Workshop 14: Islam 2: Contemporary Issues

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Building Bridges, Grades 8-9: A World Religions Program

In This Section

Islam 2: Contemporary Issues-Introduction
From Building Bridges

Islam in its original state gave women privileges and imposed no harsh restrictions or double standards upon them….
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

Consider your own feelings about gender equality, war, and the Muslim faith. How will you manage feelings of judgment you might have about the intersection of these three? Though your opinions may be based on facts, be careful not to influence youth’s feelings. Let them discover their own opinions.
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity A 22 x 28 inch sheet of poster board and a marker Masking tape Leader Resource 1, Judaism/Christianity/Islam Leader Resource 2, Answers to Judaism/Christianity/Islam Game Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 1, Judaism/Christianity/Islam….
Islam 2: Contemporary Issues-Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle World map Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 3, Islam 2 Background Handout 1, Sunni and Shia – Comparison Chart Preparation for Activity Read Leader Resource 3 so you will be…
Activity 1: Story - Khadijah, First Woman of Islam
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Khadijah, First Woman of Islam” Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable presenting it. Description of Activity Participants hear and discuss the story of Khadijah, first wife of the Prophet Muhammad….
Activity 2: Where Are the Women?
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Position – Muslim Women Are Equal Handout 3, Position – Muslim Women Are Not Equal Timepiece (seconds) Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the opinions expressed in Handouts 2 and 3. Copy Handout 2 for participants in…
Activity 3: Muslims in Conflict
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity World map A 4-foot square sheet of a smooth, flat, rigid material such as foam core art board or thin plywood-a sheet light enough for two youth to handle easily Red and black permanent markers A light, quick-rolling ball such as a large marble or …
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Download, adapt, and copy Taking It Home for all participants. Write the closing words on newsprint and post it…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

Review today’s workshop with your co-leader. This workshop addressed several challenging topics. Did they engage topics, and each other, with respect? Were youth attentive throughout the workshop, or did their attention wane? Which activities worked well? How will the answers to these questions…
Faith In Action: Peace in Israel/Palestine
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Preparation for Activity Find a member of your congregation or community who is part of an organization that promotes peace in Israel/Palestine or works on cooperative relationships among local Muslims and Jews. Invite them to talk to the group. If they have Jewish and…
Alternate Activity 1: The Holy Qur’an
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 4, Excerpts from the Holy Qur’an for all participants Bibles (New Revised Standard Version) for all participants Description of Activity Participants read excerpts from the Qur’an, compare stories told with alternate versions told in the…
Alternate Activity 2: Sikhs Are Not Muslims
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity An assortment of small items which could be worn or carried in a pocket-for example, a comb, rubber band, tiny mirror, coin, simple ring, various pins and pendants, small stone, small bell, small box of matches, locket, or tiny animal figure Handou…
Taking It Home: Islam 2: Contemporary Issues
From Building Bridges

Islam in its original state gave women privileges and imposed no harsh restrictions or double standards upon them….
Khadijah, First Woman of Islam
From Building Bridges

Remarkable women have done remarkable things in every part of the world in every time in history. Most of their accomplishments were not recorded in history books….
Handout 1: Sunni and Shia - Comparison Chart
From Building Bridges

Sunni Shia Adherents called Sunnis Shiites, Shi’i, or Shia Meaning of name “tradition” or “well-trodden path” “partisans of Ali” Current adherents 80-90% of 1.8 billion Muslims 10-20% of 1.8 billion Muslims Did Muhammad designate a successor?…
Handout 2: Position - Muslim Women Are Equal
From Building Bridges

Muslim women are equal to men and equally valued. The Holy Qur’an states that women and men were created from a single soul and are moral equals in the eyes of God. Qur’an 4:1: “O mankind!…
Handout 3: Position - Muslim Women Are Not Equal
From Building Bridges

Muslim women are not considered equal to men or valued equally with men in Islamic society. The Holy Qur’an states clearly that women are to be subordinate to men. Qur’an 4.34: “Men stand superior to women in that God hath preferred some of them over others, and in that they expend of their…
Handout 4: Excerpts from the Holy Quran
From Building Bridges

From the Qur’an, Rodwell edition (1876) and Palmer edition (1880).Excerpt from Sura II, The Cow He said, “O Adam, inform them (the angels) of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did I not say to you that I know the hidden things of the Heavens and of the Earth, a…
Handout 5: Sikh Pop Quiz
From Building Bridges

From the Sikh Coalition, 40 Exchange Place, Suite 728, NY, NY 10004, 1-212-655-3095 and the website Khalsa Kids.1. If you meet a Sikh, an appropriate way to greet them is: a. “Salaam Alaikum” b. “Namaste” c. “Sat Sri Akal” d. “Bonjour” 2. Ninety-nine percent of the persons who wear turbans in the…
Handout 6: The Turban and Five Ks of Sikhism
From Building Bridges

The Five Ks (in Punjabi “Panj Kakkar”) are symbols of faith worn by baptized Sikh men and women. The name, Panj Kakkar or Five Ks, comes from all five items beginning with the letter “K.” It is considered an honor to wear the Five Ks and (for men) turban which publicly identify the wearer as Sikh.
Leader Resource 1: Judaism-Christianity-Islam
From Building Bridges

Cut along the lines to create slips. Participants attach the slips to the prepared poster board with masking tape. Judaism Christianity Islam monotheism monotheism; some Trinitarian monotheism angels, demons, the Devil angels, demons, the Devil angels, demons, the Devil false prophet Son of God,…
Leader Resource 2: Answers to Judaism-Christianity-Islam Game
From Building Bridges

This chart shows the beliefs held by mainstream adherents of each of the Abrahamic religions. There are many variations in beliefs, in each of these faiths….
Leader Resource 3: Islam 2 Background
From Building Bridges

In the previous workshop, we discussed a number of aspects of Islam. One important thing we did not look at was its two main branches. In our study of Christianity, we have learned [or, will learn] about a major split that happened about 1,500 years after Christianity began, when Martin Luther…
Leader Resource 4: Map of Middle East - Predominately Muslim Countries and Israel
From Building Bridges

From the website Women in Islam; fair use as permitted by website owner. Printing This Leader Resource Download a high-resolution copy (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More about Workshop 14
From Building Bridges

The quote from this workshop comes from Saimah Ashraf….