In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

Weekly Classroom Themes – Elementary

The following series is designed for teachers to create a weekly theme in the classroom that will build Islamic worldviews and ethics. This is not a lesson substitute, rather it is a theme that the class adopts for a week. A teacher might introduce the topic on the first day of the week during a five-minute opening discussion. Then, throughout the week the students and teacher can refer back to the theme of the week with regards to other materials / lessons / units being studied. Since each class will have unique materials being taught, what follows is merely an outline with some suggestions for classroom discussions.

The teacher may decide to post a focal Prophetic narration, or even just have the theme of the week (for example: Generosity) on the board throughout the week. This exercise is aimed to get students thinking within an Islamic worldview and from Muslim ethics during all classes, not just the Islamic studies class. A teacher may decide to tie in the example (for example: generosity) into social studies, mathematics word problems, writing assignments and so forth. Having gone through many of the following weekly themes, inshaAllah, students will have been exposed to and been thinking about a variety of concepts targeted to their level.

Only three series were created: Elementary, Middle and Secondary. The topics were categorized in such a manner in order to target the level and abilities of the respective students, however some weekly topics introduced at the lower levels are again taught in higher levels. A 36-week schedule has been developed, based upon a typical school year.

Week Themes

Week Theme Week Theme1 Doing Good Deeds 19 Most beloved to Allah2 Mercy 20 Unity3 Prophet Muhammad 21 Etiquette of Eating4 al Qur’an 22 Honey5 Division 23 Kindness towards animals6 Journey to Allah 24 Anger management7 Priorities 25 Islam is environmentally

friendly8 Advice 26 Showing off9 Thankfulness 27 Friendship10 Your Mother 28 Truthfulness11 Excellence 29 Greeting12 Sincerity 30 Recounting favours13 Manners 31 Peace among people14 Moving forward 32 Our neighbours15 To Allah we will return 33 Shyness16 Compassion 34 Keeping promises17 Intentions 35 Right hand18 Patience 36 Criticizing food

Week 1

Doing Good Deeds In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “Make the orphan come close to you, and be nice to him, and wipe his head, and feed him from your food. That will cause your heart to be soft and your needs to be fulfilled” (recorded in al Tabarani).

May Allah may us among those who constantly do good.

Questions: What is du’a?

What are good deeds?

Should we do good deeds? Why?

What good deeds can we do everyday?

Week 2

Mercy In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Tufayl ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, Daws (a tribe) has disobeyed and refused [to enter Islam], so pray against them.” So the people thought that the Prophet would pray against them, but instead he said: “O Allah! Guide Daws and bring them [to Islam]”.” (recorded in al Bukhari).

May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil, our beloved Prophet, a mercy for mankind and the greatest of examples for us. Peace and blessings be upon him.

Questions: What is mercy?

What do you know about the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him?

Can you think of any other example where the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed mercy towards someone?

Week 3

Prophet Muhammad In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

Get to know the beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

Ali ibn abi Talib is also recorded to have described the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked by a group of Jewish people about his description, as: “He was the most merciful of people towards people, to the orphan he was like a compassionate father, and to widows he was generous and kind. He was the bravest of people and the most generous in giving, and he was the most handsome in appearance. His garment was a cloak, his food was barley bread, his condiment was milk, his pillow was leather stuffed with palm fibers, and his bed was made from a tree called umm gheelan, covered with woven material.”

May Allah bestow peace and blessings upon our beloved Prophet.

These narration is quoted by Dr. A. M. al Sallabi in his text Ali ibn abi Talib (2010), in Vol. 1 pages 125-126.

Questions: What else do you know about the Prophet?

Can you describe him?

What were his manners and character?

How can we be more like him?

Week 4

al Qur'an Leader of the Believers, Ali ibn abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) beautifully described the Qur'an when he said:

"In the Book of Allah, there are stories of those who came before you, foretelling what will happen after you and rulings on issues between you. It is serious and not in jest. Whoever among the tyrants neglects it, Allah will destroy him; whoever seeks guidance in anything else, Allah will send him astray. It is the strong rope, the wise reminder, the Straight Path. It is the Book that whims and desires cannot distort and tongues cannot mispronounce. Its wonders

never end, and the scholars never tire of it. Whoever quotes it speaks the truth, whoever acts upon it will be rewarded, whoever judges according to it will be just, and whoever calls people to it will be guided to a Straight Path."

