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Guidelines for Teachers

Introduction

These two modules intend to show that Islam – its holy scriptures, its dogma, its rituals, its laws - was formed during a multi-century process that started with the prophetic mission claimed by Muhammad in the early 7th century. These modules emphasize the diversity of Islam: one same unitary credo shared by one of the first religions in the world, but a wide diversity in beliefs and social practices. The description and knowledge of Islam mentioned here is the antithesis of the static, monolithic and timeless Islam that is too often present in the stereotypes or the imagination of believers. In order to adapt to teaching requests, we offer study materials for various difficulty levels. We also give much space to sources on contemporary Islam that are often less known.
The first module presents the history of Islam, with a selection of subjects on main periods from the 7th century to the present. The study themes focus on the expansion of Islam, the “founding” Holy Scriptures, the laws and the main trends of Islam. While “classic” Islam, the one of the Golden Age, is usually well known, it is important to show that the “awakening of Islam” began with Muslim reformism and its main trends during the second half of the 19th century

Conceptual (Knowledge) objectives

  • C.O.1: Know the major events in the history of Islam
  • C.O.2: Understand the historical development of Islam
  • C.O.3: Know the various branches of Islam

Skills

  • S.1: Be able to distinguish between history of religion and sacred history
  • S.2: Be able to analyze Muslim beliefs and practice
  • S.3: Be able to distinguish between Quran and sunnah

Summary of arguments, linked to student view sections

  • Early Islam
    Location map of pre-Islamic Arabia circa 600 [map] sec. 1
    The first revelation of the prophetic mission [text] sec. 1
    Muhammad's entry into Mecca and the destruction of idols (in 630) [pictures] sec. 1
    Map of the Arab conquests under the first four caliphs (632-661) [map] sec. 2
    The Battle of al-Qādisīyyah (636) in the Persian epic tradition [text] sec. 2
    Map of territories under Arab domination circa 750 [map] sec. 2

    Islamic expansion
    Map of the Arab conquests under the first four caliphs (632-661) [map] sec. 2
    The Battle of al-Qādisīyyah (636) in the Persian epic tradition [text] sec. 2
    Iraqi banknote of 25 dinars [picture] sec. 2
    Map of territories under Arab domination circa 750 [map] sec. 2
    Comments of bishop Athanasius of Qūs [text] sec. 3
    A Coptic Church in Old Cairo [picture] sec. 3
    A contemporary reading of the Quran [text] sec. 4
    The mission of the "Supreme Guide" (faqīh) according to Ayatollah Khomeini [text]

    Medieval Islam
    The place of the Shahāda in faith according to Sharastānī [text] sec. 6
    Analogical reasoning in Qiyâs [text] sec. 7

    Modern Islam
    Extracts from the Constitution of Morocco, 2011 [text] sec. 3
    A contemporary reading of the Quran [text] sec. 4
    Ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia, according to Sara el Haydar [text] sec. 7
    Fatwā against terrorism issued in London on 2 March 2010 [text] sec. 7
    Answer to Renan (1883) [text] sec. 8
    Rejection of the taqlīd and defense of the 'ijtihād, by Muhammad Rashīd Ridā [text] sec. 8
    Islam and the Foundations of Governance, by 'Alī Abd al-Rāziq [text] sec. 8
    Excepts from the Letter to the Young by Hassan al_Banna’ (1939) [text] sec. 9
    Excerpts from the “Principles of the Indonesian Forum of Liberal Islam” [text] sec. 9
    Intellectual deficiency and new ideologies in contemporary Islam [text] sec. 9
    Size of major religious groups (2010) [diagram] sec. 10
    Regional distribution of Muslims (2010) [map] sec. 10
    The Swiss vote or the “fear of Islam” [text] sec. 10
    The “Muslim friendly” in Japan [video] sec. 10
    Japan and Muslim tourists [text] sec. 10

    Islam and modernity
    Answer to Renan (1883) [text] sec. 8
    Rejection of the taqlīd and defense of the 'ijtihād, by Muhammad Rashīd Ridā [text] sec. 8
    Islam and the Foundations of Governance, by 'Alī Abd al-Rāziq [text] sec. 8
    Excepts from the Letter to the Young by Hassan al_Banna’ (1939) [text] sec. 9
    Excerpts from the “Principles of the Indonesian Forum of Liberal Islam” [text] sec. 9
    Intellectual deficiency and new ideologies in contemporary Islam [text] sec. 9

