Good Muslim, Good Citizen
Key Stage 2 Suggested Duration: 60 minutes
Learning Objectives
- To bring together the learning from previous lessons
- To understand that to be a good Muslim is to be a good citizen
Key Words
- Morals, role model, good Muslim, good citizen
Islamic Values
Islam teaches us that to be a good Muslim is to be a good citizen.
Citizenship Values
Citizenship teaches us that all good citizens are helpful to the communities in which they live.
Activities
Ask some quick questions to recap the last lesson.
Share the lesson objectives.
Inform pupils that this is the last lesson of the ICE project.
A Starter Activity
Ask pupils to name five lessons they have covered in the ICE project, and to say which lessons they enjoyed the most.
Take feedback and ask:
- What have you learnt?
- How has this impacted on your daily life?
- What do you do differently now?
- Were any of the lessons linked with your mainstream school learning?
B Development
Activity 1: Qualities
Ask pupils to think about the lessons they have attended and to write down five qualities of a good Muslim and five qualities of a good citizen.
Help the class by reminding them what lessons they have covered.
Take feedback and stress that there are many similarities between being a good citizen and being a good Muslim. Ask pupils: Can you be a good Muslim without being a good citizen?
Activity 2: Islamic Guidance
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءِ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ
‘O believers! Stand firmly for justice, giving witness for God, even if it is against yourselves, or parents or relatives...' (Surat al-Nisa' 4:135)
Questions: What does it mean 'to give witness against yourselves?' Would you find that easy? Why does God want us to do this?
Suggested answer: Explain that here the Quran is emphasising that we have to be fair at all times, no matter how difficult this may be. Going against one's self interests, parents and relatives is extremely difficult, yet the Quran demands that fairness is above all. This ensures that everyone's rights are protected, especially weak and vulnerable people. As a result of this fair treatment of all, people will live and work together in peace and harmony.
'None of you is a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.' (Bukhari, Muslim)
‘Do not consider how much a person prays and fasts, how many times one goes to pilgrimage, how many good deeds one has performed and how much one engages in supplications at night. But consider one's honesty and trustworthiness.' (Mishkat al-Anwar)
Prophet Muhammad said 'Indeed I have been sent to complete the best of characters.' (Bukhari)
'The best of people are those that benefit others.' (Tabarani)
Questions: Can you give any examples of how you have benefited others? What is a perfect believer?
Stress that by acting on these Islamic values we will become good Muslims and to be a good Muslim is to be a good citizen.
Activity 3: Prophet Muhammad as the Perfect Role Model
Ask pupils:
- Who do you look up to and why?
- If you wanted to model your behaviour on someone, who would it be?
- Who is your Muslim role model in the modern world?
Take quick feedback.
Generally, role models are people who you admire for various reasons and you may wish to model your behaviour on their character.
Stress that we have a perfect role model for the whole world and that is Prophet Muhammad . By following His teachings and lifestyle, we can become good Muslims. As the Qur`an tells us:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
'Certainly in the Messenger of God there is a beautiful example for you.' (Surat al-Ahzab 33:21)
Here Muslims are encouraged to follow the character of Prophet Muhammad.
C Plenary
Recap the lesson by:
- stressing that there are many similarities between being a good Muslim and being a good citizen
- explaining that Prophet Muhammad emphasised the importance of good character (akhlaq).
Take feedback.
If you have questions or concerns which you cannot answer, then please contact the ICE team via our website.
Suggested Follow-up Work
Ask pupils to talk to their brothers, sisters, parents, friends and other adults in the family about what they have learnt in the ICE project. Ask them who their role model is and why Prophet Muhammad is the best role model for the whole world.
Good Muslim, Good Citizen Table
Using all the previous lessons, identify the qualities of a good citizen and then find the Islamic description that matches.
| A Good Muslim | A Good Citizen | | -------------------- | ---------------------- | | Respects everyone | Respects everyone | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |