge army. Such an army was hardly

found anywhere, and this numerical strength of

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large number of their soldiers, and thus began to

that were killing Muslims. A group of self-

ignore military tactics and principles of war.

sacrificing people like Imam Ali (A), the

After the conquest of Makkah, some of the tribes

living around Makkah decided to join forces and
fight the Holy Prophet (S). The commander of the

Commander of the Faithful, Abbas, Fadl bin

Abbas, Usamah, and Abi Sufiyan bin Harith, who
proceeded along with him.

enemy army decided to make up for their small

A famous warrior by the name of Abu Jundal

number and weak morale of his soldiers by

came out to fight from the enemy side against

launching a surprise attack to create confusion

Imam Ali (A) and soon lay dead. Imam Ali (A)

among the Muslim army and to disrupt the

then actively attacked the army and struck terror

discipline of their units.

into their hearts. By the time he stopped fighting,

He encamped at the end of the pass that led to

40 enemy soldiers had been killed by him.

the region of Hunayn. He then ordered all his

Meanwhile, the Prophet (S) had asked his uncle

soldiers to hide themselves behind the rocks and

Abbas to call back those who had fled. Abbas

gaps of the mountains and at elevated places

called out:, "O Ansaar, who helped the Prophet!

around the pass, to attack the Muslims with

O you who took the oath of allegiance to the

arrows and stones, as soon as they arrived in

Prophet under the tree of Paradise! Where are

this deep and lengthy pass.

you going? The Prophet is here!"

The army of Islam rested at night at the mouth of

Imam Alis (A) success and the words of Abbas

the pass, and the day had not yet dawned fully

reached the ears of the Muslims and stimulated

when the enemy tribe arrived in the passage of

their religious fervor. All of them responded

Hunayn. When a major part of the Muslim army

immediately by saying, Labbayk! Labbayk (here

was still in the pass, arrows were showered upon

am I! here am I!) and returned towards the

them and a group of the enemy attacked them

Prophet (S).

under the protection of the archers.

With regret and remorse for having fled, they

This sudden attack terrified the Muslims so much

reorganized their rows. In line with the orders of

that they began to flee despite the command of

the Prophet (S) and also to make up for their

the Holy Prophet (S) to stay and created, more

shameful actions, the Muslims launched a

than the enemy itself, disorder and disruption

general attack forcing the enemies to retreat or

among them.

flee.

The Prophet (S) said loudly, "O supporters of

In this battle, the casualties of the Muslims were

Allah and His Prophet! I am the servant of Allah

large. The Muslims, however, eventually won,

and His Prophet." He then turned his mule

and the enemies fled leaving behind 6,000

towards the battlefield occupied by the enemy,

captives, 24,000 camels, 40,000 sheep, and

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4,000 waqih of silver (one waqih is approximately

(S) military planners, Salman Al-Farsi, suggested

213 g). The Prophet (S) ordered that all the men

stoning the enemy fort with catapults. The

and the entire property should be taken to

Muslim officers created a catapult and stoned

Ji'ranah. He also appointed some men to keep a

the towers and the interior of the fort for about

watch and ordered that the entire booty should

twenty days. However, the enemies, too,

remain there as it was until he returned from

continued to shoot arrows and thereby inflicted

Taaif.

injuries on the soldiers of Islam.

Battle of Taaif

The Prophet (S) used all physical and moral

Taaif is one of the fertile country towns of Hijaaz.

It is situated in the southeast of Makkah.

military devices in this battle, but the conquest of

the fort needed further activities and patience,
whereas the conditions prevailing at the time, the

This town was inhabited by the tribe of Saqif who

prolongation of war, and the resources of the

were one of the powerful and popular tribes of

army of Islam, did not permit any further stay in

the Arabs. The Arabs of the Saqif tribe were

Taaif.

amongst those people who fought against the

Muslims in the Battle of Hunayn. After their
defeat, they took refuge in their own town , which
possessed strong and elevated forts.

Firstly, during the period of this siege, thirteen

people had been killed. Furthermore, other
people had also been killed due to the deceitful
enemy attack at Hunayn. Consequently, there

In order to complete the victory, the Prophet (S)

appeared a lack of discipline and morale in the

ordered the fugitives of the Battle of Hunayn to

Muslim army.

be caught. The Prophet (S) himself proceeded to

Taaif along with the remaining army, and on his
way, destroyed the Fort of Taaif, so that there
was no place for the enemies to safely hide.

Secondly, the month of Shawwaal was ending,

and the month of Dhul Qadah (during which
warfare was forbidden amongst the Arabs, and
Islam later confirmed this tradition as well) was

The Fort of Taaif was situated at a great height

approaching. In order to safeguard this tradition,

and had very strong walls, and its towers fully

it was necessary that the siege should be raised

controlled the outside area. The army of Islam

as early as possible so that the Arab tribe of

proceeded to besiege the fort, but before they

Saqif would not be able to charge the Prophet

could completely encircle it, the enemy

(S) with the violation of the good tradition.

showered them with arrows and killed some of

them on the spot.

Moreover, the Hajj season was near, and the

supervision of Hajj ceremonies was the

The Prophet (S) ordered the army to retreat and

responsibility of the Muslims. A very large

to transfer its encampment to a point beyond the

number of people came to Makkah from all parts

reach of the enemy arrows. One of the Prophets

of Arabia to participate in the Hajj ceremonies,

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and it was the best occasion to propagate Islam

and acquaint people with its realities. It was
necessary for the Prophet (S) to take full
advantage of this opportunity, which had
become available to him for the first time, and to
think of much more important matters as
compared to the conquest of an outlying fort.
Keeping all these matters in view, the Prophet (S)
raised the siege of Taaif and proceeded, along

VOCABULARY:
Subdue: bring under control
Envoy: a messenger or
representative, especially one on a
diplomatic mission
Obstruct: block or get in the way
of
Dispatch: send off to a destination
or for a purpose
Fervor: intense passion

with his soldiers, to Jiranah. He distributed the

booty of the Battle of Hunayn. While the Holy
Prophet (S) was still in Jiranah, the Bani
Hawaazan ,who had surrendered to the Muslims,
approached him. They requested the release of
their relatives. The Holy Prophet (S) released all
the prisoners in his possession as well as those
of other members of the Bani Hashim.

All

Muslims then did the same, and as such, about

6,000 prisoners were released.

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WORKSHEET 3.4
8th Year AH
Circle the correct choice:
1.

The Battle of Muta took place because

a.
b.
c.
d.

Harith bin Umayr Azdi wanted to fight

Jafar bin Abu Talib did not like Shurahbil
The Holy Prophet (S) decided to punish Shurahbil
All of the above

2.
The instructions that the Holy Prophet (S) gave to his army that showed the Prophets (S) vision
was to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.

In the battle of Hunayn, the Muslims were nearly defeated because:

a.
b.
c.
d.

4.

Not to interfere with the religious figures who were worshipping in their monasteries.
Not to attack women, children, or the elderly
Not to destroy buildings or cut down trees
All of the above.

They started to flee

They were extremely poor fighters
The enemy had a much larger army
None of the above

The enemy used the strategy of:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Using expert fighters

Using an army larger in number than the Muslim army
A surprise attack on the army of Islam
Blocking all the routes

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5.

The person that saved the day for the Muslims by being successful in the
battlefield, thus building the confidence of the Muslims was:
a.
b.
c.
d.

6.

The person that called out to the fleeing Muslims to come back was:
a.
b.
c.
d.

7.

Abbas Fadhlil bin Abbas

Usamah
Abi Sufyan bin Harith
Prophet Muhammads uncle Abbas

The Fort of Malik was destroyed because:

a.
b.
c.
d.

8.

Hamzah
Imam Ali (A)
Bilal
Abi Sufiyan bin Harith

The Prophet (S) didnt want to leave a safe hiding place for the enemy
Muslims enjoyed destroying forts
It was obstructing the way
It had a huge enemy army hiding inside

It was difficult to conquer the fort of Taaif because:

a.
b.
c.
d.

The towers were too high

The towers fully controlled the outside area
The Muslim army was too small
The enemy had more weapons

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9.

According to the passage, traditionally warfare was forbidden in the month of

and the
Prophet (S) wanted to honor this tradition.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Jamaadiul Awwal
Jamaadi u Thaani
Shawwaal
Dhulqaada

10. Some reasons why the prolonging of war at Taaif was not possible were:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Hajj season was approaching

The Muslim army had already lost a number of men
Dhul Qadah was over
Both a and b

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Fill in the blanks:

1.

In 6 AH, the treaty of Hudaybiyyah had been signed by the chiefs of the
of Makkah and the Holy Prophet (S).

2.

An important part of this treaty said that there would be no fighting between the two parties or
their

3.

The Quraish however, encouraged a tribe to launch an unexpected attack on another tribe (the
Bani Khuzaah), who were allies of the

4.

and under their protection.

The Holy Prophet (S) decided to use this opportunity to bring

under the control of Islam once and for all.

5.

According to this plan, the Holy Prophet (S) gathered together the Muslim army on the 10th of
Ramadhaan in the year
8 AH

10 AH

6.

12 AH
went to investigate the presence of the Muslims outside Makkah.

Abbas protected him from the swords of the Muslims and guided him to the Holy
Prophet's (S)

tent.

7.

The Holy Prophet (S) then entered the city of

8.

After performing tawaaf of the Kabah, he broke the

the

9.

in there with

help of Imam Ali (A).

The Holy Prophet (S) asked

to recite the Adhaan.

10. (O Muhammad,) Allah Who has commanded you to follow the guidance of the Quran will
certainly return you victoriously to your place of

(28:85)

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WORKSHEET 3.5
8th Year AH
Compare/Contrast the Battle of Muta and the Battle of Hunayn by completing the Venn Diagram.
Things that are similar about both battles should go in the overlapped part of the two circles,
whereas things unique to each battle should go in its respective circle.

Battle of Muta

Battle of Hunayn

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9TH-10TH YEARS AH
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LESSON 1: NINTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

TAKE ONE EVENT THAT

OCCURRED IN THE 9TH
YEAR AH AND DRAW A
PICTURE OF IT AND EXPLAIN
WHAT OCCURRED IN YOUR
OWN WORDS.

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 9th Year AH.
SAY: How have early battles in the first years AH contributed to the spread of
Islam?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. The battles allowed Muslims to develop their community and
presence in the Arabia, so much so that other tribes and groups were no longer a
big threat to the Muslims. However, within the people that were Muslims, there
were some people called hypocrites. What is a hypocrite?
SAY: A hypocrite is someone whose words and deeds contradict what is in his or
her heart. A hypocrite claims that they have faith but in their heart they do not. We
will learn about more events and the role of the hypocrites today. Today we focus
on the 9th Year AH. Lets read about the events that year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.
SAY:
What happened in the Battle of Tabook?
Huzayfah knew which hypocrites plotted against the Prophet (S) but why did the
Prophet (S) tell Huzayfah not to tell him who they were?
Explain why the Prophet (S) ordered Masjid al-Dhirar to be burned down and
what dos this show about the importance of the unity of the Muslims?
Explain who the Prophet (S) brought with him to the event of Mubaahala and what
each of them represented and why did this cause the Christians to fear?
Students can then do the WORKSHEET and ART EXTENSION located in the Task
Bar.

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LESSON 1: NINTH YEAR AH

Battle of Tabook
On the road leading from Hijr to Damascus in the
border area of Syria, there was a strong fort
called Tabook. In those times, Syria was one of

the areas adjoining Medina, to invite Muslims to

fight in the path of Allah and also to ask
righteous Muslims to provide for the expenses of
war by making payment of Zakaat.

the colonies of the Eastern Roman Empire. Its

Soon after the Prophets (S) proclamation, 30,000

capital was Constantinople. The people living

people declared their readiness to participate in

near the border were the followers of Christianity.

the battle and gathered in the camping ground

The rapid expansion of Islam in the Arabian

Peninsula and the brilliant conquests by the

of Medina (Thaniyya tul Wida)FH. Zakaat was

collected to provide for the expenses of the war.

Muslims in Hijaaz were being noticed in areas

Imam Ali (A) was the Prophets (S) standard-

beyond Hijaaz and were making their enemies

bearer (leader in battles) in all Islamic battles,

tremble and think of ways to end this tide.

except in the Battle of Tabook. He stayed in

Due to the fall of the Makkan government, the

adoption of Islam by the prominent chiefs of
Hijaaz, and the bravery and sacrifices of the
Muslim warriors, the Roman Emperor felt his
empire to be in grave danger. He was afraid of
the increase in Muslim military and political
power. So, he decided to launch a surprise
attack on the Muslims with the help of a wellequipped army.

Medina and did not participate in jihad under the

orders of the Prophet (S) himself, who knew that
some people from amongst the Quraish were
searching for an opportunity to overthrow the
newly established Islamic government in his
absence.
Army of Islam Arrives in the Area of Tabook
When the Muslim army arrived in the area of
Tabook, there was no trace of the Roman army.

News about the encampment of the Roman

Apparently, the commanders of the Roman army

soldiers at the Syrian border reached the

became aware of the numerical strength of the

Prophet (S). He found no alternative except to

Muslim soldiers and their braver y and

reply to the aggressors with a big army and to

unparalleled self-sacrifices, so they called back

protect the religion, which was about to spread

their armies. By doing so, they tried to deny that

throughout the world.

they had gathered forces against the Muslims.

Inviting Warriors and Procuring Expenses of

War
The Prophet (S) was aware of the capability and
experience of the enemy and was sure that
victory in this battle depended on a big army.
Therefore, he sent men to Makkah, as well as to

They wanted to give the impression that they had

never thought of launching an attack and that
any such report was mere gossip.
At this point, the Prophet (S) assembled his
esteemed officers, and acting on the Islamic
practice of consultation, asked for their advice

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as to whether they should advance into the

territory of the enemy or return to Medina.

The Hypocrites Plot against the Holy Prophet (S)

On the route back to Medina, twelve hypocrites

It was decided that the army of Islam, which had

decided to scare the camel of the Prophet (S)

suffered many hardships while performing the

from the top of a defile, a steep-sided, narrow

journey to Tabook, should return to Medina to

passage, situated between Medina and Syria, in

renew its strength. Furthermore, by performing

order to make him fall into the valley. The Prophet

this journey, the Muslims had already achieved

(S) went above the defile while Huzayfah was

their major aim, which was to scatter the Roman

driving his camel, and 'Ammar was holding its

army (The Romans did not think of launching an

bridle. When he turned back his head, he saw in

attack for a very long time after, and during that

the moonlit night that some mounted people

period, the security of Arabia from the northern

were pursuing him. To avoid recognition, they

side was ensured).

had covered their faces and were talking in very

low voices. The Prophet (S) became angry and

The members of the council also added, "If you

have been ordered by the Almighty Allah to

challenged them. He also ordered Huzayfah to

turn away their camels with his stick.

advance, you should give orders, and we will

also follow you. The Prophet (S) said, "No order

The call of the Prophet (S) scared them, and they

from Allah has been received, and if any such

realized that he had become aware of their plot.

order had been received from Him, I would not

They, therefore, immediately went back the way

have consulted you. Therefore, based on

they had come and joined other soldiers.

everyones advice, I have decided to return to

Medina from this very point".
The rulers who inhabited the frontier areas of
Syria and Hijaaz were all Christians, and it was
possible that the Roman army might utilize these
local powers one day and attack Hijaaz with their
assistance. Therefore, before returning, the
Prophet (S) formed non-aggression treaties with

Huzayfah recognized these men from the their

camels features and said to the Prophet (S), I
can tell you who they are so that you may punish
them. However, the Prophet (S) kindly instructed
him not to divulge their secret because it was
possible that they might repent. He also added,
If I punish them, the non-Muslims will say that
now that Muhammad has achieved power, he
has made a victim of his own companions.

them so that he might establish better security

for Muslims. Tabook was the last Islamic
campaign in which the Prophet (S) took part.
After that, he did not participate in any battle.

The Event of Masjidul Dhirar

In the Arabian Peninsula, Medina and Najran
were considered to be two extensive areas, and
some Arabs belonging to the tribes of Aws and

CRITICAL THINKING: Why did the Prophet (S)

seek advice from others? Why didnt he just ask
Allah directly? What lesson can we learn from this?

Khazraj had accepted Judaism and Christianity.

Abu 'Amir, father of Hanzalah, the well-known
martyr of the Battle of Uhud, had also become
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very much inclined towards Christianity and had

The hypocrites selected a place in the absence

become a monk. When Islam dawned in Medina

of the Prophet (S) and completed the

and many of the religious minorities converted to

construction of their Masjid as quickly as

Islam, Abu 'Amir was upset and began

possible, giving it the name of a Masjid. On the

cooperating earnestly with the hypocrites of the

day the Prophet (S) returned to Medina, they

Aws and Khazraj.

requested him to perform the opening ceremony

The Prophet (S) became aware of his activities

and wanted to arrest him, but he ran away from
Medina to Makkah and then to Taaif, and after
the fall of Taaif, to Syria. From there, he began
helping the spying network of the hypocrites.

by offering a few Rakaahs of prayers there. In

the meantime, Angel Jibraeel came and
informed the Prophet (S) about their plans and
called the building Masjidul Dhirar, as it had
been constructed to create differences amongst
the Muslims. The Prophet (S) ordered Masjidul

In one of his letters, Abu 'Amir wrote to his

Dhirar to be razed to the ground, its beams to be

friends:

burned, and for it to be used as a dumping

ground. Just like that, Masjidul Dhirar was

"Construct a Masjid in the village of Quba'

destroyed.

opposite the Masjid of the Muslims. Assemble

there at the time of prayers and on the pretext of

The destruction of Masjidul Dhirar was a serious

offering prayers, discuss plans against Islam and

blow to the hypocrites, and thereafter, their group

the Muslims."

broke up. Abdullah bin Ubayy, their sole

supporter, also died two months after the Battle

Abu 'Amir knew that the Prophet (S) would not

of Tabook.

permit the hypocrites to build a center for

themselves under any circumstances, unless
they created a meeting place for themselves
under the guise of a Masjid.
When the Prophet (S) was heading towards
Tabook, the representatives of the hypocrites
came to him and requested permission to
construct a Masjid in their own area becuase
during dark or rainy nights, their old men and
sick people had difficulty making the long
distance from their houses to Masjidul Quba. The
Prophet (S) did not give them any reply, and
postponed his final decision until after his return
from the intended journeys.

The Prophet Mourns for His Son

Another notable event in 9 AH was the death of
Ibrahim, the son of the Holy Prophet (S).
In 6 AH, a slave from Egypt called Marya
acquired the honor of becoming the Prophet's
(S) wife and gave birth to his son Ibrahim, whom
he loved very much. However, to his great
sorrow, Ibrahim passed away after eighteen
months. The Prophet (S) had gone out of the
house on some business when he came to know
about the critical condition of his child. He
returned home, took the child from his mother's

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lap, and comforted him by reciting beautiful

poetry until he passed.
The Prophet (S) kissed his son and said

our women and your women and ourselves and

yourselves, then let us humbly pray (to our Lord)
to invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.
(3:61)

goodbye with a very sad face and a heavy heart,

but at the same time, with full submission to the

The Holy Prophet (S) produced this verse before

Will of Allah.

the Christians and declared the challenge of

"Mubaahala," which means to curse or pray

The Prophet (S) used to say, "Be gentle to your

against one another. The Christians accepted the

children and treat them kindly. Furthermore,

challenge.

kindness and love for children was one of his

most pleasing attributes.

The two parties agreed that the contest would

take place the next day in the open desert

The mourning of the Prophet (S) and his

outside the city of Medina.

expression of feelings of grief was a sign of his

kind nature. He also did not say anything against

The Christian leader knew that Mubaahala was a

the pleasure of Allah, which was a sign of his

question of life and death for both sides,

faith and submission to the Divine Will.

including their family members. He told his

people that if the Holy Prophet (S) had the

Mubaahala with the People of Najran

Another important event in 9 AH was the
Mubaahala. The Holy Prophet (S) had sent letters
to the heads of different countries inviting them
to Islam. One letter was addressed to Bishop
Harith of Najran. The people of Najran were
Christians. As a result of the letter sent by the

slightest doubt in the message of Islam, he

would not have given the challenge of
Mubaahala to the Christians. If he had the
slightest fear of the curse affecting him and his
family, he would not consider coming out with
them to face the Christians. Hence, he advised
his men:

Holy Prophet (S), a group of religious scholars

Tomorrow if Muhammad comes out of his house

from Najran arrived in Medina. They started a

with only his family members, then you should

discussion and continued to argue with Prophet

never agree to Mubaahala. But if he brings his

Muhammad (S) about their belief in Jesus being

companions, then you do no need to fear at all.

the son of God.

The next day, in obedience to the verse of
Then, the following verse of the Holy Quran was

Mubaahala sent by Allah, the Holy Prophet (S)

revealed:

brought:

And whoever argues with you in this matter after

what has come to you of knowledge, then say,
Come, let us call our sons and your sons and

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 His sons: Imams Hasan and Husain (A)

His women: Sayyida Fatimah (A) and
His self: Imam Ali (A)

all of you will be destroyed, and not a single soul

will remain on this earth. I feel it is better to
surrender to them.
When the Christians backed away from

The Christians, upon seeing the beautiful and

Mubaahala, the Holy Prophet (S) gave them two

shining faces of the Ahlul Bayt (A) in front of

choices;

them, became spellbound. Their hearts trembled

and they began to shake. Their leader asked
someone, Who are these people who have
come with Muhammad?"

Either to accept Islam or

Agree to come to terms.

The Christians would not agree to accept Islam,

The man told him the names and their

and therefore, a treaty was signed whereby they

relationship with the Holy Prophet (S). The leader

agreed to pay the Islamic Government certain

could hold his patience no longer and cried out,

goods each year.

VOCABULARY:
Unparalleled: having no equal;
exceptional
Esteemed: respected and admired
Defile: a narrow pass between
mountains
Divulge: make known (private or
secretive information)
Pretext: a fake reason given to
justify an action
Guise: an outer appearance used
to hide something
Raze: completely destroy
"By God, I am seeing such faces that if they were
to pray to God to move the mountain, God
Almighty would move the mountain for them. Oh
people of Najran, if you go forwards with this
contest against Muhammad, then I warn you that
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WORKSHEET 4.1
9th Year AH
Answer the following sentences in complete sentences, using your own words.
1.

Why did the Prophet (S) decide to take his army to battle in Tabook?

2.

Why was a big army needed? How did the Prophet (S) get it?

3.

Why did Imam Ali (A) stay behind?

4.

What happened when the Islamic army reached its destination?

5.

Prophet Muhammad (S) was visibly grieved at the loss of his son but did not complain
because...

6.

Who were the people who came with Prophet Muhammad (S) to Mubaahala?

7.

What did the leader of the Christians say when he saw the people that came with the Prophet (S)
for Mubaahala?

8.

Did the Mubaahala take place?

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Fill in the blanks:

1. In accordance with

, the Prophet (S) decided to return to Medina.

2. The Prophets (S) wise action to ensure

for Muslims was to sign

nonaggression pacts with many neighboring areas.

3. The hypocrites created a plot to make the Prophet (S) fall in the valley on the route between
and
4.

was constructed while the Prophet (S) was in Tabook.

5. The Prophet (S) ordered this Masjid to be

place made to create

destroyed
security

because it was a meeting

between Muslims.

Masjidul Dhirar
Medina

Syria
differences
his armys advice

Multiple Choice:
6.

was the only child he had left.

a.

Fatimah (A)

b.

Ibrahim

c.

Khadijah

d.

Marya

7. What does the word Mubaahala mean?

a.

Curse or pray against one another

b.

Challenge between two men

c.

Eid for the non- believers

d.

The person who is right wins in the end

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LESSON 2: TENTH YEAR AH

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ART EXTENSION

HAVE STUDENTS CREATE A

BROCHURE THAT CONTAINS
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
EVENT OF GHADEER.

GALLERY WALK

PUT UP POSTER PAPERS FOR

E AC H Y E A R A H . T H E R E
SHOULD BE 10 POSTERS
THAT ARE LABELED WITH
T H E Y E A R . T H E N H AV E
STUDENTS WALK AROUND
A N D D R AW O R W R I T E
DOWN SOMETHING THEY
REMEMBER ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED IN THAT YEAR.

In this lesson, students will learn more about the events during the 10th Year AH.
SAY: Describe the advances Islam has made during the first 10 years AH.
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: Good. Islam has spread throughout Arabia and the Muslims are strong in
numbers. Today we focus on the 10th Year AH. Lets read about the events that
year.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.
SAY:
Why do you think the Prophet (S) sent Imam Ali (A) to Yemen? What does this tell
you about the Prophets (S) view of Ali (A)?
What moved the people of Hamdan to embrace Islam so quickly?
After which event did Angel JIbraeel (A) reveal that Allah has perfected the
religion of Islam? What does this mean?
Why do you think people ignored the Prophets (S) command after he died about
Ali (A) being the next leader?
Students can then do the WORKSHEET, ART EXTENSION, and GALLERY WALK
located in the Task Bar.

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LESSON 2: TENTH YEAR AH

Imam Ali (A) sent to Yemen
During Hajj season of the ninth year AH, at Mina,
Imam Ali (A) read a stern proclamation on behalf
of the Prophet (S), which states that Allah and His
Prophet (S) were disgusted with the idolaters and
they should decide within a period of four months
either to embrace Islam and give up idol-worship
or to get ready for total war. This official
declaration had a very deep and quick effect. The
tribes of different regions of Arabia sent their
representatives to the headquarters of Islam
(Medina). Before four months could pass, the
entire region of Hijaaz came under the banner of
Islam, including Bahrain and Yemen.
The Prophet (S) sent Imam Ali (A) to Yemen so that
Islam might spread there under his continuous
t e a c h i n g s , l o g i c a l a r g u m e n t s , s t re n g t h ,
unparalleled bravery, and moral heroism.
He called Imam Ali (A) and said to him, "O Ali! I
am sending you to Yemen so that you may invite
its inhabitants to Islam and inform them about the
Command of Allah, as well as about which things
are lawful and unlawful. At the time of your return
to Medina, you should collect Zakaat from the
people of Najran, as well as the taxes they are
liable to pay, and deposit them in the public
treasury.
Addressing all Muslims, the Prophet (S) said to
Imam Ali (A), "O Ali! Do not quarrel with anyone
and try to guide the people to the right path with
logic and good behavior. By Allah, If Allah guides
someone to the right path through you, it is much
better than that on which the sun shines.
Again, to teach all the listeners, the Prophet (S)
made four recommendations to Imam Ali (A):
1.

Make prayer and glorification of Allah your

profession, because prayer is usually
accepted.

2.

Be thankful to Allah in all circumstances,

because thankfulness increases blessings.

3.

If you conclude an agreement with an

individual or a group of people, honor it.

4.

Do not cheat others, because the deceit of

the evil-doers returns to themselves."

The Prophet (S) also wrote a letter to the people of

Yemen inviting them to Islam, gave it to Imam Ali
(A), and directed him to read it to them.
During his stay in Yemen, Imam Ali (A) passed
many judgments, most of which are recorded in
the books of history. Bara' bin 'Azib was Imam Ali's
attendant in Yemen. He says that when Imam Ali
(A) reached the border of Yemen, he arranged the
ranks of the Muslim soldiers who were already
stationed there under the command of Khalid bin
Waleed and offered the morning prayers in
congregation. Then, he invited the tribe of
Hamdan, which was one of the biggest tribes of
Yemen, to hear the message of the Prophet (S).
First, he praised Allah. Then, he read out the
Prophet's (S) message to them. The grandeur of
the meeting, the sweetness of the narration, and
the greatness of the words of the Prophet (S)
impressed the people of the Hamdan tribe so
much that they embraced Islam within a day. Imam
Ali (A) informed the Prophet (S) about these
developments. The Prophet (S) was greatly
pleased to learn the good news. He thanked Allah
and said, "May the tribe of Hamdan be blessed".
Due to the conversion of the Hamdan tribe to
Islam, other people of Yemen started embracing
Islam gradually.
The Event of Ghadeer
In the tenth year AH, the Holy Prophet (S)
completed Hajj with a large group of Muslims.
When the Hajj ceremonies were over, the Holy
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Prophet (S) departed from Makkah for Medina on

the 14th of Dhul Hijjah. On the way back, Angel
Jibraeel (A) revealed the following verse to him:

The Holy Prophet (S) thanked Allah for his favors

O Messenger! Convey what has been revealed to

you from your Lord, and if you do not, it would be
as though you have not conveyed His message (at
all). Allah will protect you from the people. (5:67)
In obedience to this very important command, the
Holy Prophet (S) stopped immediately. He gave
instructions for an area to be cleared and a pulpit
to be made from the saddles of camels. He asked
Bilal, who had a loud voice, to call back the
people who had gone further and to attract the
attention of those who were behind.
The people all gathered at the place that was
known as Ghadeer Khum (The pond of Khum). It
was noon time and very hot. The Holy Prophet (S)
led the congregational prayers and then stood on
the pulpit so that all the people could see him. He
then gave a sermon, part of which is mentioned
below:
I have been commanded by Allah to tell you that I
will soon be taken away from amongst you. O
People! I am leaving behind two valuable
legacies, the Book of Allah and my progeny, the
Ahlul Bayt (A). They shall never separate from one
another until they reach me in Heaven at the
fountain of Kawthar.
Then, the Holy Prophet (S) bent down and lifted up
Imam Ali (A) with his hands, showing him to the
crowds on all sides of the pulpit and proclaimed,
"Whomever I am Master (Mawla) of, this Ali is also
his Master."
After announcing this thrice, he got down from the
pulpit. At this time, Angel Jibraeel (A) descended
with the following verse:

and then asked Imam Ali (A) to sit in a tent so that

people could shake hands with him and give him
allegiance.
The detailed events of this day are recorded in
most Islamic history books, by both Shia and nonShia historians. Although there can be no doubt
that Imam Ali (A) was chosen to be the next leader
of all the Muslims on this important day, many
Muslims ignored this command after the death of
the Holy Prophet (S).
The day of Ghadeer is one of the most important
days in our history, and the Shia throughout the
world joyfully celebrate Eid al-Ghadir on the 18th
of Dhul Hijjah every year.

