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20 Dec 2014

Timeline: Life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)



Lesson Objective:
- To become familiar with some of the main events in the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
- To provide a resource and prompt to help children deliver a short talk outlining the life of the Prophet (S)

Activity: Prophet Muhammad Colouring Storybook
Use the story book to introduce children to the life of the Prophet (S)
Activity: Story Timeline 
Make a simple masking tape timeline on the wall and have the children in turn mark the events with images as you go through the life of the Holy Prophet (SAW). For younger children, use fewer images to present a simplified life history. They can then create their own timelines by sticking and ordering the images onto a worksheet.

Download Story Timeline Worksheet
Activity: Key Stages Pictorial Timeline
Divide and arrange the images into three parts of the Prophet's life.
  • 0 - 40 years
  • 40-53 years
  • 53-60 years

Activity: Timeline Storyboard



Activity: Caption Timeline
Older children can create an A4 timeline by sticking the images along a horizontal line and writing their own captions alongside.



Download and Print Timeline Images
Resources: Prophet Muhammad Timeline by QFatima
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18 Dec 2014

PEACE Pledge



Lesson Objective:
- 'Asalamu Alaika Ya Aba Abdillah'
- To understand the promise you are making when saying Salaam to Imam

Though we can not see the Imams, when we recite the words of ziyara, we should try to imagine that they are actually stood right in front of us. We are extending our hand to them and making a pledge, a promise.

We are telling our Imams that we are at peace with them. We shall follow the rules of Allah, the way that they taught us, and do good deeds, so that our actions are always peaceful.

Activity: PEACE Pledge
Each statement can be represented by a hand gesture/sign to help memorise the key points we make when we say salaam.

Raise right hand and say: 'Asalamu Alaika Ya Aba Abdillah'
Hand on heart: I Promise
Tap watch/wrist with one finger: Everyday
Open book: Act on the Quran
Pat two palms together from one side to another: Copy the Ahlulbayt
Thumbs up: Encourage goodness

After emphasising how important it is to keep a promise, ask if the child is ready to sign and seal the pledge.

Display in a prominent place as a reminder to send our salaam to Imam everyday. 
Imam hears us and replies our salaam. We must be honest in our words and try hard to keep our promise.





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16 Dec 2014

Ziyara Places In Iraq



Lesson Objective:
- Understand what ziyara is
- Understand the importance and blessings associated with making ziyara
- Be familiar with important places of ziyarat in Iraq

Lesson Introduction:
20th of Safar, marks the day of Arbaeen, 40 days after Ashura. It is the day that the Ahlul Bayt reached the land of Karbala.
Jabir, an old companion of the Prophet, had travelled from Madina and had also come to Karbala where he met the family of Imam Husayn (as).
It was an extremely sad day as they remembered and cried on the graves of the martyrs.

After that people from all over started visiting the graves of the martyrs and this is known as Ziyarah.

The Prophet (saw) has said that if anyone visited him or his family and did ziyarah, then he would himself also visit them on the day of Judgement!

Allah has placed 4,000 angels by the grave of Imam Husayn (A.S.). They weep over him and shall continue to do so up to the Day of Judgment. Angels are also continuously visiting Imam’s shrine to give him salaams.

When you make ziyarat and visit the shrine of Imam Husayn (as), Imam knows that you have come. He knows your name, can see you and hears everything you say. When we talk to Imam and tell him our duas, he prays to Allah for us! He asks Allah to forgive us and accept our duas.


Activity: Ziyara map with key burial places
Use a cork board and enlarged images of the shrines with the associated lables as an interactive activity to discuss and sort with the class.

Iraq has burial sites of 6/14 Ma’sumeen
List the 4 main cities for ziyara in Iraq: Najaf/Karbala/Kadhmain/Samarra
Sort the names of the Masumeen accordingly into each quadrant
Sort the images of the shrines to match the correct burial sites. 

Corresponding worksheet can then be completed by trying to recall as much as they can independently before referring to the display.




Resources: Iraq Guide Book For Kids for extension material on the shrines and sites of Ziyara
Activitiy: PEACE Pledge
Activity: Salaams on Imam Husayn (as)
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12 Dec 2014

Handprint Flag



Simple handprint flag to display as a visual reminder through Muharram of our promise to Imam Husayn (as).

Talk about how when we say 'Labbayk Ya Husayn', we raise our right hand and are saying 'O Imam, I am here'. When we say these words, or see the flag of Imam Husayn (as), we should remember to always follow what Imam has taught us and live in a way that would make him happy.
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9 Dec 2014

Labbayk Ya Husayn!



Key Learning Point:
Letting our light shine is a way of answering Imam’s call for help in keeping Islam alive.
We brighten the world around us and behave in the best way. 
Our light can help spread the message of Islam and bring more goodness into the world.

Quran Verse:
Mardha tillah, Do what makes Allah happy 2:207

Lesson Introduction:
Yazid wanted to destroy and extinguish the light of Islam. He didn’t want people to be guided towards Allah. He wanted to be in power, asking Imam Husayn to follow his rules. Imam could never agree and give him bay’at. Imam Husayn (as) always did what would make Allah happy. He stood for the truth even though this meant losing his family and going through so many difficulties.

By killing Imam Husayn (as), Yazid thought he had managed to extinguish the light of Islam and stop people from listening to Allah.

On the 10th of Muharram, Imam Husayn (as) stood alone on the sand and called out, ‘is there any helper to help us?’ Imam Husayn (as) was asking for help to keep the message and light of Islam shining.

But who was Imam calling out to? Those who wanted to help him had already given their lives and been killed. Imam was calling out to us. To every Muslim, of every age and time.

We answer the call Imam made on Ashura and say, ‘Labbayk Ya Husayn’. ‘I am here O Imam and I will be your helper. I will help the light of Islam to continue to shine by letting my light shine for others to see.

When we follow the example of Imam Husayn (as) and live in a way that we ‘mardha tillah’, always doing what will make Allah happy with us, we have the power to let our light shine!

When we all shine brightly together, by living in the way of the Qur’an, we behave with the best manners and spread goodness and peace. We help to make the world a brighter, better place to live. This is the message of Islam, which Imam Husayn (as) stood and died for.

Activity: Candle Craft
Instructions from Krokotak

To answer Imam Husayn’s call of ‘Hal min nasirin yansuruna’, we must make sure our light is always burning bright so that the message of Islam continues to spread and we can help to bring more goodness into the world.

Activity: Muharram Resolutions
What 3 things will you try to do this year to make your light shine?

Download Complete Lesson Plan: Let Your Light Shine!

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Let Your Light Shine!



Key Learning Point:
Seeking Allah’s pleasure in everything we do, gives us the power to shine our light.
Shining our light makes us behave in the best way spreading goodness around us.


Quran Verse:
Mardha tillah, Do what makes Allah happy 2:207

Lesson Introduction:
When we ‘mardha tillah’, we seek to please Allah, by doing good and behaving how the Qur’an and Imams teach us. Doing what makes Allah happy with us, gives us the power to shine like a light. We brighten the world around us and behave in the best way. Our light can help spread the message of Islam and bring more goodness into the world.


Activity: Let Your Light Shine!
Take out the batteries from a torch and switch it on. 
Explain how the light can only shine if we put batteries inside. 
Use the analogy to explain how we can only have power to let our light shine if we do what Allah is pleased with.  

Worksheet: Labbayk Ya Husayn!




Recap ‘I Am A Muslim’ Quranic verses and use each to ask, are we are living the way the Qur’an teaches us?
Let each child hold the torch and state what they can do to ‘martha tillah’? 
How can we make sure our battery is powered? What goodness can we shine out to the world?





Extended Home Activity:
Label the light switch at home with the Quranic verse as a reminder of how we must brighten the world around us by always behaving in a way that pleases Allah.





Download Complete Lesson Plan: Let Your Light Shine!
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The Imams Are Shining Guides



Key Learning Point:
Allah sent the Qur’an and the Masumeen to help guide our hearts and show us the path to reach Him.
Imam Mahdi is the brightest light whose arrival will removal all darkness and bring complete peace on Earth.

Quran Verse:
Mardha tillah 2:207 
Make Allah happy with you

Lesson Introduction:
We need light to see.
Without light, we would be left in darkness.
Our hearts also need to be brightly lit so that we can be guided to doing the right thing.
Allah created the sun to give light to the world and He sent the Qur’an and Masumeen as bright lights to guide our hearts and show us the right way.