(recorded by ibn Kathir in Fafa'il al Qur'an)

Questions:

Why is it important to learn Qur’an?

What are some stories found in the Qur’an?

What are some ways we can make sure that we learn something from the qur’an every day?

Week 5

Division In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

Dr. Muhammad Ali al Hashimi is his book, the Ideal Muslim Society, writes:

Etiquette of Difference in the Muslim Society:

There may be different opinions in the Muslim society, but these can be expressed in an atmosphere of unity, brotherhood and love, not in an atmosphere of division, conflict and hatred. Differences of opinions need not spoil a friendship. Differences in ijtihad and differences of opinions within the framework of the basic principles and definitive texts is something that is prescribed in Islam and is permissible. All of that happened at the time of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them all) and those who followed them in truth, and it did not lead to division, hatred or rancor.

Questions:

How does having different opinions on certain issues benefit society?

Can two people with different opinions both sometimes be right?

How should you act when you listen to someone with a different opinion from yourself?

Week 6

Journey to Allah

In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

A reminder to always seek the forgiveness of Allah, for it will only be by His mercy that we achieve our goal.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Your actions alone will not save any of you." They asked, "O' Messenger of Allah, not even you?" He replied: "No even me, unless Allah were to envelop me in His mercy. Be firm, steadfast and balanced; And, journey [to Allah] in the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and a portion of the latter part of the night. Moderation, moderation! Through this you will attain your goal." (Bukhari)

Questions:

When should we seek the forgiveness of Allah?

Why is it important to rely on the mercy of Allah?

What is meant by ‘moderation’ in the paragraph above?

Week 7

Priorities Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and made a pledge to him that he would do hijra (migration). He had left his parents weeping." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go back to them and make them laugh as you made them weep."

In this Prophetic narration, recorded by Imam Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (narration 13), we see that one must know that Islam has priorities. One must have knowledge about that which is more important and that which is less important. This information is vital for the Muslim and vastly important for anyone who engages in teaching or calling to Islam.

Questions:

What are some of your top priorities?

Why is it important to prioritize?

How does having knowledge about that which is more important and that which is less important beneficial to us in our lives?

Week 8

Advice In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

A piece of advice from the Companion, abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him):

A youth once came up to Abu Darda' and said: "Give me advice, O companion of the Messenger of God," and Abu Darda' said to him: "My son, remember Allah in good times and He will remember you in times of misfortune. My son, be knowledgeable, seek knowledge, be a good listener and do not be ignorant for you will be ruined. My son, let the masjid be your house for indeed I heard the Messenger of God say: 'The masjid is the house of every God-conscious person and God Almighty has guaranteed serenity, comfort, mercy and staying on the path leading to His pleasure, to those for whom masjids are their houses.'"

Questions:

Who was abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him)?

What can be learnt from the narration mentioned above?

What other good advice would you give to the youth?

Why should Muslims go to the masjid often?

Week 9

Thankfulness In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

How many times in a day do we neglect to thank Allah for the immense blessings bestowed upon us: those of our bodily functions, our ability to think and reason, the provisions and so much more. One might ask, what benefit thankfulness, as a characteristic and act of worship, benefits the believer? Allah says:

"That is because Allâh will never change the grace which He hath bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls" (8:53)

Thus our hearts and minds must turn towards Allah; we must recognize the blessings we have been bestowed with and likewise recognize that the trials and tribulations we are faced with could quite well be due to our lack of thankfulness and disobedience to Him who created us. Our thankfulness must

first begin with reflection and recognition; a realization of blessings and that one ought to be thankful. About these blessings Allah says:

"And if you were to count the blessings of Allâh, you will never be able to count them." (14:34)

About the mindset and the mentality of the believer we have a Prophetic narration from Suhaib ibn Sinan, recorded in Fiqh al-Sunnah (vol. .4), which states that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except for the believer. When the believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allâh, and gets a reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is (also) rewarded."