VOCABULARY:
Proclamation: a public or official
announcement
Grandeur: splendor and impressiveness
Legacy: a thing handed down by someone

On this day, I have perfected your religion for you

and completed My favor to you, and have chosen
for you the religion Islam. (5:3)
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WORKSHEET 4.2
9th Year AH
1.

2.

3.

4.

What had a deep effect on the areas of the entire Hijaaz, during the Hajj season of the 9th AH?
a.

Imam Alis (A) proclamation to accept Islam in the next four months or get ready for a war

b.

The Prophets (S) decision to send Imam Ali (A) to Yemen

c.

The wars won by the army of Islam

d.

None of the above

Why did The Prophet (S) send Imam Ali (A) to Yemen?
a.

To spread Islam with his wisdom and bravery

b.

To see if the people of Yemen were nice

c.

To find out more about the people of Yemen

d.

For a vacation

Why did the Prophet (S) give Imam Ali (A) recommendations when Imam Ali probably already
knew these?
a.

He wanted to remind Imam Ali (A) just in case he forgot

b.

Imam Ali (A) already knew everything but Prophet Muhammad (S) wanted to educate
everyone else present

c.

Both A and B

d.

None of the above

What did Imam Ali (A) do when he reached the borders of Yemen?
a.
He arranged the ranks of soldiers who were already there and together they offered
congregational prayers
b.
He invited the greatest tribe of Yemen, the Hamdan tribe to listen to the Prophets (S)
message

5.

c.

First A then B

d.

First B then A

What impressed the people so much that they became Muslims?

a.

The sweetness of the narration

b.

The grandeur of the meeting

c.

The greatness of the words

d.

All of the above

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Man Kunt) Mawla, fa Hadha Aliy4)n Mawlah.

6.

Who said this?

7.

Who commanded him to say this?

8.

Who brought down this message?

9.

The Holy Prophet (S) was returning to

(name of city).

10. What important event were they returning from?

11. Where did they all meet for this important message?

12. The meaning of the above message is -Of whomsoever I am his Master (Mawla), then
is also his Master.

13. What time of the day was it when this message was spoken?

14. This event is celebrated in the form of an Eid on the 18th of the month of

15. Name the Eid.

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DEATH OF THE PROPHET (S)

TASK BAR
READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

ESSAY

HAVE STUDENTS WRITE A

BIOGRAPHY OF THE
PROPHET (S), HIS LIFE, HIS
MESSAGE, HIS SUCCESS
AND HIS DEATH

In this lesson, students will learn about the Prophets (S) Death.
SAY: Today we will learn about a very sad event in the history of Islam, the
Prophets (S) Death. How do you think the Muslims dealt with such a sad event?
Wait for answers.
SAY: How have early battles in the first years AH contributed to the spread of
Islam?
Wait and listen for answers.
SAY: We will learn the answer to that question shortly, as we read about the
Prophets (S) death.
At this time, have students turn to the READING, located in the task bar. Have
students take turns reading out loud as the rest of the class listens and follows
along. After the reading is complete, continue here to assess student
understanding of the text.
SAY:
Why was Omars argument that only the Quran was enough for the Muslims, go
completely against the Prophet (S) and what he had commanded?
Why did Sayyida Fatimah (A) smile when the Prophet (S) whispered something in
her ear?
Why did the Prophet (S) kiss Imam Hasan (A) on the mouth Imam Husain (A) on
the neck?
Students can then do the WORKSHEETS and ESSAY located in the Task Bar.

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DEATH OF THE PROPHET (S)

The Holy Prophet (S) returned from the Farewell

The Holy Prophet (S) said his farewell to his

Hajj at the end of the month of Dhul Hijjah 10 AH.

companions and kept on reminding them to

After the month of Muharram, he fell ill at the

follow the Holy Quran and not to abandon the

beginning of Safar 11 AH.

Ahlul Bayt (A), who would guide them on the

When his fever took a turn for the worse, he knew

that he did not have much time left. He
requested the companions around him to bring
some paper and a pen so that he could dictate
a will for the guidance of the people.
Omar, who at once realized that his plans would
not succeed if the Holy Prophet (S) left a written
document, protested by saying that the Holy
Prophet (S) was hallucinating due to the fever
and did not know what he was saying. He stated
that the Holy Quran was enough for them and
that there was no need for a will. Other
companions disagreed, and there was a loud
commotion as they argued. As the voices grew
louder, the Holy Prophet (S) felt disturbed and
indicated that all of them should leave. It is

right path. He then called his grandsons and

hugged them warmly. He kissed Imam Hasan (A)
on the mouth and Imam Husain (A) on the neck
(when asked the reason for this, he said one
would be given poison while the other would be
beheaded at the neck).
As the conditions of the Prophet (S) worsened,
the whole of Medina was immersed in grief,
sorrowful at the thought of losing the beloved
Prophet of Allah, who had taught them
everything about the true path to salvation.
The Death and Burial of the Holy Prophet (S)
During the last moments of his life, the Holy
Prophet (S) opened his eyes and asked for his
brother, Imam Ali (A), to be called.

important for us to realize that this one action by

When Imam Ali (A) arrived, the Holy Prophet (S)

Omar caused an eternal division between the

raised his cloak and took him under its cover. He

Muslims and conflicts between sects over the

then placed his head on the chest of Imam Ali

centuries.

(A) and talked to him for a long time.

As the life of the Holy Prophet (S) slipped away,

In the last moments of his life, a knock was heard

his dear family was around him all the time.

on the door. Sayyida Fatimah (A) told the caller

Sayyida Fatimah (A) could not bear the thought

to come later, because her father was very ill.

of losing her beloved father, and tears fell

However, the caller was insistent and kept on

continuously from her eyes. The Holy Prophet (S)

knocking. Sayyida Fatimah (A) told him again to

gently asked her not to weep and then

come later. When the third knock came, tears

whispered something in her ear that made her

welled up in Sayyida Fatimah's (A) eyes, but her

smile. When Ayesha later asked about this,

father said to her, "O Fatimah, let him in. For it is

Sayyida Fatimah (A) said that her father had told

none other than the Angel of Death. It is only in

her not to worry because she would be the first

respect of your presence that he is asking for

after him to leave the world and join him.

92
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83

permission to enter; otherwise, he waits for

spread justice when tyranny was the norm; he

nobody when he comes to take away the soul."

introduced equality at a time when discrimination

Soon afterwards, the signs of death began to

appear on his face. The last sentence he spoke
was, "No. With the Divine Companion." It appears
that at the time of his last breath, the angel
Jibraeel (A) gave him a choice to recover from
his illness and remain in this world or to allow the

was rampant; and he gave freedom to people

when they were surrounded by injustice. He had
faithfully carried out the great mission entrusted
to him by Allah. May Allah send His blessings on
the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (S) and his
Progeny.

Angel of Death to remove his soul so that he may

proceed with him (the Divine Companion) to the
next world.
It was Monday, the 28th of Safar 11 AH, when the
Holy Prophet (S) passed away. He was 63 years
old.
The sound of mourning rose from the house of
the Holy Prophet (S). Soon afterwards, the news
of his death spread throughout Medina, plunging
everyone into sorrow. Imam Ali (A) bathed the
sacred body of the Holy Prophet (S) and put a

VOCABULARY:
Dictate: say or read aloud
Hallucinate: imagine things that are not
actually happening
Eternal: lasting or existing forever
Immersed: involve oneself deeply in
something
Kafan: a burial shroud used to cover a
dead body
Rampant: spreading quickly

kafan on him. He was the first person to offer the

funeral prayers for the Holy Prophet (S).
Thereafter, the companions came in groups and
offered prayers. This continued until noon of
Tuesday. It was then decided to bury the Holy
Prophet (S) in the same house where he had
passed away.
The great personality that had changed the
future of humanity with his efforts and sacrifice
was no more. The Holy Prophet (S) had made a
great contribution to the welfare of humanity at
large. He had spread the message of Allah,
practicing the religion himself and then asking
others to follow him.
He had established the rights of people at a time
when basic rights were being violated; he had
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WORKSHEET 4.4
Death of the Prophet (S)

1.

Why did the Prophet (S) ask for a pen/paper and why wasnt it given to him?

2.

What made Sayyida Fatimah (A) smile when her father spoke to her?

3.

What 2 things did the Prophet (S) ask the people not to leave after his death?

4.

Who did Prophet Muhammad (S) ask for and what did he do when that person came?

5.

Why did the Angel of Death knock 3 times before entering?

94
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1.

The Prophet (S) passed away on the

(date) of

(month) in the

2.

year of Hijrah.

bathed the Prophet (S) and was the first one to offer his funeral
prayers.

3.

Prophet Muhammad (S) was buried in the same house that he had
away in.

4.

Throughout his life, the Prophet (S) had established the

introduced

5.

He gave

of people; he

when discrimination was rampant.

to the people suppressed by injustice; and he spread

when tyranny was the norm.

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AFTER THE PROPHETS

(S) DEATH
83
87

PROPHET MUHAMMADS (S) FAMILY TREE

ISMAEEL

ADNAN

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

QUSAY

ABD MANAF

"
"
"

"
HASHIM"

"

"

"

"

ABD SHAMS

ABDUL MUTTALIB""

"

"

"

"
"
"
"
"
"
ABU TALIB

"
"

"
"

"

"
"

"
"

"
"
"
"
"
"
ABDULLAH

"
"

"

" MUHAMMAD
"
"
" (S)""
"

"
"

"
"

""

" ALI" (A) "

UMAYYAH

HARB

"

"

Abu Sufyaan

"

YAZEED
" "

FATIMAH (A)

"
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"HASAN
"
" (A)"" " "

"

HUSAIN
"
"
"(A)

MUAWIYAH

YAZEED

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DEATH OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S)

Death of Prophet Muhammad (S)

(Person to become Khalifa or Caliph) Abu Bakr

(3 years)

Omar (10 years) - appointed as governor of Syria

- then Yazeeds brother

(Rightful Successor)

Yazeed

Imam Ali (A)

Muawiyah

Othman (12 years)

Imam Ali (A) (5 years)

Muawiyah (propaganda and briefly won him support)

Imam Hasan (A)

Lead to peace treaty with Imam Hasan (A)

Yazeed (Muawiyahs son)

(asked for bayah from Imam Husain (A)

Imam Husain (A)

(refused bayah of such a corrupt
person like Yazeed)

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ISLAM BEFORE KARBALA

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE
K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

In this lesson, students will learn about Islam before Karbala.

SAY: In this chapter, we will review the history of Islam before Karbala and after
the Prophets (S) death. Lets find out what you already know about this topic, by
doing an activity called LINK.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes to
do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Islam before
Karbala or have them research answers on the web or by conducting interviews
with those that are knowledgeable in the community. This teaches them the
responsibility of researching the answer, instead of someone always spoon
feeding the answers to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will
help them in future grades.
After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of the Islam before Karbala, located
in the Task Bar. They should now do the N part of LINK, which is to take notes,
from the reading. You can either read out loud as a class or pair the students up
so they can read to each other. Make sure they are taking notes during this time.

READING

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD

WORKSHEET

STUDENTS WILL ANSWER

QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches
others about the attributes of Islam before Karbala. If time permits, have students
present to each other or even to younger children.
Students can now do the WORKSHEET located in the Task Bar.

99
T46
T44

ISLAM BEFORE
KARBALA

Islam and Prophet Muhammad (S)

The Prophet (S) was a Hashimi. He started preaching
Islam publicly at age 40.
Imam Ali (A) was the strongest supporter of the
Prophet (S) in his life and onwards.
The Prophets (S) major opponent was Abu Sufyaan.
The Prophet (S) had a major influence on Imam
Husain (A), who was 7 years old at the time of the
Prophets death in 11 AH.

Islam during the time of Imam Ali (A)

After Abu Bakrs rule, Imam Husain (A) was 10 years
old.
Omar became 2nd Khalifa
Omar appointed Muawiyah as governor..
When Muawiyah became governor of Syria, Imam
Husain (A) was 20 years old.
Imam Ali (A) was offered Caliphate with conditions
after Omars death. He refused.
Othman was next Khalifa.
Othman and Muawiyah caused a lot of problems.
Othmans downfall. He asked for Imam Alis (A) help.
(Imam Husain (A) 32 years old)
Imam Ali (A) offered Caliphate after Othmans death.
He takes office in 35 AH with conditions rule in an
Islamic way and all the governors have to swear
loyalty.

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90

Muawiyah does not swear loyalty - starts the propaganda again.

Imam Ali (A) dies in 40 AH.
Imam Alis (A) influence on Husain (A) 7 to 37 years old) as he:
Refuses bayah to accept Caliphate
Exhibits bravery in battles
Dealing with friends and enemies
Carries out responsibilities for Islam
Islam during the time of Imam Hasan (A)
Imam Hasan (A) is the next Khalifa.
Muawiyah & Ziyad continue to cause problems:
Propaganda
Spies and informers
Rule by terror
Invades Iraq and surrounding areas
Introduces dancing and court jesters
Introduces taxation for his income
Peace treaty between Imam Hasan (A) and Muawiyah. Imam feels
that is the wise thing to do.
Peace treaty content:
Muawiyah to rule according to Islamic rule and Prophets (S)
guidance
Muawiyah gets no right to nominate his successor
All people of Islamic territories are to be protected
Lives, honor, properties of all Shias are to be safeguarded
Muawiyah not to harm, terrorize, or make any attempt to kill any of
the Prophets (S) family
Treaty not kept by Muawiyah.
Imam Hasan (A) poisoned to death in 50 AH; Imam Husain (A)) 47
years old.

