5 Active Citizenship
Suggested Duration: 60 minutes
Learning Objectives
- To discuss and understand 'active citizenship'
- To demonstrate that active citizenship is part of the Islamic tradition
- To explore the relationship between British Muslims and the global Muslim community – the ummah
Key Words
- Active citizenship, complacency, voluntary work, ummah
Islamic Values
Islam promotes unity among all communities, and encourages Muslims to be proactive and engage with their society for the common good of all humanity.
Citizenship Values
Citizenship encourages everyone to be proactive within their schools and local communities. It also encourages proactive involvement in local, national and international issues in order to address the problems of our time.
Resources
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0501: Lesson Objectives Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0502: Agree or Disagree Statements
Activities
Ask some quick questions based on your last lesson. Share the lesson objectives.
A Starter Activity
Give pupils some examples of major natural disasters – for example, earthquakes in Pakistan, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Iran, hurricanes in America and flooding in Bangladesh. Ask pupils whether they took any action (raising funds, sending clothes, and so on) as a result of these. Why were they so concerned? Take feedback.
Ask pupils which of the following statements they agree with and why. I was concerned because:
- As a Muslim I must help people anywhere in the world.
- I should always help all people, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, when there are natural disasters anywhere in the world.
- I believe I belong to a global Muslim community known as the ummah.
Take feedback and explain that the term 'active' comes from the word 'action' and the verb is 'to take action' about something.
Muslims are taught to be proactive, working for the good of their families and the wider community. They are encouraged to create the right conditions for justice, and to help the economy flourish. The opposite of this would be idleness and being complacent about the affairs of the community.
B Development
Activity 1: Group Exercise
Ask pupils to work in pairs/groups and list the things that they are doing or have done to improve the society or community in which they live. They may list things in the home, school, madrasah, local community, nationally and the wider world.
Ask: How many of these activities have you been asked to do, and how many have you decided to do yourself?
Take feedback and list the answers.
Emphasise that when you decide to do something by yourself and you take steps to do it, that is being proactive.
The opposite of this is somebody who does nothing and ignores what is going on. This is being complacent.
Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ rejected complacency when he said: 'When anyone of you sees anything wrong going on, then one should try to change it with one's hands. If one is unable to do that, then one should speak out against it and if one is unable to do that, then one must dislike it in one's heart.' (Muslim)
Explain that, although we should challenge wrong things, we should not break the law and should bear in mind our own safety and that of others.
Activity 2: Taking Action
Ask: If you found rubbish being dumped at the corner of your street, what action would you take? What would happen if you did nothing?
Ask pupils to work in pairs/groups and complete Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0503.
Take feedback.
Explain that when individuals or groups decide to take action about something that is concerning them in their community, or nationally, or anywhere on the globe, this is called active citizenship.
Resources
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0503: What Actions Would you Take?
Activity 3: Islamic Guidance
Ask a pupil to recite the following verses. Explain the meaning.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبَرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
...And help each other in good and righteousness, and do not help each other in sin and aggression...' (Surat al-Ma'idah 5:2)
Question: What does the Qur`an mean by this?
Suggested answer: The Qur`an guides us to help each other in good deeds.
Emphasise that the Quran encourages us to help and support each other in good deeds. This is known as taawun.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
'...Indeed, God does not change the condition of people until they change their inner selves...' (Surat al-Ra`ad 13:11)
'When you see anything wrong going on, then stop it with your hands if you can, otherwise speak out against it and if you cannot do that, then dislike it in your heart.' (Muslim)
'Be mindful of your duty to God with respect to His people as well as His places, for indeed you will be answerable even for the places and the animals. Obey God and do not disobey Him.' (Nahj al-Balaghah)
'The creation is God's family and the most beloved of the creation to God are those who are best to His family.' (Bayhaqi)
Ask pupils whether Muslims should only help other Muslims.
Take feedback and explain that Muslims believe that:
- God is the Lord of all mankind
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a mercy for all mankind
- the Qur'an is a guidance for all mankind.
As such, we have to love and take care of all people, whether they are Muslims or not.
Resources
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0504: Islamic Guidance
C Plenary
Tell pupils that today we have learnt that:
- Islam encourages us to be active citizens and to care for society
- the teachings of Islam are similar to citizenship values
- to be an active citizen means to be a good Muslim.
Invite pupils to fill in Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0505.
Suggested Follow-up Work
Give instructions for follow-up work:
Explore what kinds of voluntary work your madrasah is undertaking and reflect on (think about) how you can become involved.
Talk to the madrasah or mosque committee and find out if you can:
- organise an open day for your Muslim and non-Muslim neighbours
- set up a calligraphy and Islamic art club for all
- set up a team to clean your neighbourhood
- set up a madrasah pupil council (shura).
Use Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0506 to report your answers.
Resources
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0505: Feedback Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0506: Follow-up Worksheet
5 Active Citizenship
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0501
Lesson Objectives
- To discuss and understand 'active citizenship'
- To demonstrate that active citizenship is part of the Islamic tradition
- To explore the relationship between British Muslims and the global Muslim community – the ummah
5 Active Citizenship
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0502
Agree or Disagree Statements
| Statement | Agree/Disagree | Why? | | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------- | :--- | | As a Muslim I must help people anywhere in the world. | | | | I should always help all people, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, when there are natural disasters anywhere in the world. | | | | I believe I belong to a global Muslim community known as the ummah. | | |
5 Active Citizenship
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0503
What Actions Would You Take?
Some people have been dumping rubbish at the corner of your street.
1 What action would you take?
2 What would happen if you did nothing?
5 Active Citizenship
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0504
Islamic Guidance
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبَرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
...And help each other in good and righteousness, and do not help each other in sin and aggression...' (Surat al-Ma'idah 5:2)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
'...Indeed, God does not change the condition of people until they change their inner selves...' (Surat al-Ra`ad 13:11)
'When you see anything wrong going on, then stop it with your hands if you can, otherwise speak out against it and if you cannot do that, then dislike it in your heart.' (Muslim)
'Be mindful of your duty to God with respect to His people as well as His places, for indeed you will be answerable even for the places and the animals. Obey God and do not disobey Him. (Nahj al-Balaghah)
'The creation is God's family and the most beloved of the creation to God are those who are best to His family. (Bayhaqi)
5 Active Citizenship
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0505
Feedback
Lesson Title: Active Citizenship
Name:
Madrasah/Organisation:
Today I have learnt about:
As a result of this lesson I have learnt that a good Muslim should:
I am going to follow up this topic in my home/school/community by:
5 Active Citizenship
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.0506
Follow-up Worksheet
Lesson Title: Active Citizenship
Name:
Madrasah/Organisation:
Tasks:
Explore what kinds of voluntary work your madrasah is undertaking and reflect on (think about) how you can become involved.
Talk to the madrasah or mosque committee and find out if you can:
- organise an open day for your Muslim and non-Muslim neighbours
- set up a calligraphy and Islamic art club for all
- set up a team to clean your neighbourhood
- set up a madrasah pupil council (shura).
Write your answer here.