    Islam and other religions
    Muhammad's entry into Mecca and the destruction of idols (in 630) [pictures] sec. 1
    The Quran and the “polytheists” [text] sec. 2
    The "sacrifice" of the Son of Abraham [text] sec. 4
    Size of major religious groups (2010) [diagram] sec. 10

    Islam and non-Muslim countries
    The Swiss vote or the “fear of Islam” [text] sec. 10
    The “Muslim friendly” in Japan [video] sec. 10
    Japan and Muslim tourists [text] sec. 10

    Quran
    The Quran and the “polytheists” [text] sec. 2
    The Fātiha [text] sec. 4

    Hadith
    A hadīth about fasting on the month of Ramadān [text] sec. 4

    Islamic belief
    The Fātiha [text] sec. 4
    A popular image of the Imāms of Twelver Shi'a [image] sec. 5
    The Shahāda [text] sec. 6

    Islamic rites
    A hadīth about fasting on the month of Ramadān [text] sec. 4
    Procession of the 'Āshūrā' in Pakistan [picture] sec. 5

  • Islamic diversity
    Sunnis and Shi'a worldwide [map] sec. 5
    Location map of major law schools [map] sec. 7

    Shia
    Sunnis and Shi'a worldwide [map] sec. 5
    Procession of the 'Āshūrā' in Pakistan [picture] sec. 5
    A popular image of the Imāms of Twelver Shi'a [image] sec. 5
    The mission of the "Supreme Guide" (faqīh) according to Ayatollah Khomeini [text] sec. 5

    Muslim writer
    The first revelation of the prophetic mission [text] sec. 1
    The Battle of al-Qādisīyyah (636) in the Persian epic tradition [text] sec. 2
    The "sacrifice" of the Son of Abraham [text] sec. 4
    A contemporary reading of the Quran [text] sec. 4
    Analogical reasoning in Qiyâs [text] sec. 7
    Ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia, according to Sara el Haydar [text] sec. 7
    Answer to Renan (1883) [text] sec. 8
    Rejection of the taqlīd and defense of the 'ijtihād, by Muhammad Rashīd Ridā [text] sec. 8
    Islam and the Foundations of Governance, by 'Alī Abd al-Rāziq [text] sec. 8
    Excepts from the Letter to the Young by Hassan al_Banna’ (1939) [text] sec. 9
    Excerpts from the “Principles of the Indonesian Forum of Liberal Islam” [text] sec. 9
    Intellectual deficiency and new ideologies in contemporary Islam [text] sec. 9

    Islamic law
    Location map of major law schools [map] sec. 7
    Analogical reasoning in Qiyâs [text] sec. 7
    Ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia, according to Sara el Haydar [text] sec. 7

    Christian writer
    Comments of bishop Athanasius of Qūs [text] sec. 3

    History
    The first revelation of the prophetic mission [text] sec. 1

    Map
    Location map of pre-Islamic Arabia circa 600 [map] sec. 1
    Map of the Arab conquests under the first four caliphs (632-661) [map] sec. 2
    Map of territories under Arab domination circa 750 [map] sec. 2
    Sunnis and Shi'a worldwide [map] sec. 5
    Location map of major law schools [map] sec. 7
    Regional distribution of Muslims (2010) [map] sec. 10

    Image
    Muhammad's entry into Mecca and the destruction of idols (in 630) [pictures] sec. 1
    Iraqi banknote of 25 dinars [picture] sec. 2
    A Coptic Church in Old Cairo [picture] sec. 3
    A popular image of the Imāms of Twelver Shi'a [image] sec. 5

    Official document
    Extracts from the Constitution of Morocco, 2011 [text] sec. 3
    Fatwā against terrorism issued in London on 2 March 2010 [text] sec. 7

    Propaganda
    Iraqi banknote of 25 dinars [picture] sec. 2

    Inscription
    The place of the Shahāda in faith according to Sharastānī [text] sec. 6

    Tale
    The "sacrifice" of the Son of Abraham [text] sec. 4

    Islamic literature
    The Battle of al-Qādisīyyah (636) in the Persian epic tradition [text] sec. 2

    Newspaper article
    The Swiss vote or the “fear of Islam” [text] sec. 10
    Japan and Muslim tourists [text] sec. 10

    Academic paper
    The mission of the "Supreme Guide" (faqīh) according to Ayatollah Khomeini [text]

    Graph
    Size of major religious groups (2010) [diagram] sec. 10

    Video
    The “Muslim friendly” in Japan [video] sec. 10