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Before Karbala
Muawiyah wishes to nominate Yazeed, his son for Khalifa.
All people including Muawiyahs supporters against this; Yazeed
known to be wicked, cruel, drunk, immoral.
Muawiyah kills off all oppositions and nominates Yazeed to be
next Khalifa, thus breaks the treaty made with Imam Hasan (A).
Muawiyah dies in 60 AH- Imam Husain (A) 57 years old
Yazeed now in power, his conduct is terrible.
Yazeed wants to be the political and religious leader and from
Syria asks for Bay ah (allegiance) from Imam Husain (A) in
Medina.
Husain (A) refuses; does not wish to cause bloodshed in
Medina; takes family and goes to Makkah.
In Kufa, people write to the Imam to come to Kufa and be their
leader.
From Makkah, Imam sends Muslim Bin Aqeel to Kufa.
Muslim arrives in Kufa and writes to the Imam that he there is a
lot of support for him.
Yazeeds spies in Kufa report on Muslims mission,
Yazeed sends Ubaydallah Ibne Ziyad to Kufa to kill Muslim and
his supporters.
Ubaydallah becomes Governor of Kufa and terrorizes anyone
supporting Imam Husain (A)
Muslim Bin Aqeel martyred on 9 Dhul Hijjah 60 AH.

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WORKSHEET 5.1
Islam Before Karbala

1.

The major opponent of Our Hashimi Prophet (S) at his time was:
a. Ziyad
b. Shimr
c. Abu Sufyaan
d. Saddam Husain

2.

The rightful successor ofProphet Mohammad (S) was:

a. Imam Husain (A)
b. Imam Ali (A)
c. Omar
d. Abu Bakr

3.

The three people after Prophet Muhammad (S) who became ) Khalifa against the will of ourProphet
(S) were:
a. Muawiyah, Ziyad, Yazeed
b. Shimr, Hurmula, Yazeed
c. Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman
d. Ubaydallah, Yazeed, Ziyad

4.

The 2 people Omar appointed as governor of Syria were:

a. Yazeed then his brother Muawiyah
b. Abu Bakr then Othman
c. Ubaydallah then Abu Bakr
d. None of the above

5.

The conditions under which Imam Ali (A) agreed to become Khalifa were:
a. He wanted to rule in the Islamic way
b. He wanted to rule over only one country
c. He wanted all governors to swear loyalty

d. Both a and c
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Short Answer Questions:

1.

Why do you think Imam Ali (A)had refused Caliphate after Omars death?

2.

How long was Imam Ali (A) Khalifa? Who was the next Khalifa?

3.

What were the problems caused by Muawiyah and Ziyad?

4.
Why do you think Imam Hasan (A) decided to have a Peace Treaty? What was included in the
Treaty?

5.
Muawiyah broke the Treaty and had Imam Hasan (A) poisoned. Imam Husain (A) respected the
Treaty of his brother until the contract ended. When did Imam Husain (A) stand up against the
Ummayads? What do you think would have happened if he had not?

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94

IMAM HUSAIN (A) AND KARBALA

TASK BAR
LINK

IN THIS ACTIVITY, LINK IS

AN ACRONYM FOR 4 TASKS
STUDENTS WILL DO WITH A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT.
L: LIST WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
I: INQUIRE OR ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SUBJECT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE THE ANSWERS TO
N: TAKE NOTES ABOUT THE
SUBJECT FROM THE
READING OR FROM A
TEACHERS LECTURE

In this lesson, students will learn about Imam Husain (A) and Karbala.
SAY: In this chapter, we will review the history of Imam Husain (A) and Karbala
Lets find out what you already know about this topic, by doing an activity called
LINK.
At this time do the LINK activity, located in the Task Bar. Give students 3 minutes
to do the L and write down their ideas on the board. Then give them 5 minutes to
do the I and you can either write their responses on the board or on a chart
paper, so that you can re-visit their questions, after the lesson. After this lesson is
complete, challenge students to answer their own questions about Imam Husain
(A) and Karbala or have them research answers on the web or by conducting
interviews with those that are knowledgeable in the community. This teaches them
the responsibility of researching the answer, instead of someone always spoon
feeding the answers to them. Learning to research is an invaluable tool that will
help them in future grades.

READING

After the Inquiry part of LINK is complete, students should now turn to the
READING page for this section on the subject of the Imam Husain (A) and
Karbala, located in the Task Bar. They should now do the N part of LINK, which
is to take notes, from the reading. You can either read out loud as a class or pair
the students up so they can read to each other. Make sure they are taking notes
during this time.

WORKSHEET

Now for the K part of the LINK activity, students should demonstrate what they
now know. Pair students up and have them create a poster or project that teaches
others about the attributes of Imam Husain (A) and Karbala. If time permits, have
students present to each other or even to younger children.

K: KN OWLEDGE-SHOW
WHAT YOU NOW KNOW
ABOUT THE SUBJECT
THROUGH A PROJECT OR
PRESENTATION

STUDENTS CAN TURN TO

THE READING PAGE AND
TA K E T U R N S R E A D I N G
ALOUD
STUDENTS WILL ANSWER
QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE READING

Students can now do the WORKSHEET and ESSAY located in the Task Bar.

ESSAY

STUDENTS WILL WRITE AN

E S SAY ON T H E
SIGNIFICANCE OF IMAM
HUSAIN (A) AND KARBALA
TO ISLAM.

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MAP OF THE MIDDLE EAST

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95

ROUTE OF IMAM HUSAIN (A)

107
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EVENTS AT KARBALA

2 9 Muharram 61 AH
Muharram Date!

2ND

3RD

Event

Imam Husain arrives at Karbala

Camp positioned by Hurr at Alqama

Umar Ibne Saad arrives with army

unit
More army units arrive

7TH

Ubaydallah ordered to cut off water

supply
Shimr Ziljawshan arrives

9TH

Assault starts; postponed

Imam talks to his group
Both sides prepare for the next day
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Imams Group: Why So Few?

1)!

Persecution of followers at Kufa and nearly places

2)!

Sudden arrival at Karbala

3)!

Road blocks to Karbala

4)!

Imams followers free to leave

Talks At Karbala
1)!

Imam Qurra Amar Ibne Saad

2)!

Imam Amar Ibne Saad

3)!

9 Muharram: Imam to his group

4)!

10 Muharram: Imam to Yazeeds army Kufians to Yazeeds army

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DAY OF ASHURA EVENTS

ASHURA DAY
FRIDAY 10 MUHARRAM 61 AH
! !

DAWN

EARLY MORNING

LATE MORNING

NOONAFTERNOON

EARLY EVENING

Fajr prayers led by Imam

Imams speech to Yazeeds army
Kufians speech to Yazeeds army!
Hurr and others change sides
Umar-Ibne- Saad shoots first arrow
Battle begins
Shaheeds 1 to 12
First general attack
Shaheeds 13 to 62
Imams camp attacked
Shaheeds 63 and 64
Prayers time, battle not suspended
Imam shielded during prayers
Shaheeds 65 to 92
Imams family Shaheeds: 93 to 110
Imam Husain (A) becomes shaheed
!
Heads cut off from bodies
Imams camp looted, set on fire

110
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SHAHEEDS ON THE DAY OF ASHURA

Name

Origin

1. Abdullah Umayr Kalbi

Kufa

2. Hurr Yazeed Riyahi

Kufa

3. Muslim Awsaja Asadi

Kufa

4. Buryar Hadayrr Hamdani

Kufa

5. Muhnij Sahm

Medina

Description
Commander of Yazeeds Army
Worked with Muslim Aqeel, expert,
horseman
Quran teacher
Imams household

6. Omar Khalid
7. Saad Omar Khalid
8. Mujammi Abdullah
9. Aidh Mujammi Abdullah
10. Jabir Harith Salmani

Kufa
Kufa
Kufa
Kufa
Kufa

Joined Imam at Udhayb-ul-Hujarat

Joined Imam at Udhayb-ul-Hujarat
Joined Imam at Udhayb-ul-Hujarat
Joined Imam at Udhayb-ul-Hujarat
Joined Imam at Udhayb-ul-Hujarat

11. Jundub Hujr Hindi

Kufa

Was at Siffeen,

12. Yazeed Ziyad Kindi

Kufa

Expert archer, joined Imam at Sharaf

13. Harith Banham

Medina

14. Shabib Abdullah Nashali

Medina

15. Qarib Abdullah

Medina

16. NAsr Nayzar

Medina

17. Janada Kab Ansaari

18. Abd Rahman Abd Raab

Medina
Makkah

Was at Siffeen, Jamal, Nahrawan

19. Jabir Hajjad Tayami

Kufa

20. Jabbla Ali Shaybani

Kufa

21. Zarghama Malik Taghlabi

Kufa

22. Harith Imru Qays

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

23. Juwayn Malik Qays

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

24. Halas Amr Azdi

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

25. Numan Amr Azdi

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

26. Zuhayr Salim Amr Azdi

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

27. Hubab Amir Kab

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

28. Masud Hajjad Taymi

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

29. Abd Rahman Masud

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

30. Abdulullah Bishr Kathami

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

31. Amr Zabia Qays

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

32. Qasim Habib Abi Bishr

Kufa

Yazeeds Army - changed sides

33. Abdullah Yazeed Nubyat

Basra

Joined Imam at Makkah

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100

Name

Origin

Description

Basra

Joined Imam at Makkah

Basra

Joined Imam at Makkah

36. sayf Malik Abdi

Basra

Joined Imam at Makkah

37. Amir Muslim Abdi BAsri

Basra

Joined Imam at Makkah

38. Salim

Basra

Joined Imam at Makkah

34. Ubaydallah Yazeed

Nubyat
35. Adham Umayya

39. Salim
40. Abd Muhaajir Juhani
41. Uqba Salat Juhani
42. Mujammi Ziyad Amr
Juhani
43. Qasit Zuhayr Harith

Makkah
Kufa
Kufa

44. Musqit Zujayr Harith

Kufa

45. Kardus Zuhayr Harith

Kufa

Kufa
Kufa

46. Umayya Saas Zayd Tai

47. Zahir Amr Kindi

Imams household

Was at Siffeen
Makkah

Was at Khyber

48. Suwar Abi Umayr Nahm

49. Shabib Abdullah

Kufa

50. Abd Rahman Abdullah

51. Ammar Abi Salama

Kufa

52. Ammar Hassan Tai

Was at Jamal, Siffeen, Nahrawan

Was at Jamal, Siffeen, Nahrawan

Makkah

53. Kinanana Atiq Taghlabi

Kufa

Noted for His Bravery

54. Muslim Qasir Azdi

Kufa

Was at Jamal, crippled

55. Naim Ajlan Ansaari

Kufa

56. Habsha Qays Nahmi

Kufa

57. Hajjaj Ziyad Taymi

Basra

58. Habab Harith

59. Hanzala Omar Shaybani
60. Zuhayr Busr Khathami
61. Imran Kab Ashjai
62. Mani Ziyad
63. Bakr Hayy Taymi

Kufa

Yazeeds Army, changed sides

64. Amr Janada Kab

Kufa

10 years old

65. Habeeb Madhahir

Kufa

Commander of Imams unit

66. Abu Thumana Saidi

Kufa

Expert Horseman
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101

Name

Origin

67. Saeed Abdullah Hanafi

Kufa

68. Zuhayr Qayn

Kufa

69. Salman Muzarib Qays

Kufa

Description
Shielding Imam in prayers
Commander of Imams unit, Shielding
Imam in prayers, joined Imam at Zarud
Cousin of Zuhayr Qayn

70. Amr Quraza Kab Ansaari

71. Nafi Hilal Jamali
72. Shawdhab Abdullah
73. Abis Abi Shabib
74. Abdullah Urwa
75. Abd Rahman Urwa
76. Hanzala Asad Shaybani

Was at Jamal, Siffeen, Nahrawan

Kufa
Kufa

Joined Imam at Makkah

Muslim bin Aqeels messenger to Imam

Kufa

77. Saif Harith Sari

78. Malik Abd Sari
79. John

Medina

Abyssinian, from Imams household

80

Medina

Turkish, from Imams household

81. Anas Harith Asadi

Medina

82. Hajjad MAsruq Jufi

83. Ziyad Arib Hamdani
84. Salim Amr Abdullah
85. Saad Harith

Kufa

Joined Imam at Makkah

Noted for his bravery

Kufa
Medina

86. Omar Jundab Hadrami

Kufa

87. Qanab Amr Nomari

Basra

88. Yazeed Thubayt Abdi

Basra

89. Yazeed Mughfil

Joined Imam at Makkah

Was at Siffeen

90. Rafi Abdullah

91. Bishr Amr Hadrami

Kufa

92. Suwayd Abi Mata

93. Ali Akbar Husain

Imam Husains (A) son

94. Abdullah Muslim Aqeel

Imams cousin; Aqeels Family

95. Mohamed Muslim Aqeel

Imams cousin; Aqeels family

96. Jafar Aqeel

Imams cousin; Aqeels family

97. Abd Rahman Aqeel

Imams cousin; Aqeels family

98. Abdullah Aqeel

Imams cousin; Aqeels family

99. Mohamed Said Aqeel

Imams cousin; Aqeels family

100. Awn Abdullah Jafar

Imams Nephew, Al-Zainabs (A) son

101. Muhammad Abdullah Jafar

Imams Nephew, Al-Zainabs (A) son

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102

Name
104. Abdullah Hasan
105. Othman Ali

Origin

Description
Imams nephew, Imam Hasans (A) son
Imams (A) step brother, son of Fatimah
Hizam (Umm-ul- Baneen)

106. Jafar Ali

Imams (A) step brother, son of Fatimah

Hizam (Umm-ul- Baneen)

107. Abdullah Ali

Imams (A) step brother, son of Fatimah

Hizam (Umm-ul- Baneen)

108. Abbas Ali (A)

109. Muhammad Ali
110. Ali Asghar Husain (A)
111. Imam Husain Ali (A)

Imams (A) step brother, son of Fatimah

Hizam (Umm-ul- Baneen), Flag Bearer
Imams (A) step brother
Imams (A) six month old son

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103

ESSAY
Write an essay that explains the events leading up to the battle at Karbala and the role of Imam
Husain (A) and his family and the significance of the sacrifice made by them and what it means for
Islam.