The Imams are very special. They never do anything wrong and always ‘mardha tillah’, they always seek Allah’s pleasure in everything they do. They always do good and live in the way the Qur’an teaches us. They are full of noor and constantly shine as our guides to show us the right path and the way to reach Allah. Without them, we would be in darkness and confusion.

Activity:
Place a heart sign at one end and a sign labelled Allah at the other end. 
Switch off lights
Explain how our hearts are in darkness. 
'How will they know the way to reach Allah? Allah sent us the Qur'an and 12 Imams as bright lights to guide our hearts and show us the right way.'
Have the kids recap each Imam and with every correct answer, place a tea light along the path leading up to the sign labelled Allah.
Switch on the lights at the mention of the 12th Imam!
When Imam Mahdi (atf) reappears, light will completely cover the world filling it with peace and justice :)

Extended Home Activity:
Recite a salawaat when you switch on the lights and pray for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi as the light who will remove all darkness!
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5 Dec 2014

Getting Creative With Fatima - Ahlulbayt TV

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3 Dec 2014

Remembering Imam Husayn (as)

Lesson Objective:
- Understand the role of gatherings in Muharram 
- Understand the power of crying for Imam Husayn

Lesson Introduction:
On being freed from prison, the first thing Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) did, was to ask for a place to mourn and cry for Imam Husayn (as). This was the first majalis. People would come to hear about Karbala and about what had happened to Imam Husayn (as) and his family. The whole way back to Madina, the camels would stop and the family of Imam Husayn (as) would hold a majlis at every place. It was because of these gatherings that people came to know and learn about Karbala and the light and message of Islam spread.

Our Imams have explained to us how important it is to remember Imam Husayn (as), cry for him and have gatherings in our homes to talk about and grieve over what happened in Karbala. By going to mosque and listening to lectures, we learn about the Qur’an and Ahlulbayt. We are reminded of what we believe in, and how we should behave everyday. When we listen to the poetry and events of Karbala, our hearts grow stronger in their love for the Ahlulbayt. The place where Imam Husayn (as) is remembered is full of blessings. Bibi Fatima (as) and the angels are present at every majalis for Imam.

Hearing the injustice that the family of the Holy Prophet (SAW) were treated to makes us cry. Our tears show our love for the Ahlulbayt and help us feel close to them. We cry because we realise that what happened to them was wrong. Listening to the trials of Karbala, brings about in us emotions of sadness and anger. It is these tears that inshaAllah will help us to change ourselves to become better, to live the lessons that Imam Husayn (as) and his family sacrificed their life for and encourage others towards goodness as well. In this way, the message of Karbala is kept alive and Islam will continue to spread.

Activity: The Power Of Tears by Teaching Young Muslims

Activity: Muharram Resolutions

Activity Ashura around the world
Imam Husayn's light is shing all over the world!

Activity: Buzz Ideazz Majalis resources
Excellent ideas on how to host a children's majalis

Activity: Manners at the mosque
Discuss respectful etiquette and correct behaviour: Recite tasbeeh, take pen/paper and write what you understand/discuss, ask questions at home, be careful with fateha.

Activity: Karbala Poem
Try writing a poem or short story explaining either what happened in Karbala or about a particular personality. There are great blessings on those who recite and write poems that help others mourn Imam Husayn (as) 

Activity: Majalis at home
Hold a small majlis at home/make it a Thursday night ritual to share a few Islamic lessons and recite the simple Ziyara of the 12 Imams.
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2 Dec 2014

Bibi Sakinah (as)



Acrostic Poem
Sweet little Sakinah, daughter of Husayn
A child of only four, went through so much pain
Kind and caring always sharing what she had
In Karbala she saw how Yazid was so bad
Noticing the birds over the prison sky
Aunty Zainab she asked, "where do they fly?"
Home she never reached in Shaam did she die

O sweet Sakinah, for you today we cry

Download and print poem sheet for children to add their own drawings

Paper Plate Bird Craft
Fold paper plate in half
Decorate the bird
Fold the longer side of an A4 sheet of paper accordion style.
Place it through a small horizontal slit cut along the centre of the paper plate


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