Questions:

How should a believer behave when something good happens to him/her?

How should a believer behave when some misfortune befalls him/her?

Is it possible for us to ever count the blessings of Allah?

Why should we always be thankful to Allah?

How can we show some of our gratefulness to Allah?

Week 10

Your Mother Mu'awiya ibn Haida said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah, towards whom should I be dutiful?" He said: "Your mother." I asked, "Then towards whom?" He replied: "Your mother." Again, I asked: "Then towards whom?" He answered: "Your mother." I said, "Then towards whom should I be dutiful?" He said: "Your father, and the next nearest relative and then the next nearest." (Reported by Imam Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, narration number 3).

Allah calls Muslims to be good to parents time and time again in the Qur'an, and often He, All-Knowing, places the goodness to parents alongside worshiping Allah alone. Such as His saying:

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word." (17:23)

In the above Prophetic narration we are reminded of the importance of goodness to parents, and in particular to the goodness that is owed to our

mother. And, this should be reason for Muslims to reflect, for when something is given additional importance and/or highlighted in a unique way there may be immense benefits to be gained. We know that our parents raised us, and by Allah's Mercy, brought us into this life. We also know that our parents are among the most vital people in our entire lives and that they have the greatest rights upon us, as their children. 

However, in this case our attention is drawn to the mother - and there are other Prophetic narrations that do this as well. Let us reflect about the mother and her unique contribution to us. In Arabic the word for "womb" is rahm, which has the same root as rahma (mercy). Furthermore, our teachers and scholars have noted that we are enjoined three times to be dutiful to our mother and that Allah describes three stages whereby the mother raised the child in a unique way: in pregnancy, in birthing, and in feeding. Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) explained to us that the mother has been emphasized because she is more behind doors than the father - as a result of which her rights are less protected that the father, whereas the community is guiding and watching the child outside the home with the father. Thus, says ibn Hajar, that the mother has been additionally protected and we as Muslims have been guided by this emphasis to pay attention in giving her goodness and being dutiful towards her. 

Give thanks to your parents inwardly as well as outwardly, and one way this can be done is to make du'a for parents after every salaah. To reflect upon what they have done, sacrificed and achieved and ask Allah to reward them, forgive them, and give them Paradise. 

Questions:

Why should we treat our parents well?

What are some things we can do to treat our parents well?

Of all the people in your family, who should you treat the best and with most kindness?

List some important things that your parents have done for you.

Week 11

Excellence

A thought for the day:

Let us strive whole-heartedly to do every task, every deed, in fact every movement and thought with excellence. To be the best in our line of work, to be the best spouse and parent, the best sibling and child, the most trust-worthy worker and most honorable employer.

"Verily, Allah prescribed excellence in all things" (Muslim)

This methodology and conduct will inshaAllah be dawah, it will by Allah's Mercy be rewarded as good deeds and will build and strengthen our Ummah.

Questions:

How is doing things with excellence a form of dawah?

Think of something you need to improve or would like to be better at. How can you improve and excel at it?

How can you excel at being a good child to your parents? What should you do and how should you treat them?

Week 12

Sincerity "And the agony of death cometh in truth." (50:19)

I advise myself that we do deeds in remembrance of Allah and sincerely for His sake. Verily, there is Truth in death. Allah says,

“O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful”. (22:77).

One condition for such deeds to be accepted is to be sincere in the act. It is sincerity that purifies a deed, increases it and makes it blessed. It is in fact, a trial that Allah test His servants with. He said:

“(It is He) who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty The Off-Forgiving.” (67:2)

Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say: “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for”. (Al-Bukhaaree & Muslim).

Doing deeds sincerely for Allah's sake means purifying them, freeing them of other worldly intentions and considerations. Our deeds may outwardly look similar, however the reward may be different according to the intention and sincerity of it. The one who is sincere in his actions will be among the nearest ones to the pleasure of Allah and the insincere one will be among the accursed and punished ones.

“So worship Allah (alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only. Surely, the religion is for Allah only.” (39:2-3)

Questions:

What is sincerity and why is it so important?

What are some ways that we can purify our intentions and make sure that we do good deeds for the right reasons?

Name some good intentions for doing good deeds.

What are some bad intentions for doing good deeds?

Week 13

Manners When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about what most frequently makes people enter Paradise, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Fear of Allah and good manners." (reported in Tirmidhi)

"And the servants of the Beneficent Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace." (25:63)

"Manners are fundamental to Islam and to the life of a Muslim. In fact, from the very early days of Prophethood, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stressed the importance of

good manners, even while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was busy teaching his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) about the importance of correct beliefs. Furthermore, the manifestations of good manners are not limited to a particular aspect of life, but rather are spread over to ever aspect, every facet, and every part of a person's life... when one does not see in himself outward manifestations of Islamic deeds and manners, or when one sees the opposite one certainly needs to ask the question: Where is the Emaan I claim to have? And if I do have Emaan, what benefit is it to me if it is not outwardly translated through good manners and deeds?" (The Noble Life of the Prophet, p. 302)

"Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful." (16:90)

Questions:

What are some good manners?

Name some bad manners.

What are some characteristics of someone who is humble?

True or False. Good manners should be applied in every aspect of our lives.

Week 14

Moving Forward ... ``What did the the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) do that we need to repeat? The answer to this question would require a long list of details, but let us consider a few examples. First, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) followed an ideal methodology for educating his companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) and for establishing the foundations of a stable country. He (peace and blessings be upon him) did not call for an instant revolution, but instead strove for gradual change. He (peace and blessings be upon him) began with what is most important: instilling correct beliefs into the hearts of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). That a movement, if it is to achieve success and stability, needs to advance forward with studied gradual steps; that, before achieving stability, the members of a given movement need to first patiently endure hardships; that, first and foremost, correct beliefs must be cemented into the hearts of Muslims."

(taken from the Biography of the Prophet by Dr. 'Ali Muhammad asSallaabee, p.19).

Questions:

What are some things that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did that we need to repeat?

What is more important: instilling correct beliefs in the hearts of your family and friends or always making sure that people are eating with their right hand?

True or False. Hardships need to be endured patiently.

Week 15

... to Allah we will return And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return." They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e., who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones. [2:157]

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) says, "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity comes to him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him." [Muslim]

Questions:

What should a patient person say when afflicted with a calamity?

What should a believer do if prosperity comes to him/her?

What should a believer do if adversity befalls him/her?

Week 16

Compassion A reminder to have compassion: to be compassionate in our interactions with one another; to feel the pain of those who lack food and such basics. Compassion is an aspect of the Muslim character that is of the best of deeds and the best of dawah.

“He is not a believer who goes to sleep with a full stomach while knowing that his next door neighbour is hungry.” (Tabarani and Bazzar).

“Allah will show mercy to those who show mercy (to others). Show mercy to those who are in

the earth, He Who is in the Heaven will show mercy to you.” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

“He who does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him.” (Al-Bukhârî and Muslim)

And, Allah says:

“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise).” (Al-Ahzab 33:70-71)

“The inhabitants of Paradise are three: One who wields authority and is just and fair, and the person who is merciful and kind-hearted towards the poor and towards his relatives, and one who does not stretch his hand in spite of having a large family to support.” (Muslim)

Questions:

In your own words, define compassion.

Describe a time where someone showed compassion towards you. How did it make you feel?

True or False. Allah will show mercy to those who show mercy (to others).

Week 17

Intentions Bismillah. Some of the deepest and most meaningful reminders are those ahadith which are common - one assumes they are so common because of their depth of meaning. However, let us not avoid reflecting upon these ahadith merely because they are often heard and repeated. InshaAllah I'll post from Nawawi's 40 Hadith in the coming months by way of a reminder on some important issues.

Hadith 1

"Deeds are only by intentions, and every man shall have only what he intended. So one whose hijrah was to Allah and His messenger - his hijrah was to Allah and His messenger. But one whose hijrah was to achieve a wordly aim or to a woman he would marry - then his hijrah was to that for which he emigrated." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) gave this as his first hadith in both Riyadh as-

Saliheen and 40 Hadith. It has been called the axis of Islam, or the hadith around which Islam revolves. We have to check, in looking at this hadith, all our deeds and what our intentions are - are our deeds purely for Allah?