115
100

PART IV: AKHLAQ

cxvi

PART IV: AKHLAQ

Chapter 1: Gaining Knowledge............................................................................................................1
Worksheet 1.1..............................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Generosity...........................................................................................................................3
Worksheet 2.1..............................................................................................................................5
Chapter 3: Wasting................................................................................................................................6
Worksheet 3.1..............................................................................................................................8
Chapter 4: Greed...................................................................................................................................9
Worksheet 4.1............................................................................................................................12
Chapter 5: Arrogance..........................................................................................................................13
Worksheet 5.1............................................................................................................................17
Chapter 6: Complaining......................................................................................................................18
Worksheet 6.1............................................................................................................................20
Chapter 7: Cheating............................................................................................................................21
Worksheet 7.1............................................................................................................................23
Chapter 8: Husn ad-Dhan/Suudhan..................................................................................................24
Worksheet 8.1............................................................................................................................26
Chapter 9: Respect for Parents..........................................................................................................28
Worksheet 9.1............................................................................................................................30
Chapter 10: Friendship.......................................................................................................................31
Worksheet 10.1..........................................................................................................................34
Chapter 11: Brotherhood and Sisterhood.........................................................................................35
Worksheet 11.1..........................................................................................................................36
Chapter 12: Nafs..................................................................................................................................38
Worksheet 12.1...........................................................................................................................39
Chapter 13: Obedience.......................................................................................................................40
Worksheet 13.1..........................................................................................................................42
Worksheet 13.2..........................................................................................................................43
Chapter 14: Sins and their Eects.....................................................................................................44
Worksheet 14.1..........................................................................................................................47
Chapter 15: Taqwa...............................................................................................................................48
Worksheet 15.1..........................................................................................................................50
cxvii

CHAPTER 1: GAINING KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge (al-lIm in Arabic) means getting

successful in the next world. Thus, even academic

information. Wisdom (al-Hikmah ) is putting

knowledge can be a means for us to achieve our

that knowledge into practice. Finally, al-Maarifah

( )is seeing the results of the knowledge you put
into action.

goals in the next world.

If your Islamic knowledge increases, you will
became closer to Allah because you will better
understand what you are doing and why. For

For any community to survive and go forward in this

example, if you tell a child to cover his head and

world, the people of that community have to gain

duck under a table, he will be confused. However, if

knowledge.

you tell him why he is doing this, that is, to protect

himself during an earthquake, he will do it more

To gain knowledge is not only to memorize facts, but

carefully and diligently.

to understand and act upon what you have learned,

and then teach it to others so they may benefit from

We are told that if two people are offering the same

it as well.

prayer, yet one of them has knowledge and

understanding of the prayer and the other does not,

Knowledge Better Than Praying?

then the one with understanding will get more

The above incident does not mean that prayer is not

thawaab.

important, as the Holy Prophet (S) was pleased with

both groups. The group that was praying was doing

I Didnt Know: Not a Valid Excuse

Mustahab, not Wajib, prayers.

On the day of Qiyaamah if you are questioned about

why you did wrong things, you will not be able to

Once, when the Holy Prophet (S) entered the

Masjid there were two groups of people sitting
there. One of the groups was busy praying
while the other group were discussing religious topics.

say, Oh I didnt know! Alhamdulillah, now, more

than ever, we have access to many resources where
we can further our knowledge, especially about
Islam. We have many English speakers, whose
lectures we can listen to on YouTube. There are
many Islamic websites, like Al-Islam.org, where we

The Holy Prophet (S) was very pleased and

said that both the groups were doing something good but he preferred the group that
was busy discussing. With that, he went and
joined the group that was discussing and
learning.

can learn about Islam. For many people, especially

people who come from Muslim families, there is no
excuse not to know. It is our duty to find out what we
do not know.
Knowledge is something everyone can gain, young
and old alike. Education opens your mind, builds
your character, teaches you tolerance, and helps
you become a good human being, which is what

Why Should We Gain Islamic Knowledge?

Islam insists on it.

All knowledge is very important, but because this

world is a bridge to the next world, we must focus
on gaining knowledge that will help us be

WORKSHEET 1.1
Gaining Knowledge
1. What are the three levels of knowledge? Give an example.

2. List some specific examples of where you can seek knowledge

PLACES

PEOPLE

RESOURCES

3. What is the purpose of gaining knowledge?

CHAPTER 2: GENEROSITY ()
The literal meaning of generosity (called al-

We can be generous in many different ways.

Karamah in Arabic) is willingness to

Of course, we can give our money, but we

give something that you have to another.

There are two forms of generosity:

can also be generous by lending our time,

knowledge or help.
Here are only some ways for a sixth grader
to be generous:

Giving away
extra to
people

Giving away
that which
you, yourself,
need

By giving their allowance to a needy

person or cause
By helping a blind person cross the road
By helping a fellow student by tutoring
them in a subject they need help in

In the Holy Quran, Allah says:

"As for him who gives away and guards

By volunteering for tasks they can do at

Islamic Centers.

himself against evil and believes in the best,

We will smoothen for him the path to
bliss." (92:5-7)

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY MORE?

Prophet Muhammad (S) has said:

"A generous person is a friend of Allah,
and a miser (cheap person) is an
enemy of Allah."
Miserliness (To Be Stingy)
Generosity in Different Forms
One day, a group of kids were busy
playing. All of a sudden, they saw Imam
Hasan (A), so they invited him to sit down
and eat with them. He joined them, and then
afterwards, he invited them to his house. He
gave them food, clothes, and gifts. After this,
he said The generosity of these kids was
much more than mine. They gave me
everything they had, while I only gave them
a little bit of what I own.

Miserliness (al-Bukhl in Arabic) means

to be stingy or cheap. This means giving
very little of what you have to someone who
needs it.
Just like you can be generous with more
than just money, you can be stingy in other
areas also. For example, if your mother asks

you to help her for five minutes, and you set

your stop-watch so that you help her for
exactly five minutes and then go away, then
that is also being stingy - stingy with your
time.
There should never be any miserliness in
the home. If your brother/sister wants to use
something of yours, you should give it freely,
and not count how much of it was used or
how long it was used for.
Balance Between Generosity and
Miserliness
The key to being a successful Muslim, and
one of the main Islamic principles, is to have
a balance in life. Thus, we must also be
balanced in our generosity. This means that
we should not give away everything we
have and leave nothing for ourselves nor
does it mean that we should keep
everything and not share. It means finding
the right balance between the two where we
give a lot but not to the point where we lead
ourselves to ruin.

WORKSHEET 2.1
Generosity

1.

What does it mean to be generous and miserly? Use your own words.
GENEROSITY

2.

MISERLINESS

Give an example of how you can be generous or stingy in each of the following areas:

AREA

GENEROUS

STINGY

MONEY

TIME

KNOWLEDGE

SKILLS

CHAPTER 3: WASTING ()
Al-Israaf ( ) means wasting. It can mean

Using More Than We Need

one of the following:

This means that we should respect food by

using more than we need

not using something properly

not abusing it. We should not play with food,

buying something that we cannot afford

way, and should NEVER throw it away unless

even for fun. We should never abuse it in any

it is spoilt. If we throw food away without

In Islam, we place great importance on

reason, then we are throwing away a gift from

stopping wastage.

Allah. This is a sign of ungratefulness.

Israaf is not limited to fruit and food. It applies

When putting food on our plates, we should

to all the blessings of Allah.

put only as much as we think we will be able

to finish. If we are still hungry after finishing,
we can take some more. However, many

One day, a man was performing

Wudhu when the Holy Prophet (S)
passed by him. The man was wasting
water, so the Holy Prophet (S) said,
"Dont waste the water." The man
asked, "O Prophet of God! Is there
israaf even in matters like Wudhu?
The Prophet (S) replied, "Of course,
Israaf is possible in all matters.

times you see people who are hungry put a

heap of food on their plates, eat half of it, and
throw the rest away!
We should be aware that there are many
people in the world who do not have enough
to eat, and don't even know where their next
meal will come from. What right do we have
when we to take food for granted so as to be

So as you can see, israaf can be done in

able to throw it away, as if it were garbage?

many different areas in our lives: food,

money, clothes, resources, and even time.
Allah explains to us in the Holy Quran:
"O you who believe! Do not make unlawful
the good things that God has made lawful for
you, but do not commit excess, for God does

AKHLAQ TIP: Avoid putting yourself

in positions where you will commit
israaf, like going shopping without a
list or going to the grocery store while
you are fasting and buying more than
you need.

not love those given to excess." (5:90)

Islam teaches us to have respect for all

Not Using Things Properly

things that Allah has blessed us with, and

Sometimes, israaf can look different than

what is more worthy of respect than the

what we expect. For example, we should

sustenance (food) that He has provided?

6

use pencils to write good things; we should

not mistreat them and break them. Similarly,
we should not abuse our bodies by eating
more than we need.

CRITICAL THINKING: What are

some common items that people use
incorrectly?
Buying Stuff We Cannot Afford
This world has many toys that will tempt
us, and we find ourselves wanting more
and more toys as we get older. Another
form of israaf is when we go ahead and buy
something that we cannot afford.

AKHLAQ TIP: If we think of Allah

whenever we spend the money He
has given us, and think whether He
would approve of our purchase, then
we will never commit israaf.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"Eat and drink, but do not waste by excess,
for God does not love the wasters." (7:31)
A lot of people waste their good deeds by
performing bad ones. For example, those
who help others financially give up their
reward by reminding them of their help or
by showing off. Doing a good deed is easy,
but taking it to the hereafter is difficult.

AKHLAQ TIP: Buy and use only

what you need, and try to give the
extra money to less fortunate people
or invest in good causes, such as
building schools or hospitals.

Remember, on the Day of Judgment, Allah

will ask "How did you spend the wealth I
provided you?" We must be careful and
have a good answer for Allah on that day.
We should not fall into the trap of buying
things for reasons such as showing off to
others, buying something just because your
friend has it, or buying simply for the sake
of buying.

WORKSHEET 3.1
Wasting ()
1. What are the three forms of israaf? Give an example of each.

2. Think of an area in your life where you sometimes commit israaf; how can you prevent
yourself from doing so?

3. Your parents gave you $20 for helping them mow the lawn on the weekend. You go to the
store and see the new video game that has come out, which is $15. You have $5 left.
What could you do with these $5?

CHAPTER 4: GREED ( OR )
The literal meaning of greed (called at-

his children needed to harvest the newly

Tama or al-Hirs in Arabic) is

grown fruit. Yet, what they had decided to

the desire and want of anything beyond

your need. Here is an example to better
help you understand what this means.

do was to harvest the fruit every morning

before the poor and the hungry people
would even notice that any fruit had
grown.

They are giving out cookies at the Masjid.

There are only 25 cookies, but 50 kids.
You want to take 3 cookies (this is your
greed), but you know that you should only
take 1/2 a cookie so that everyone can
have some.
BRAINSTORM: Greed exists in
many areas, such as money. Can
you think of any more?

However, there was one brother who was

virtuous and righteous like his father and
advised his brothers: Do not forget Allah,
and be afraid of your actions. Allah (SWT)
is aware of all your actions and choices.
No matter how much good advice the
brother gave his brothers, though, they
would not listen. So, every morning, they
would remove the fruits from their trees

The Greedy Sons

before the poor and hungry would see

them. One morning, as they were walking

There once lived a righteous man who

towards their farm, they saw that the

had a large orchard full of fruits. Every

entire farm had caught on fire. All of the

year, when he would harvest any of his

f r u i t w a s b u r n e d !

fruit, he would donate some of the fruits to

the poor and needy. He would always

When the righteous brother saw this, he

display these good actions in front of his

said to his brothers, Woe to you, if you

children. As years passed, the good man

hadnt forgotten Allah, this would not have

became sick and decided to tell his

happened! All of his brothers understood

children that they would also need to

their mistake and asked Allah (SWT) for

continue giving fruit to the poor after he

forgiveness.

d i e d .
Unfortunately, many of his children did not
share his goodness, and were very

CHECKPOINT: What is the main

lesson we can learn from this story?

greedy. Soon after the man passed away,

9

The Cure for Greed

GREED

The cure to greed is to always try to be

satisfied with what Allah has given you.
This is called contentment (ar-Rida ) .
A good way to control greed is by asking
yourself whether you NEED more or if
what you have is enough. For example,

GOOD
GREEDY TO
EARN ALLAHS
PLEASURE

BAD
GREEDY TO
EARN WORLDLY
THINGS

you already have two nerf guns, but you

go to the store and see the brand new

Islam emphasizes that our spiritual and

one. Do you actually need it or are you

higher goal is to achieve the pleasure of

just being greedy?

Allah. So, if a person is greedy about

getting more reward for the hereafter

One of the best ways to help you break

(thawaab) and pleasing Allah by their

your attachment to material things and

actions, then such greed is not only good

stop greed from growing is to share what

but praised in Islam. You can also turn

you have with others.

materialistic greed into good spiritual

greed.

Good Greed vs. Bad Greed

According to Islamic teachings, greed is
not inherently bad. Only greed for worldly
and material things is bad because our
goal is not for this world; it is for the
hereafter. Greed for the hereafter is good
and will make us work harder.
For example, Hollywood stars work hard

For example, a person can be greedy

about earning more money to spend in
the way of Allah like helping a needy
person or building a Masjid.
Another occasion where being greedy is
good is when you are greedy for
knowledge, since seeking knowledge is
greatly encouraged in Islam.

to buy big houses and fancy cars that

they do not need because they are only

Examples of Good Greed

living for this world and are not striving for

the hereafter. However, as Muslims, we

Greed in Time

live for the next world.

We can be greedy about our time by

trying to make the most of what little time
10

we have. For example, one time, Imam Ali

(A) went to the barber to get his beard
trimmed. As he was trimming his
mustache, the barber was having a
difficult time because the Imam (A) kept
moving his lips. So, the barber
respectfully asked him to stop moving so
that he could shave him. However, Imam
Ali (A) replied that he could not stop
because he had to make use of his time
by reciting dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
as he was getting shaved.
Greed in Knowledge
Another occasion where being greedy is
good is when you are greedy for
knowledge, since seeking knowledge is
greatly encouraged in Islam.

The Holy Prophet (S) has said:

"Two types of greed in a person are
never satisfied: those greedy for
acquiring knowledge and those
greedy for accumulating wealth."

11

WORKSHEET 4.1
Greed
1. What does greed mean?

2. What is the difference between good greed and bad greed?

3. Give two specific examples of good greed and two specific examples of bad greed.
Good Greed

Bad Greed

4. Give one example of how you are sometimes greedy and how you can turn that worldly greed
into a good type of greed.

12

CHAPTER 5: ARROGANCE ()
What is Arrogance?

Areas of Arrogance

Arrogance (at-Takabur in Arabic) is

We may be arrogant about our wealth,

when a person sees himself more worthy

health, strength, friends, talents, work,

and perfect than others, regardless of

accomplishments, color, race, and the list

whether or not he has that perfection. In

goes on. It is even possible to be arrogant

Islam, self-centered boasting or arrogance

in Godly actions, such as our knowledge,

is considered to be the greatest of spiritual

good deeds, or prayers. So, it is very

diseases.

important to remind ourselves that we are

doing these things to get closer to Allah,

Pride is when you think highly of yourself,

and we can only do these things because

but you are not comparing yourself to

of help from Allah in order to prevent

others. It is not always a bad thing to be

ourselves from becoming arrogant.

proud because it gives you the courage to

do great things, but it is very easy for pride

The Rich Arrogant Man

to turn into arrogance, so we must be

Many of the Holy Prophets (S) companions

careful.

were poor, but the Holy Prophet (S) loved

them equally. He would visit them

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

occasionally and was like an elder brother

to them. The Holy Prophet (S) was very

Do not turn your face away from people in

friendly and warm with them and would eat

arrogance, and do not walk with pride on

with them. He cared for them and helped

the earth. Truly, Allah does not love any self-

them out whenever possible. The Prophet

centered boaster. (31:18)

(S) helped them with money as well as

f o o d . T h e p o o r w e re c o m f o r t a b l e

When Allah created Prophet Adam (A), He

approaching the Holy Prophet (S).

