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Questions
for Reflection
Islam
Religion: Islam
Purpose: to
encourage students to think more deeply and creatively regarding issues
related to the religion in question and to think about how these issues
relate to the real world and even to the student's own life. Cognitive
Skills: application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
Learning Styles: active
(if discussed with classmates), reflective, sensing, intuitive, global
Intelligences: intrapersonal,
interpersonal (when discussed with others),
logical-mathematical Use: in
classroom, at home, on-line discussion board For:
individual, pairs, small groups Estimated
time: 2 - 5 minutes (or more when done as journaling at home) Materials
needed: none (other than pen and paper) The
Activity: several options for use
In the
classroom: These questions may be presented in class for students
to think-write-pair-share At home: Questions
may also be suggested to students for personal reflection and written
response as a journaling exercise (which may be a graded assignment) On line: Questions
such as these would make for ideal on-line discussions for distance
learning classes
The Questions:
These are just some suggestions. Teachers may feel free to modify these or
use additional questions they may think of themselves
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The Five Pillars of Faith
For a Muslim living in a non Muslim country (e.g., Germany, England, the United States), how feasible would it be to practice the five Pillars of Faith? Which of the Five Pillars do you think would be easiest and which do you think would be most challenging? Consider certain work, school or social situations that might hamper the practice of these essential basics of the Muslim religion. How do you think a Muslim might overcome these challenges?
Web resources on the "five pillars":
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The year 1 AH
The Islamic calendar marks the year 622 CE as the year 1 after Hijra (the migration of Muhammad and his early followers from Mecca to Medina). Speculate on why this year would be chosen to mark the beginning of the Islamic era? Why not the birth or death of Muhammad? Or the year of the first revelation of Koran? Or Muhammad's successful return to Mecca in 630 CE (the first Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca)? Why choose the migration event as the most significant? What do you think this says about Islam?
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Islam in the News
Islam receives much coverage in western news media. But the image of Islam that we are presented with is often biased and
inflammatory, giving us a negative and far from complete image and understanding of this religion. What would you suggest the western news media do to correct this fault?
(see also classroom activity on this issue)
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The Appeal of Islam
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world today, even in the U.S.A. Why do you think this is so? Which characteristics of Islam do you think contribute most significantly to its rapid spread? What are the traits of Islam that might be attractive to converts?
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Islamic Law and Society
Does the good of the many outweigh the good of the one?
Islamic law is more focused on society than the individual. "When push comes to shove, the rights of society outweigh the rights of the individual" was a point I heard made by a Muslim woman in a documentary. Here in America, of course, we value individual rights and freedom over all else. What do you think of the focus on society in Islamic law and cultures? What might be the value in this? Is this something we can, perhaps, learn a lesson from for our own culture? How can the rights and responsibilities of both society and individual be served?
How can a balance be achieved between extreme individualism (self-centeredness?) and a total control over the lives of individuals within a society?
Alternative
possibilities: Reflective questions can be a developed for any course.
The main point is to design questions that elicit creative, original
thinking and encourage students to relate what they are learning to the
real world and to their own life - to see and make connections.
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