Questions:

What is hijrah?

Why is having a good intention given so much importance in Islam?

What should be a Muslims intention for praying? For fasting?

Week 18

Patience Allah ta'ala explains in Surah Ar-Rum: Have patience and know that the promise of Allah is true.

Sometimes we may not taste the fruit of ibadah immediately, or we may feel frustrated with the apparent lack of change. It was explained to me on one occasication that a brother struggled with prayer in the night. A week passed, then a month, a year and still he would rise for prayer. Ten years of struggle and he found the love, sweetness and joy of night prayer. Have patience and know that the promise of Allah is true. Be not hasty in dealing with the One who Created all things and is not without knowledge of anything.

"Brothers in faith! You have responded to the call of your Lord by fasting so respond to His command in all other matters and at all times. Humble your hearts for the remembrance of Allaah and be united in adherence to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam so that the Muslim nation may be saved from calamities." (As-Sudais)

Perserve, my brothers and sisters in your du'a. Pray consistently for that which you love, struggle and have patience. Be sure, the promise of Allah is true. Continue in your good deeds. Support those suffering, those hungry and in distress. Be the one who gives in charity for the sake of Allah, knowing that everything belongs to Him and it is only His pleasure that we seek by our deeds and through that which He has entrusted us with.

Questions:

When should a Muslim be patient?

What does it mean to be patient?

How does a patient person act?

What does a patient person feel in his/her heart?

True or False. If something is difficult, we should just give up.

Week 19

Most Beloved to Allah Bismillah. What would make a person most beloved to Allah? InshaAllah this reminder today will bring us nearer to the love of Allah as we encourage one another to do good deeds and be a benefit to people. Let us inshaAllah not be a burden, let us be patient, let us be giving of time, wealth, energy and all that we can. It was Allah who created us, Allah who provides for us and to Allah we will return. Thus, let us be righteously walking on this earth being a benefit to others seeking the love of Allah.

"The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit to people, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever holds back his anger, Allah will cover his faults and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey." [at-Tabarani, Hasan]

Questions:

What are some ways or things we can do to benefit others every day?

True or False. The most belovedof people to Allah are those who bring most benefit to people.

Fill in the blank. “Bad _________ ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey.”

Week 20

Unity Bismillah,

We often hear that the Ummah needs unity. By the grace and mercy of Allah I will remind us of some suggestions on how each of us can build unity as well as some thoughts on the causes of disunity. To build unity, let us:

• Give encouragement and gifts to your brothers and sisters• Shop at Muslim stores (even if it costs more)• Give salaam to Muslims (especially those you don’t know)• Give sadaqa for the community (volunteer, donate, smile)

The Prophet (May peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A believer is like a brick for another believer, the one supporting the other." (Sahih Muslim)

As for disunity, the causes are many but I’d like to highlight two diseases of the heart that break down unity and divide the Ummah:

(1) Arrogance & Pride – If we take pride in ourselves and our position. It may be of a group, it may be of a mathab, it may be of a country, it may be of another affiliation. Regardless, this is a disease of the heart; if we believe that we are better than our brothers and sisters, this is arrogance and pride.(2) Judgment – If we judge our brothers and our sisters in Islam without thinking about the unique person and situation. For example, my understanding or my brother’s understanding may have been intermingled with cultural norms and values. Rather than sincerely advising and seeking sincere advice I might jump to judgement. This is a disease of the heart.

And, at the core of all causes of disunity is ignorance. Each of us can take a proactive role in building a stronger united Ummah by gaining knowledge of the diin.

May Allah protect us from these diseases; May our hearts be free of them.And, May Allah bless us with knowledge and guidance.

Questions:

What are some things we can do to build unity?

Why should we avoid judging others?

How do arrogance and pride work against uniting the Ummah?

What can we do to reduce ignorance?

Week 21

Etiquette of Eating All praise is due to Allah; the Creator and All-Knowing. May Allah bless and give peace to our beloved Prophet, the best of examples for humanity.

Eating and drinking are everyday actions (mubah) that have potential reward when they are

completed in the correct way and with the proper intention. Insha’Allah the following will be a reminder for us regarding some of the eating and drinking etiquette.