The

told all the creatures to bow down before

wealthy people in town were not happy at

him. Iblees refused, saying that I am better

his friendship with them, however.

than him. This was the first example of

pride, and it was because of this that Iblees

Once, one of the Prophets (S) poor

is called Shaytaan, one who is removed

companions came to see him while he had

from Allah's Pleasure.

a rich man sitting by his side. The rich man

seemed to be disturbed. He pulled his robe
back and moved away so that the poor
man would not get [his expensive clothes]
13

dirty. It seemed as though he was disgusted

The poor man was not ready to accept the

by the poor man. The Holy Prophet (S) was

rich mans offer. He did not want wealth to

extremely saddened by the rich mans

make him proud, for he knew how the pride

behavior. The Prophet (S) had told the

of the rich hurts the poor and the soul.

Muslims several times to not be disrespectful

to the less fortunate, since all Muslims were

The Effects of Arrogance on Our Akhlaq

brothers and that no one should be

demeaned on the basis of their financial

1.

status.

Arrogance or excessive pride makes a

person think that everyone else is lower
than him and that he is better than
everyone else.

When this happens, if

anyone gives him advice, he does not

listen to them because he thinks that
they dont know as much as he does.
Also, if anyone needs his help, he may
not help that person, because he may
think that he is too superior to give help
to an inferior person.
2.

Arrogance prevents a person from

The Holy Prophet (S) said to the rich man,

correcting any of his mistakes. He thinks

Why did you do that? Did you fear his

that he is too good to make mistakes.

poverty would be transferred to you or your

He also thinks that others are too inferior

wealth may pass over to him?

too give him any advice. So, in the end,

The rich man suddenly understood what a

he will continue making mistakes.

huge mistake he had made. He was regretful

3.

Most importantly, arrogance can make a

and wanted to compensate for this terrible

person forget Allah. An arrogant person

wrongdoing. He said, O Prophet of God!

will forget that Allah was the One who

Due to my mistake, I would like to give half of

gave him everything in the first place. A

all my wealth to this Muslim brother.

person who is always proud of himself

The Prophet (S) turned to the poor man and

attributes all his success to his own self

said, Are you ready to accept half his

and not to Allah.

wealth?
The poor man refused. When the Holy

Consequences of Arrogance

Prophet (S) asked why, he replied that he did

not want to become arrogant like the rich
man.

1.

People will start hating us if we are

arrogant. In Nahjul Balagha, Imam Ali

14

(A) says, Dont be proud, or the

strength will get worse as we get older,

number of people who hate you will

and one day we, too, will cease to exist.

increase. This is true, as no one likes a

2.

3.

3.

We should think about others. We

person who boasts a lot.

should realize that everything we have

Allah will stop sending His blessings on

is from Allah, and so we have a duty to

us if we are arrogant.

In the Quran,

share it with others. One way we can do

Allah says, I shall turn away from My

this is by giving money to the poor.

signs those who act with arrogance on

However, we should be careful not to be

the earth (7:146).

proud of this action either.

We will not be able to enter paradise.

4.

The most important thing we can do is

Prophet Muhammad (S) says, One who

remember Allah. We should try following

has even a particle of arrogance in his

everything He wants us to.

heart, shall not enter paradise.

we will realize that He is the greatest of

That way,

all, and we are His creatures.

The Cure for Arrogance

We

should be humble in everything we do

as Allah says in the Quran, The

Fortunately, there are cures to solve this

servants of Allah are those who walk

problem, but it is up to us to make sure that

with humility on the earth (25:63).

we follow them. As long as we take the first

step, Allah will help us the rest of the way.

Takabbur enters our hearts very secretly; it

tries to hide from us, and takes our thoughts

1.

The first thing we should do is realize

over quietly, that is why Prophet

that many things that we are proud of

Muhammad(S) has told us:

will not last forever. Our wealth will be

given away after we die. Our property

"Pride enters the heart like a black ant

can be destroyed in a flood or a storm.

crawling over a black rock at night."

Our precious things can get stolen any

day. All these things are temporary, and

This is why we should try our best to prevent

once we realize that, we will understand

it from entering in the first place.

that we cant really be proud of

ourselves just because we have them.
2.

Ways to Prevent Arrogance

The second thing is to realize that we

are very insignificant. One bite from a

The first thing that you should do when you

little mosquito, and we feel pain. We

achieve something good is to thank Allah.

have to realize that our health and

Just by saying Alhamdulillah, you will stop

your nafs from praising yourself.

15

By thanking Allah, we are including Him in all

aspects of our lives, sharing our joy and
happiness with Him, and recognizing that it
is through His bounty that we have achieved
success.
We all achieve good things in our lives. This
does not mean that we should not be happy.
We should feel happy, laugh, and enjoy, but
we should try to be as humble and modest
as possible. We should also remember that it
was Allah who helped us, and so, we should
thank Him.
PERSPECTIVE: If you really want to see
how small you are in this world, go look
on Google maps!

16

WORKSHEET 5.1
Arrogance

1. What does it mean to be arrogant?

2. Can you think of any famous people in history who were arrogant? What happened to
them?

3. How can you prevent yourself from becoming arrogant?

4. If you realize that you are arrogant, how can you fix this problem?

17

CHAPTER 6: COMPLAINING ()
"A man who truly deserves kindness has

lives of others who are in much worse

the following characteristics: when

conditions than you. You live a life much

trouble comes his way, he bears it

better than many people around you. You

patiently; and when he receives it he is

have not learned the simple act of how to

thankful."
Complaining (ash-Shakwa in
Arabic) is the opposite of being content
and patient. It is a bad habit, and one
that drives away Allahs Mercy.
The Price of Your Organs
One day, a man was complaining to a great
scholar. The scholar said, Would you like to
have 10,000 dinars instead of your eyes?

thank Allah, and yet you still ask for more.

Trials and Their Philosophy

Complaining mainly happens when
things do not go our way. In reality,
though, when we complain when
something goes wrong in our life, it is a
sign that our faith is weak. Allah has
placed trials in our lives for certain
reasons. They help us in the following
ways.

The man said, Of course not! I wouldnt

1. Problems in our life help us develop

trade my two eyes for anything in this

the muscle of patience.

world.

2. Trials and problems also help us

The scholar then asked, Would you trade

realize the blessings of Allah. Once they

your intelligence for 10,000 dinars?

are over, you appreciate Allahs blessings

much more. This is a promise from Allah.

The man again said, Never!

He asked, What about hour ears, hands, or
feet?
The man replied, Never!
The scholar then concluded, Allah has
placed hundreds and thousands of dirhams
with you, and you still complain? In fact, you
wouldnt be willing to trade your life for the

He says in the Holy Quran:

"Verily, with every difficulty there is
relief." (94:6)
3. Problems also increase our tawakkul
(reliance on Allah).
You see, when a problem occurs, it will
be there no matter what. The key is how
we deal with it. This will determine how
18

easy or difficult this problem will be for

Nagging

us. If we are patient, dealing with it will

Nagging means to continue bothering

be much easier.

someone to do something (or stop doing

something.) Be careful; this habit will make

If we are going through a difficulty, instead

people stay away from you and not befriend

of complaining and only asking others to

you.

help us, we should ask Allah for His help.

If you nag someone, then it means that you
When Prophet Yusuf (A) was thrown in the

keep on reminding them of some complaint

well by his brothers, his father, Prophet

you have every few minutes. People do not

Yaqub (A) was struck with grief. He did not

like that. If you have something to say, then

just sit there and complain, though. He took

say it once. People will be more likely to

his grief and his complaint directly to the

listen and remember what you said. If you

only One who could help him: Allah.

keep on pestering them and reminding

them over and over, then they will become

He (Yaqub) said: I only complain of my

irritated.

distraction and anguish to God,

and I know from God that which you know

Complaining and nagging can make the

not. (12:86)

people around you miserable. It also will not

get you anywhere. If you are constantly

Whining and Nagging

Whining and nagging are two results of
complaining. Whining is when we find
faults in everything and keep
complaining. This does not let us, or

complaining, you are taking away your own

chance to be happy, since you are always
thinking of your misfortunes. Therefore,
constant complaining can only create an
unhappy and unhealthy atmosphere.

others, appreciate the blessings we have

and makes dealing with the difficulty
worse. For example, there are people who
are always complaining that it is too cold in
the winter and too hot in the summer. They
will always find some reason to complain or
criticize.
Be careful! If this becomes a habit, you will
not be able to enjoy many things in life.
19

WORKSHEET 6.1
Complaining

1. What is the difference between complaining and nagging?

2. What are two ways that trials can help us?

3. What should we do when faced with a problem?

4. Who should we ask for help when we need it?

20

CHAPTER 7: CHEATING ()
Cheating (Called al-Khuda or al-Khudaah
in Arabic) means to gain something
by trickery.
There are many different types of cheating.
A few examples are:
To copy someone during an exam.
To hide the defect of a thing you are
selling to another person.
To collect money for a charity and then
spend it on yourself.
The Ends Do Not Justify the Means
Some people believe that "the end justifies
the means. They think that no matter what
you do, even if you cheat, it is okay as long
as the end result is positive.
So, even if I have to copy off the student
next to me, it will help me get a good grade,
which will help me get into a good college,
and then I can become a doctor and help
other people. So, If I cheat, the end result
will be good. Right? Lets find out from this
story of Imam Sadiq (A).
Everyone was gathered around the man,
trying to kiss his hands and make Dua for
him. As he began to walk away, he waved,
and they all started reciting Takbeer. One
woman cried out, He is so kind! Another
man said, What a pious man! They all
admired him because of all the worship he
did. Soon, everyone returned to their
houses. Some of the Shias went to Imam
Sadiq (A)s house and told them all about
this great man. The Imam nodded quietly; it
seemed like others has also told him about
this pious man.
A few days later, as Imam Sadiq (A) was
getting ready to go out, he also wanted to
get to know this man that everyone was
speaking about, so he went towards him. He

covered his face so that no one would recognize

him and stood in the crowd, noticing that all many
people had gathered around. All of a sudden, he
saw something strange. It seemed like this man
wasnt as kind as people had said and actually
seemed arrogant. After a few minutes, the man left
and went down one of the streets. The Imam
followed him to see where he was going. He
followed him to an empty bakery and watched as
the man looked around and then quickly took two
pieces of bread and hid them under his abah. The
Imam was shocked, but quickly though to himself,
Maybe he had already paid the baker from
before...but if that was true, why did he take it so
secretly? Then, the man headed to a fruit store.
When the owner was not looking, the man quickly
snuck two pomegranates under his abah. Now, the
Imam was bewildered and very upset. Then, the
man went to an old, sick man and gave him the
bread and pomegranates. The old man happily
took the food and prayed for the man. Satisfied, the
man left. The Imam quickly approached the man
and said, I saw something very strange from you
today. The man said, You must be Jafar, the son
of Muhammad. The Imam said, Yes, this is true.
The man said, You are the grandson of Rasulullah
and from the Ahlul Bayt. Its very sad that you are
this ignorant. The Imam asked, What do you
mean I am ignorant? The man replied, Dont you
know that Allah says in the Quran that anyone who
does a good deed will get 10 times the reward
(6:160)? He also says whoever does one bad deed
will only get one punishment. I stole 2 pieces of
bread and 2 pomegranates. That equals to 4 bad
deeds. However, when I gave those things to a sick
person, I got 40 good deeds. 40-4=36, so I
received 36 good deeds. The man laughed at the
Imams ignorance. The Imam (A) sighed and
sadly said, May Allah guide you. You are the
ignorant one who thinks this is how you calculate.
Have you not read the ayah that says Allah only
accepts deeds from those who have taqwa (5:27)?
You stole 4 items, which is 4 sins. Then, you took
peoples possessions and gave them to someone
else, so thats 4 more sins. So, in reality, you have 8
sins and 0 rewards.
The man stood there shocked. His mouth hung
wide open and tears gathered in his eyes. The
Imam left him to reflect on what he had done.
21

23

Just like the ends do NOT justify the means, it

is also not okay to cheat people who are not
Muslims. We live in a country in where we are
surrounded by non-Muslims who have
different values than us, but this does not
make it okay to cheat them. In fact, if we do
anything that gives a bad impression of
Muslims or Islam, that act becomes haraam.
All people have rights, and to cheat them out
of their rights is forbidden. It does not matter
who they are or what they believe in.
How to Control the Temptation of Cheating
Remember, Allah (SWT) is Al-Baseer, the AllSeeing, and He is always watching us. Even if
I cheat and no one finds out, I might win in
this world, but remember that there is a Day of
Judgment, and on that Day of Judgment, I will
have to answer for my actions. I may be able
to trick the whole world, but I will never be
able to trick Allah (SWT).

The room quickly filled with the sweet aroma, like a

flower garden in bloom. The family smelled each
scent and then inquired its price.
The Prophet (S) loved perfume and always used it.
He encouraged others to do the same. His family
had also learned from him and always smelled
good. People enjoy the company of those who are
clean and perfumed and avoid those who are
unclean and smelly.
A few minutes later, the Prophet (S) returned
home. From the sweet smell of perfume, it was
clear that Zainab the perfume seller was there.
The Prophet (S) entered the house and saw
everyone gathered around Zainab. He kindly told
her, When you come to our house, the house
smells good.
She was pleased and replied, But you make
these rooms sweeter with your presence, O
Messenger of Allah."

Cheating at Work
Many people cheat in their jobs. However, we
have learned from the Ahlul Bayt that this is
not okay.
There was a perfume seller named Zainab who
lived in Medina. Every morning, she would pack
her
basket with perfume and go house
to house selling her perfumes. She
was able to make good money
through this job, which
she used to help her
husband with the
expenses. Everybody in
town knew her, and every
house that she set foot in
would carry the sweet smell
of her perfumes.
One day, Zainab headed towards
the Prophet's (S) house. When she entered the
house, he was not home. The rest of his family
welcomed her and were interested in her new
products. Zainab picked a variety of perfumes
from her basket and showed them to the family.

The Prophet (S) glanced at Zainabs perfumes and

then gave her this advice, When you sell
perfume, be honest in your business transactions.
Do not be dishonest and cheat others; honesty is
closer to piety and makes your income blessed.
Zainab understood what he meant. There were
many people in the perfume business who tricked
others by selling perfume that was mixed with
water and other liquids. Zainab silently nodded.
When she was done, she packed her basket and
left the Messenger of Allahs (S) house. As she
stepped out of the Prophet's (S) house, she felt
that she had profited a lot from this trip; she had
sold perfume and learnt an important lesson, too,
about how cheating others is never acceptable.
Remember, as we get older and work in a
business, for example, if we have to work a certain
amount of hours, we must be honest. We must sell
things at their fair prices, and if we promise to
work a certain number of hours, we should uphold
that.
22

WORKSHEET 7.1
Cheating

1.

Cheating means to gain something by

2.

If I steal from the rich and give it to the poor then it is not counted as cheating.
a.

True

b.

False

3.

Give a specific example of cheating and explain how it is wrong.

4.

Why doesnt the end justify the means?

5.

In your own words, explain how you should NOT cheat in the workplace.

23

CHAPTER 8: HUSN AD-DHAN/ SUUDHAN

People are of two types: those who always think the worst of others, and those who try and
think the best about others.

Husn ad-Dhan

Su ad-Dhan

To have a good opinion about other people,

assume the best, and make excuses if you see
suspicious behavior from them.

To have a negative opinion about other people,

assume the worst, and be suspicious of their
actions.

For example, if a person stands up and gives a few thousand dollars to charity, one can think in
two ways:

Husn ad-Dhan

Su ad-Dhan

He is a sincere brother who is setting an

example for other people to follow.

That person has pride and is just showing off

all his money.

Who are we to assume the first opinion? Allah is the only Judge, as He sees everything and is
aware of everything. We have no right to be suspicious of other people, whether they are
Muslim or not.
Allah says in the Quran:
Avoid suspicion as much (as possible), for suspicion in some cases is a sin. (49:12)
Practical Application
A teacher tells a student in class, Please come see me after school. In the chart below, write
down how someone would react if they were doing Husn ad-Dhan and how they would react if
they were doing Su ad-Dhan.

Husn ad-Dhan

Su ad-Dhan

24

Effects of Su ad-Dhan
1. You lessen the value and reputation of someone in your eyes.
2. It may lead to you humiliating someone. If you tell other people about your suspicion, then
youve created Fitna, spread rumors, and ruined this persons reputation in other peoples
eyes.
3. Even if it is true, you have spread another persons fault, rather than cover their faults,
which is what a good Muslim should do and what Allah does for us.
Like we say in Dua Kumail:

...And how much beautiful praise, for which I am unworthy, You have spread

Solutions
1. We should make excuses for other people and give them the benefit of the doubt.
2. If we are unable to control our thoughts, we should at least try not to spread our negative
thoughts.
3. We can talk to the person and try to help them correct their faults privately.

Imam as-Sajjad (A) has said:

You should think better of a person younger than you, as he has had
less time to do bad deeds.
You should think better of a person older than you, as he has had
more time to do good deeds.
You should think better of a person the same age as you because you
do not know what he has done, but you know exactly what good
and bad you have done.

25

WORKSHEET 8.1
Husn ad-Dhan/Su ad-Dhan
1. In your own words, explain the difference between Husn ad-Dhan and Su ad-Dhan (Use your
own words)

2. How can you avoid doing Su ad-Dhan?

3. You and your friend go to the grocery store. You buy some snacks, but your friend does not
because he does not have any money. You pay for your things and then leave. When you exit
the store, your friend pulls out a bag of chips from his bag and starts eating them. In the table
below, write down how you would react if you were doing Husn ad-Dhan and Su ad-Dhan.

Husn ad-Dhan

Su ad-Dhan

26

4. According to our ahadith, if we see someone doing something wrong, we should make 70
excuses for that person.
Imagine that you see Alia putting Zahras favorite pen into her backpack. Make 20 excuses for Alia:
1. Maybe Zahra lent Alia the pen for the day.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Coming up with 20 excuses was hard enough, so we should always try to Suudhan.
27

CHAPTER 9: RESPECT FOR PARENTS

Our parents have raised us. They have lived for
us and given us love and attention. They have
taught us the difference between right and
wrong. This is one of the reasons why we
should always be respectful towards them. In
fact, this is one of the quickest ways to get to
Heaven. Allah has said:
"I swear by My Honor that anyone who
does not obey his parents, even if he comes
with the deeds of the prophets in front of Me, I
will never accept him."
He also tells us in the Holy Quran:
"Your Lord has commanded that you
worship none but Him, and that you be kind to
your parents. Whether one of them or both of
them become old in your life, do not say a word
of contempt (not even "ugh") to them or repel
them, but address them in terms of
honor. (17:23)
There is also a prayer for parents in the Holy
Quran (17:24):

Rabbirham huma kamaa rabbayani sagheera

My Lord, have mercy on them (our parents), as
they looked after me when I was little.
The Rights of our Parents

A man once went to the Prophet (S) and

asked him if there was any act worthy of
Allah's mercy. The Prophet (S) asked him
whether his parents were still alive, to
which he replied yes. The Prophet (S)
replied that the best deed worthy of
Allah's grace was to be kind to parents
since this was preferred over all acts.

The right of your mother is that you know that

she carried you where no one carries anyone,
she gave to you of the fruit of her heart that
which no one gives to anyone, and she
protected you with all her organs. She did not
care if she went hungry as long as you ate, if
she was thirsty as long as you drank, if she was
naked as long as you were clothed, or if she
was in the sun as long as you were in the
shade. She gave up sleep for your sake, and
protected you from heat and cold, all in order
that you might belong to her. You will not be
able to truly thank her unless Allah helps you
and gives you success.
Rights of the Father
The right of your father is that you know that he
is your root. Without him, you would not be.
Whenever you see any quality in yourself that
pleases you, know that your father is the root of
its blessing upon you. So, praise God and thank
Him in that measure. And there is no strength
except through God.

In Imam as-Sajjad (A)s book, Risalatul Huqooq,

he talks about the rights of different people/
objects over us. In this book, he mentions the
rights of our mother and father.
Rights of the Mother
28

An Excerpt from Imam as-Sajjads (A) Dua for Parents

Make me fear my parents just like I would fear a severe ruler
and love them like a merciful mother.
Let my obedience to my parents and pleasing them be sweeter to my eyes than sleep is to
the sleepy,
cooler to my heart than drinking water is to the thirsty,
until I prefer their wishes over mine and
put their happiness over mine.
Let me over value their kindness to me, even in small things, and under value my kindness
to them, even in great things.
O Lord, let me lower my voice before them.
Let my speech please them.
Soften my behavior towards them.
Let my heart be kind to them.
Make me kind and gentle to them both
O Lord, reward them for bringing me up.
Reward them for loving me.
Guard them as they guarded me in my infancy.
O Lord, forgive all their sins, raise their rank, and add to their good deeds in exchange for
any pain or displeasure I have caused them or any duty that I did not fulfill towards them
Do not let me be amongst those who wronged their fathers and mothers on the day when
"every soul shall be given what it has earner and they shall not be treated with injustice."

29

WORKSHEET 9.2
Respect for Parents

1. What is the right of your mother over you?

2. At the end of the right of the mother, Imam as-Sajjad (A) mentions that you could never
pay her back unless Allah gives you success. Why do you think this is the case?

3. What does it mean that your father is your root?

4. What does Imam as-Sajjad (A)s Dua for parents teach us about how our attitude should
we towards our parents?

5. Make a list of 4 things you can do to please your parents.

30

CHAPTER 10: FRIENDSHIP

What is Friendship?

together to live better lives. A true friend

is a very valuable prize.

Friendship is a close connection we form

with another person. Friends very much

The status of a friend is a unique status.

influence each other, both in action and

In the Quran, Allah says:

in thoughts.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What is
the difference between a friend
and an acquaintance?

And God took Ibrahim for a

friend. (4:125)
This is why the title of the Prophet
Ibrahim is known as Khalilullah, which

Friends affect us so much that a person

means Friend of Allah.

can be known by the friends he or she

keeps.

The Holy Prophet (S) has said

Whom Should We Befriend?

that if you want to know about a person,

look at who he/she hangs out with. Our

It is obvious that a friendship that is

choice in friends reveals a lot about

made for the purpose of becoming

ourselves because we naturally choose

closer to Allah and becoming a better

friends whose characteristics are similar

Muslim is better than having a friend who

to ours.

simply entertains you.

Is Friendship Necessary?

When we make friends with a Momin

(believer) by virtue of his or her imaan,

Human beings are naturally social

this friendship is Ibadah (an act of

creatures. Friends are a source of

worship) and helps us live a better

comfort and joy to us, and Islam

Islamic lifestyle.

encourages us to make good friends.

Friends are also there to help us in times

Imam Ali (A) says to Make friends who

of need because to function completely

share your faith because they will be

as a society, we need each others help.

valuable in this world and the hereafter.

Just like the human body has different

This is because they will help you in your

parts and works better when the parts

religious life and help you establish a

work together, we also need to work

strong relationship with Allah.

31

Not only will a Momin friend help you lead

Knowledge: When you are friends with a

a more Islamic life, but they will also help

knowledgeable person, whether it be

you avoid sins.

knowledge of this world or of religion, you

According to the Holy

Quran:

are bound to gain from that friendship and

increase in your own knowledge.

And believers, men and women, are

protecting friends of one another.
(At-Tawbah, 9:71).

Wisdom: Islam encourages us to make

friends with wise people.

These people

will help us and advise us in the right way.

On the other hand, a bad friend who has

Wise people have a lot of experience that

no faith may cause you regret on the Day

will benefit us. Allah likes wisdom so

of Judgment. Allay says in the Quran:

much that He calls our Holy Prophet the

Teacher of Wisdom (62:2).

...it will be a very hard day for the

disbeliever. On that day, the unjust shall

Luqman, the wise, who was not a

bite his hands saying, I wish that I had

Prophet, is mentioned in the Quran just

not taken so and so as my

because of his wisdom.

friend. (25:27-28).
Reliability:

Always befriend someone

The point is that friends have a lot of

you know you can trust to always be there

influence over us, so we should make

when you need them.

sure that we have good ones.

Good Akhlaq: A friend with good akhlaq
What Qualities Should We Look for in a

is someone who shows respect for adults,

Friend?

love and affection for those who are

y o u n g e r, o b e d i e n c e t o p a r e n t s ,

It is important that we choose our friends

obedience to leaders, sincerity in actions,

carefully, for their characteristics are

and dislike of evil and discourages their

going to affect us. Some of the qualities

friends from it.

we should look for when choosing a friend

are:

32

Stay Away from Friends Who Are...

Liars

This persons lies may be used against ourselves.

Hypocrites

Someone who is two-faced and never practices what

he preaches. This friend will say one thing to you and
act in the opposite way. This friend only does what
benefits him and will easily leave you when things are
in his favor.

Cheap

This person will not spend money or share any of his/

her stuff, but will not hesitate to take stuff from you.

Foolish

This person will try to benefit us, but will end up

harming us on account of his or her foolishness. This
is why we read in ahadith that an intelligent enemy is
better than a foolish friend.

Two travelers were on the road when a robber suddenly appeared. One man
ran for a tree and climbed up and hid in the branches.
The other was not as fast, so he threw himself on the ground pretending to
be dead. The robber came to the man on the floor, whispered something in
his ear and went away.
When the robber had gone, the man in the tree climbed down and asked his
friend what the robber had whispered in his ear. He replied that the robber
had told him to find a better friend who would not leave him at the first sign of
danger.

33

WORKSHEET 10.1

Friendship
1. Why is it so important that we pick good friends?

2. Think of a friend who has influenced you positively. What are some of his/her best qualities?

3. Think of yourself as a friend. What positive qualities do you have? What traits do you have
that you could improve?

4. Describe what you think a good friend looks like.

5. What is the benefit in having friends who are momin?

34

CHAPTER 11: BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

Medinite, so that they could be brothers/

sisters and help each other.

The believers are surely brothers; so

Islam says that the whole Muslim

make peace among your

Ummah is like one body; if one part

brothers. (49:10)
The above Ayah tells us that all Muslims
are brothers and sisters amongst each
other and that they should all care for
one another.
Islam is like a safe haven where Muslim
brothers and sisters feel safe with each
other. If they feel any danger at all, it
would never be from amongst
themselves, but rather from the outside
world. Even the way we greet each other
shows this concept. When we say
Salaamun Alaikum, we are saying that
while you are in my presence, you will be
in peace and safety with me, and even
when you leave, I will not do anything to
hurt you (like backbite).
There is a beautiful hadith from the Holy
Prophet (S) that defines a Muslim as
someone from whose hands (physical

hurts, then the whole body hurts.

Once, there was a group of people in a

boat who were arguing that there was no
need for brotherhood (unity) and that
each person could do as they pleased
without it being the concern of anyone
else. The person who was arguing that
there was a need for brotherhood went
to one corner of the boat and started
making a hole in the bottom of it. The
rest of the people who had been
insisting that there was no need for
brotherhood or sisterhood asked the
man if he was crazy, because if he
continued, they would all drown. The
man replied that they should not worry
about what he was doing as they,
themselves, had said that every person
could do what he liked without worrying
about anyone else. The people then
realized what he was trying to say. To live
happily with each other, you have to care
about others and have a form of unity
through some sort of brotherhood and

hurt) and tongue (emotional hurt) other

Muslims remain safe.
Remember that each and every Muslim
Brotherhood and sisterhood are so
important in Islam that one of the first

has a right over you as a brother/sister,

and we are all united through Islam.

things the Prophet did when he migrated

to Medina was pair one Makkan with one

35

WORKSHEET 11.1
Brotherhood
Draw on the boat what the man did to prove that in every community there is a need for
brotherhood and unity and explain below the point he was trying to make.

Use the pictures below to complete the hadith of the Holy Prophet (S):

A Muslim is he from whose

36

Answer the questions using complete sentences.

1. How does the Islamic greeting show brotherhood/sisterhood?

2. How can a Muslim hurt a fellow Muslim with his tongue?

3. When did Prophet Muhammad (S) introduce the concept of brotherhood/sisterhood?

4. The concept of brotherhood/sisterhood in Islam shows that members of the Muslim community
should treat each other like one big family. Give 2 specific examples of how you should treat
another fellow Muslim:

37

CHAPTER 12: NAFS ()

The human body is made out of two parts: the

Three Levels of Nafs

soul and body. A good example to help us

1.

An-Nafs al-Amarra () : This is

understand this is to imagine a car. The body of

the nafs in its lowest form where it leads

the car is like the human body, and the engine,

towards evil. When a person reaches this

which runs the car and is the main part of the

stage, he is lower than the animals in the

car, is the soul.

eyes of Allah. Some of the qualities he has

in this stage are being selfish and

committing haraam actions.