One ought to say the name of Allah before eating. It is best to eat those foods that have barakah in them (olives, honey, dates, milk, sheep).There is no problem in preferring certain foods (the Prophet preferred and disliked some foods, peace be upon him). If a food is disliked, verbal complaints are not to be mentioned and avoiding that food is fine. We ought not be excessive in eating and drinking and it is forbidden to waste foods (save remaining food).

It is encouraged to eat and drink with humility, such as not eating lying down. Despite common conception, eating on the ground is not a recommended sunna, rather eating on the ground is preferred if it is a sign of humility and if one wants to follow how the Prophet (peace be upon him) ate, however eating on the ground is not an action encouraged in the shari’ah specifically. If there are workers in the household they should eat with you, or in the least one should provide food for those workers. It is encouraged to also include your neighbours for meals.

It is not lawful to sit at a table where unlawful foods are present. It is better to eat in a group than alone. Allow the hot foods and drinks to cool on their own without blowing on them. Eat with the right hand and of those foods nearest to you. It is encouraged to sit while drinking. It is not permitted to take more than ones share in a gathering and burping is disliked. There is no harm to have conversation while eating. Conclude eating with praise of Allah.

Questions:

What should one say before eating?

Name some foods that have barakah in them.

True or False. We should not eat and drink excessively.

Name some unlawful foods to eat.

What should one say after eating?

Week 22

Honey (‘Asal)

Praise be to Allah.

Allah has said that there is healing for people from some diseases in honey. The Qur’an promotes honey as a healthy and nutritious food. An entire Surah in the Qur’an is called al-Nahl (the Honey Bee). “And your Lord inspired the bees, saying: "Take you

habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. (68) "Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)." There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think.” (al-Nahl 16:68-69).

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) strongly recommended honey for healing purposes. In his book “Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet” Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah mentions the benefits of honey. Ibn Jurayj said that Az-Zuhri said, “Eat honey because it is good for the memory.” The best type of honey is the white, pure, light and sweet honey. Also, the honey that is collected from trees and mountains is better than the honey that is grown in cells.

Questions:

What are some benefits of eating honey?

Write a short paragraph about how human beings benefit from the honey bee.

What are some other animals human beings benefit from?

What other foods are mentioned in the Qur’an?

Assignment:

Pick a food mentioned in the Qur’an and prepare a presentation for the class. Discuss the benefits of the food, where it’s found, what it looks like, why and how it’s good for us to eat it, nutritional information, interesting facts about the food, etc.

Week 23

Kindness towards animals

Muslims must treat animals with compassion and never abuse them. Animals praise Allah in their own way. “There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.” (Qur’an 6:38)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was kind towards cats and other animals. Islam teaches Muslims to treat animals well. We should give them enough food and drink and always make sure that they have enough space to roam around. We must never over-work them or treat them unkindly. There was a woman who kept a cat locked up and failed to feed the cat

until the cat died. The woman was then punished for mistreating the cat. Mistreating a cat is forbidden in Islam.

Questions:

What are some ways that we can show kindness towards animals?

True or False. Animals worship Allah in their own way.

True or False. Allah will punish the people who mistreat animals without repenting.

What are some ways that humans can harm animals? What should we do to avoid harming animals?

Week 24

Anger Management

We should try our best to avoid getting angry because anger can lead to many evils. The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave us many suggestions to try and cure or at least limit the effects of anger. We should seek refuge with Allah from shaytan: Sulayman ibn Sard said: “I was sitting with the Prophet (saws), and two men were slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out. The Prophet (saws) said, ‘I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said “I seek refuge with Allah from the Shaytan,” what he feels (i.e., his anger) would go away.’” (Reported by al-Bukhari, al-Fath, 6/337)

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad, al-Musnad, 1/329; see also Sahih al-Jaami‘, 693, 4027) We should try our best to stay silent when we are angry because it’s the best way to avoid saying regrettable things.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down.” We should take this advice in order to avoid causing damage to ourselves or others.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that a man said to the Prophet (saws), “Advise me.” He said, “Do not become angry.” The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (saws) told him, “Do not become angry.”(Reported by al-Bukhari, Fath al-Baaree, 10/456)

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling); rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets

angry.” (Reported by Ahmad, 2/236; the hadeeth is agreed upon) We should familiarize ourselves with the knowledge of high status and advantages offered to people who control themselves when angry. Resisting anger is one of the signs of righteousness.