So when I have made him complete and

breathed into him of My spirit, fall down making

2.

Sajdah to him. (15:49)

An-Nafs al-Lawaama () : In this

stage, we may be tempted to do wrong,
but our nafs acts like a conscience and

Both parts of our body need care and looking

tries to stop us from doing the bad action.

after, each in its special way.

If we do the wrong action, it helps us

repent.
Soul ()

Body

3.

An-Nafs al-Mutmainnah () : In
this stage, the nafs is very healthy and not

Keeping it warm

Feeding it knowledge

only stays away from evil, but also

maintains goodness and goes towards

Showering/Staying
clean

Creating Maarifah and

deeper understanding

perfection. At this stage, the nafs reaches

TOTAL CONTENTMENT with Allah, which
means that the relationship of the nafs is

Clothing

Having good akhlaq

so secure with Allah that nothing can rattle

it. A perfect example of Nafs alMutmainnah can be seen on the day of

Even though the nafs cannot be seen, it can be

Ashura. Even when all of the enemies had

felt. When we help someone, we feel happy,

surrounded Imam Husain (A), in his final

but it is not the body that feels happy. It is not

moments, he put down his head in Sajdah

the arms, the legs, or the head that feels

and said, "Oh soul that is content! Come

happy; rather, it is the nafs.

back to your Lord, well pleased (yourself)

and well pleasing to Him."

Just like we go to the doctor if the body gets

sick, the nafs also has doctors, which are our
beloved Fourteen Masoomeen.

Imam Ali (A) has said:

"The nafs is like a wild horse, and you are riding
upon him, if you move your attention for one
second, he will throw you off."

38

WORKSHEET 12.1
The Nafs
In the chart below, list the three levels of the Nafs and what they mean in your own words.
Then, give an example of each.

LEVEL

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE

39

CHAPTER 13: OBEDIENCE ()

Obedience to Allah
Anyone in this world who has a goal has to work hard to attain it. For example, if I want to join
a basketball team, I have to train hard, work hard, eat healthy, and stay away from those
things that will prevent me from reaching my goals. If I am lazy and do not practice, I will not
make the team.

In Islam, our goal is to reach perfection. In order to reach perfection and join the Heavenly
Team, we have to follow certain rules.
These rules have been given to us by Allah through his Prophet. Rules by themselves have
no effect unless I consciously follow these rules. Following these rules is called obedience
(at-Taa in Arabic).
Through our obedience, day by day, we climb the ladder of perfection. Only Allah is worthy
of being obeyed and worshipped, after all, He is Al-Khaaliq, the One who created us, and
Ar-Rabb, the One who takes care of us.
Imam Ali (A) once said,
The worshippers of Allah are of three types:

Worship of Slaves:

Worship of Traders:

Those who worship

Those who worship Allah

Allah because they

because they want

fear Allahs

Allahs reward

Worship of Free People:

Those who worship Allah
because they love Allah

40

Disobedience of Allah

If we do not obey Allahs laws, we will

see many negative effects in our lives

Like we said earlier, when we obey Allah,

and society.

we move up the ladder of perfection, but

when we disobey Allah by committing

As we obey the laws and climb up the

sins, we move down the ladder. These

ladder of perfection, we will be rewarded

sins will only prevent us from making it

in this life and in the next, and if we

onto the Heavenly Team. Even the

disobey them, we will be punished in this

Quran has told us this:

life and in the next.

Whoever does good, it is for his own

Allah loves us and wants the best for us,

self, and whoever does evil, it is against

so we must try our hardest to obey His

the self. (41:46)

rules, and remember that when we make

a mistake, the door of forgiveness is

There is a major difference between

always open for us to repent and return

rules that human beings make and rules

to Him.

that Allah makes. When a human being

makes a law, like a speed limit, there is a
possibility that it might not be in the best
interest of everyone. It might be too slow
or too fast, and thus, this law can
change. This is mostly because human
beings do not have perfect knowledge
and can make mistakes.
On the other hand, the laws that we have
from Allah are from His infinite
knowledge and wisdom. They can never
have mistakes and are always in our best
interests. Therefore, obeying these laws
will benefit ourselves and mankind, and if
we do not, we will be at a loss.

41

WORKSHEET 13.1
Obedience
1. What does obedience mean?

2. What are the three levels of worship that Imam Ali (A) talked about? Define them in your own
words and give an example of each.
TYPE OF WORSHIP

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE

3. What is the primary difference between rules that Allah makes versus people? Why is it more
important to follow Allahs rules?

42

WORKSHEET 14.2
True or False: Circle either T for True or F for False.
1.

Obedience is a form of worship of Allah.

T

2.

The best form of worship is worshipping Allah for fear of Fire.

T

3.

Sins harm Allah, and that is why He has told us not to commit sins.
T

5.

Sins occur when we disobey a rule of Allah.

T

4.

The rules sent by Allah are for the benefit of Allah.

T

Multiple Choice: Circle the correct letter.

1.

The worship of the Traders is the worship of those who worship for reward from Heaven. Why
is their form of worship, called the worship of the Traders?

2.

a)

Because they like trading

b)

Because they are trading their good deeds for Heaven

c)

Because they were born into a trading family

The worship of the Free People is the worship of those who worship because they love Allah.
Why is this form of worship, called the worship of the Free People?
a)

Because they are free in making decisions and are not controlled by fear of Hell or
greed for Heaven

b)

Because they get things done for free

c)

Because they will get into Heaven for free

43

CHAPTER 14: SINS AND THEIR EFFECTS

There are two types of sins: the greater sins

Imam (A) then told them both to put the

and the smaller sins. Even though the

stones back in the exact place they had

punishment for the greater sins is worse, we

found them.

must remember that both are equally bad

because when we sin, we are undermining

The man who had done the big sins found it

the authority of Allah, who created us and

very tiring and difficult, but finally managed

gave us everything we have.

to put the two rocks in their place.

Also, remember that just because it is a

The man who had done the small sins had

small sin, we should not think that we can

picked up so many pebbles from

easily commit them because when they pile

everywhere that he had no idea where the

up on top of each other, they become a

exact place of each one was and so could

huge mountain.

not put them back.

Once, in the time of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq

CHECKPOINT: What is the moral

of the story?

(A), two men came and said that they

wanted to ask Allah for forgiveness for their
sins.

Prophet Muhammad (S) has said:

The first man said that he had done 2 very

big sins, while the second man said that he
had only done lots of small sins.

Do not look at how small the sin is, but

rather look at who you have the audacity to
disobey and rebel against.
(Bihar ul-Anwar, Vol. 74, P. 170)

Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A) told the men that

they should bring him stones, one for each
sin they had committed, but the man who
had committed the two big sins had to
bring two enormous rocks, while the other
had to bring pebbles.
After a while, the two men returned to the
Imam (A). The man who had done the big
sins was very tired from carrying the large
rocks, whereas the other one was fine.

Effects of Sins
Sins have effects in this life and in the next.
Some of the effects of sins are:
1.

Displeasure of Allah.

A sin is very

serious. It is not as if you are

disobeying just anyone, but you are
disobeying the Creator who gave you
your existence.

If we continue to

disobey Him, we will have great shame

when we return to Him after our death.

44

1.

Hardening of the heart.

When a

person always commits sins and does

So, as you can see, if we want our good

not ask for forgiveness, his heart slowly

deeds to be accepted, we must stay away

hardens, and he may reach a stage

from sins. According to the Holy Prophet

where he does not feel any shame in

(S), when a person does a good deed, he

disobeying Allah. Imam as-Sadiq (A)

gets a reward for it. Sometimes the reward

says, Everyone is born with a pure

is there in Janna waiting for him. However,

heart. When he commits a sin, a black

when he commits a sin, it is as if he sends a

spot is formed on his heart. If he seeks

fire to destroy all his rewards in Heaven.

forgiveness, the spot is erased. But if

Many of our good deeds may be erased

he does not seek forgiveness, and

without our realizing it, just because we did

continues to sin, the black spot

not stay away from sins.

becomes bigger and bigger, finally

Some Common Sins

Erasing of good deeds. When a

Lets review some of the many sins that

person does many good deeds but

we may commit every day. Some of

also commits many sins, the good

them are:

2.

covering the whole heart.

deeds can be wiped out because of

t h e s i n s .

1.

Lying Lying is a major sin. Imam Ali

(A) says, Speak the truth, because

There was a Muslim lady who would

Allah is with the Truthful. Keep away

perform many Mustahab actions. She

from falsehood because it destroys

used to fast during the day and pray

the faith. A truthful person is on the

into the wee hours of the night.

path of success and salvation, while

However, unfortunately, she had very

a liar is on the brink of disgrace and

bad akhlaq and a sharp tongue that

she would use to bother and hurt

disaster.

everyone around her. One day,

someone praised this lady to the Holy
Prophet (S) and mentioned how she
does so many Mustahab actions but
has bad akhlaq. The Prophet (S)
replied, There is no goodness in her
worship. Because of her bad akhlaq,
she will be punished with the people of
the fire.
45

2. Backbiting

To talk about others

Allah says in the Quran :

behind their backs has become very

Your Lord has ordered that you should

common in society. Many people

worship only Him, and be good to your

cannot prevent themselves from

parents. If either or both of them reach

backbiting when they sit with others,

old age with you, do not say ugh to

but backbiting is also a major sin, and

them, nor speak badly to them. Speak to

Allah forbids it because it ruins good

them in a nice manner (Surah Bani

relationships among our brothers and

Israeel, Verse 23),

sisters. Allah says in the Quran (Surah

Al-Hujurat, Verse 12), Do not spy nor
let some of you backbite others. Does

We know that sins have bad effects on

one of you like to eat the dead flesh of

us. We should try to always keep them in

your brother?

mind and stay away from them. We

should never forget that Allah is always

3. Disobedience to Parents.

Parents

watching us, and that He cares for us

do a lot for their children. They bring

and wants the best for us.

If we keep

them up from the time the child is born,

thinking about Allah throughout the day,

and look after the child until he or she

surely we will commit less and less sins.

becomes strong and independent. All

So, from now on, let us try to keep away

this is done with great love and affection.

from sins, especially the three sins we

Most parents wish only good for their

learnt today.

children. So, when parents treat their

children with such care, it is not right for
children to be disobedient to their
parents.
independent. All this is done with great
love and affection. Most parents wish
only good for their children. So, when
parents treat their children with such
care, it is not right for children to be
disobedient to their parents.

46

WORKSHEET 14.1
Sins and Their Effects
True or False: Circle either T for True or F for False.
1.

We shouldnt sin because our teachers are always watching us.

T

2.

We shouldnt sin because Allah loves us so much.

T

3.

Allah is watchful over all things.

T

4.

If everyone is committing a small sin (such as being disrespectful to a speaker in the

Masjid by chatting while he is talking) then it is all right to do the same.
T

Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences

1.

Name two effects of sins

2.

How can we stop ourselves from committing sins?

47

CHAPTER 15: TAQWA ()

Definition of Taqwa

feathers. As they walk, they reach a

At-Taqwa ( ) is the pure state and

desert land full of thorns, spikes, and

strength of the human soul that protects

cacti. This person is very scared to walk

us from what pulls us towards sins.

through this land, but this is the only path

to the other side. The thought of walking

Imam Ali (A) in Sermon 112 says:

through this and their delicate silk outfit

The Taqwa of Allah protects the friends

getting caught on one of these thorns

of Allah and keeps them from crossing

makes this person very afraid of taking

the lines of haraam.

this journey. So, they do what everyone

else would do. They carefully pick up

This safeguarding or protection is

their dress and move it close to them as

possible in two ways:

they walk through the desert. Every once

in a while, a thorn would get caught on

1.

Keeping ourselves at a safe distance

the dress, but they gently remove it so

from the environment of sin (just like

that it does not unravel. Some of the

the effort to stay healthy and hence

g re a t s c h o l a r s a n d u l e m a h a v e

away from the atmosphere of illness

described something similar to this state

and germs.)

as taqwa. A person with taqwa is careful

as they walk through the world of sins.

2.

Strengthening our heart and will

Every once in a while, a sin will tempt

power to create a spiritual or moral

them, but very carefully and quickly, they

strength that gives us spiritual and

turn back to Allah, asking for forgiveness,

moral protection. This way, when we

and continue their path to Jannah with

happen to be in an environment that

even more care.

tempts us to sin, this strength will act

like a vaccination that will protect us
from the disease of sins.

In the Holy Quran, Allah compares taqwa

to clothes:
But the clothing of righteousness - that

Even though keeping ourselves away

is best (7:26)

from sins is the best option, it is not

always possible, so ideally, we want to

Just like clothes protect the human body

develop this second type of Taqwa.

from dirt, cold, and heat, taqwa is the

clothing of the soul, which protects it

Imagine a person is wearing a silk outfit,

as smooth as cream and delicate as

from the diseases of the soul.

48

Benefits of Taqwa

confusion, so that we can easily

recognize the real situation and see

1. Insight (Basira )

everything very clearly.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

And be God-wary, and Allah will teach

O you who have believed, if you are

you. (2:282)

careful of your duty to Allah, He will grant

you a Furqan [the ability to tell what is
right and wrong]. (8:29)
And whoever is careful of his duty to
Allah, He will make for him a way out And
will provide sustenance for him from
where he does not expect. And whoever
relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient
for him. (65:2-3)
There are times when our path to
perfection will become difficult and
confusing. However, if a person can tell
what is good or bad, right or wrong,
friend or foe, and useful or harmful, the
confusion goes away.
The confusion usually stems from our
deep attachment to things in this world.
This intense love and attachment
becomes so strong that our knowledge
of being able to determine what is good
or bad becomes foggy, and without
thinking, we lean towards that which we
love. In reality, though, we should lean
towards that which is right.
We understand from the Holy Quran that
only the light of Taqwa can remove this

2. Perfection and Wisdom (Hikmah

)
As we see the path more clearly through
our basira and act upon the truth, we
develop a quality called wisdom (hikmah
).
Wisdom is putting into action what we
know. For us to be successful Muslims,
we need both basira and hikmah. If I
enjoy being a couch potato and
watching TV for hours, but I know that
this is wrong, my love for these TV shows
distracts me and prevents me from being
productive. When I develop Taqwa,
though, my knowledge and distinction of
what is right and wrong becomes so
strong that it outweighs my love for
watching TV. This is the first step.
The second step is when my wisdom
helps me to put this knowledge into
action. Sometimes, I know that I should
not be watching these shows that have a
negative effect on my soul, but I have no
motivation to be productive. Hikmah will
allow me to get off the couch and be

49

WORKSHEET 15.1
Taqwa
1. Define Taqwa in your own words.

2. How can we develop Taqwa?

3. What are the two benefits of Taqwa? Be specific.

4. Give an example of how basira and hikmah can prevent you from committing a sin. Be
specific.

50

li