Questions:

True or False. Resisting anger is one of the signs of righteousness.

What are some things we can do or say to prevent ourselves from getting angry?

True or False. The truly strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry.

Describe a time when you got angry. How did you react? What would you do differently next time?

List some bad things that could happen if we don’t try our hardest to stay calm in times of anger.

Week 25

Islam is Environmentally Friendly

Islam has set out laws to protect the health and well-being of people, animals, plants, trees, land, water etc. Islam encourages us to protect and be kind towards our whole planet.

Water, food, land and other resources should be distributed according to need. There should be no waste through excess. This includes throwing away unused food. We should donate our used clothing and equipment. Recycling is strongly encouraged in Islam. “But waste not by excess: for God loves not the wasters.” (Qur’an 6:141)

It is our responsibility to protect and guard the earth. “It is He (God) who had made you (His) custodians in the earth. He has raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He has given you, for your Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed oft-forgiving, Most Merciful”. (Qur’an 6:165)

Islam encourages us to be environmentally friendly. We will be held accountable for our actions towards our planet, as well as other living creatures on this planet.

Questions:

What steps can we take towards protecting our planet?

True or False. We should not waste resources excessively.

Week 26

Showing Off In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

The Prophetic traditions explain that to do deeds for the purpose of showing off, or to please people, it is a form of lesser polytheism (shirk). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The thing I fear most for you is lesser polytheism.” They said: “What is lesser polytheism, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Showing off. Allah will say on the day of resurrection, when He will reward the people for their deeds: ‘Go to those whom you used to show off in the world, and see whether you find any reward with them’” (recorded in Ahmed).

Leader of the Believers Ali ibn abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Do not do any good deed to show off, and do not refrain from doing it out of shyness.” In order to help us understand what exactly showing off means, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) defined it in saying: “There are three signs of the show-off: he is lazy when he is alone and active when he is with other people; he does more if he is praised because of it; and he does less if he is criticized because of it.”

The forms of showing off can take numerous types. It may be in actions, including acts of worship such as prayer. It may occur in speech. Or, it may involve appearance and the way one dresses. What separates showing off from worship in these cases is the intention. Ali ibn abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding this: “No words are good unless accompanied by action, and no action is good unless accompanied by intention, and no intention is good unless it is in accordance with the Sunnah.”

And Allah knows best.

Questions: What is showing off? What are some examples?

Pay attention to yourself this week, do you show off?

How can you improve yourself to stop any actions that lead to showing off?

Do you think that showing off can lead to making false claims or lying?

Week 27

Friendship

We, as humans, are very social beings. We love to spend time with our families, friends and companions. We spend a lot of time interacting with others.

Choosing the right friends impacts your life and influences some of the decisions you make; that’s why it’s important to make sure that we make friends with people that will help us to become better human beings. The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.”

We should treat everyone with kindness and try very hard to befriend people who are righteous. The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who bows the blacksmith’s bellows. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.” We should try to befriend people who have good manners, knowledge and piety.

Questions:

What qualities should we look for in a friend?

What are examples of some bad qualities or manners in a friend?

What can you do or improve to become the most desired friend to have?

How have your friends influenced your behavior?

Week 28

Bismillah.

Truthfulness

We should always tell the truth and completely avoid getting in the habit of telling lies. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Truth leads to piety and piety leads to Jannah. A man persists in speaking the truth till he is enrolled with Allah as a truthful. Falsehood leads to vice and vice leads to the Fire, and a person persists on telling lies until he is enrolled as a liar.”

Questions:

How can telling one lie lead to telling many more lies after that?

Week 29

Greeting

It is recommended to say: ‘As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu’. The reply is ‘Wa ‘Alaikum us-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.’

Abu Umamah Sudaiy bin ‘Ajlan Al-Bahili (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The person nearest to Allah is one who is the first to offer greeting.”

We should even greet others after very short intervals of being apart.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should offer Salam to those who are already there, and he should also do so when he intends to depart. The first act of greeting is not more meritorious than the last.”

Questions:

True or False. The person nearest to Allah is one who is the first to offer greeting.”

What is your reply to “ As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu”?

What are some benefits of greeting one another?

Week 30

Recounting favours

Muslims should not recount favours. Allah, the Exalted, says: “O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury.” (Qur’an 2:264).

We should give in charity and help others solely for the purpose of pleasing Allah (swt) and completely avoid mentioning it in front of people who have benefited from our charity. We should give in charity for the sake of Allah (swt) and never expect anything back from anyone because of that charity.

“Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury.” (Qur’an 2:262)

In short, a Muslim should never boast of his favours done to another.

Questions:

How do you think a person who benefits from charity feels if they are reminded of the help they received by the person who gave the charity?

What are some etiquettes of giving charity?

What should be our intention when giving charity?

If you lend some pocket change to a friend one day and then remind him/her of it when you want to borrow something from them, is this boasting of a favour you have done for your friend?

Week 31

Peace Among People

As Muslim, making peace among people should be one of our priorities whenever we get the chance. Allah, the Exalted, says: “The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers.” (Qur’an 49:10)

It’s so important that even lying is permissible when the intention is to make peace between people. Umm Kulthum bint ‘Uqbah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ‘The person who (lies) in order to conciliate between people is not a liar, when he conveys good or says (something) good”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Questions:

True or False. Lying is permissible if one has to do it for reforming one’s society or family, in spite of being unlawful.

What are some other instances or situations where it is permissible for Muslims to tell a lie?

How does making conciliation between people benefit the ummah?

Week 32

Our Neighbours

The rights of our neighbours are numerous. Islam encourages and emphasizes the importance of nice treatment towards neighbours.

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded him thus, “O Abu Dharr! Whenever you prepare a broth, put plenty of water in it, and give some of it to your neighbours”. (Muslim) Muslims are encouraged to share their food with their neighbours and to give gifts to their neighbours.

The following prophetic narration illustrates just how important it is to be good towards our neighbours: Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him not harm hisneighbour; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him show hospitality to his guest; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him speak good or remain silent”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Questions:

What are some things we can do to be generous and kind towards our neighbours?

What sort of things should we completely avoid doing if it harms or annoys our neighbours?

How do you treat your neighbours? What would you like to change or improve on?

Week 33

Shyness

Modesty is a part of faith and shyness is a virtue. Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed by a man of the Ansar who was admonishing his brother regarding shyness. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Leave him alone, for modesty is a part of Iman.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

‘Imran bin Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Shyness does not bring anything except good.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Modesty helps to prevent man from disobeying Allah and modesty prevents man from pursuing immoral actions.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Iman as sixty odd or seventy odd branches. The uppermost of all these is the Testimony of Faith: “La ilaha ilallah’ while the least of them is the removal of harmful objects from the road. And shyness is a branch of Iman.” Modesty is a very important part of faith.

Questions:

True or False. Shyness is a virtue.

What is modesty?

Week 34

Keeping promises

Muslims should always keep their promises to others. “O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.” (Qur’an 61:2,3)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Three are the signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Questions:

True or False. Breaking promises is one of the signs of a hypocrite.

How can one do to avoid breaking promises?

Week 35

Right Hand

One should try to use his/her right hand when performing various good acts. When you wear your clothes or perform wu’du begin with the right hand. A Muslim should eat with his/her right hand, comb his/her hair with the right hand, etc. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When any of you puts on his shoes, he should put on the right one first; and when he takes them off, he should begin with the left. Let the right shoe by the first to be put on and the last to be taken off.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Questions:

Name some acts that a Muslim should perform with his/her right hand.

Week 36

Criticizing Food

In Islam, criticizing food is prohibited. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never found fault with food. If he had inclination to eating it, he would eat; and if he disliked it, he would leave it. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

A Muslim should show gratitude for the food he/she has.

Questions:

True or False. Criticizing food is prohibited.

What should you say if you do not like a food?

What should you do if you do not like a food?