The Position of Sajda and the Turba

Download and print worksheet

Lesson Objective:
- Understand how the position of sajda shows obedience to Allah
- Understand how we can use the lesson to help us focus only on Allah in the day.
- Understand the blessing of sajda in making dua
- Become aware of the physical benefits of the position of sajda.
- Understand how using a turba made from the soil of Karbala is a reminder of Imam Husayn (as) and the values he stood for.

Quran Verse: wakun minas saajideen, Be of those who do sajda 15:98

Key Learning Point:

Sajda is a position that shows our obedience. When I pray salaa and make sajda on the turba of Karbala, it reminds me how I must be like Imam Husayn (as) and give my bay’at only to Allah and the Ahlulbayt. Allah is my Creator and I am His servant. Unlike Iblis, I listen and do what Allah tells me and obey Him completely.

Lesson Introduction:

Sajda is a position when we bow down our heads onto the ground.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an 2:34 that when He created the first man, Prophet Adam, He asked the angels to ‘do sajda’ and bow down. The angels all listened to Allah and did what He said. They all obeyed Allah and did sajda, but Iblis did not. He thought he was better because he was made of fire and Prophet Adam was made of mud. Shaytan did not obey Allah and do what He asked him.

Putting our face on the ground, in a way that we can’t even see what is happening around us, would not be a position we would usually put ourselves in, but doing sajda is a way of lowering ourselves and remembering that Allah is the most High and we are his ‘abd’, we are His creation.

When we do sajda, it makes us remember how we must ‘atiullah’, always listen and do whatever Allah says with all our actions. We must obey Him completely. When we make sajda, we aren’t distracted  looking at everything that is happening around us. We are focused just on Allah. In the day there will be lots of distractions and things that try to take you away from Allah, that make you want to do things that are wrong, but you must remember that your focus is to always follow and do only what Allah says.

Imam Husayn (as) lived his whole life obeying Allah. Everytime we make salaa and our eyes fall on the turba made from the soil of Karbala, we are reminded of this great Iman who showed so much love and obedience to Allah. He stood for the truth, refusing to agree to Yazid’s rules but gave bay’at only to Allah. It is a daily reminder to us of how we want to be like Imam Husayn and live in a way that we always do what Allah has said.

We have been taught by our Imams that the position of sajda is the best to make dua. Imam Zainul Abideen loved to be in sajda so much, he even became known as Imam Sajjad!

The sajda is the only position in which head becomes lower than the heart and so blood gushes towards the brain in full force. The increased blood supply to the brain helps with better memory, concentration and less headaches!

Activity: Download and print worksheet

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The Brothers and Sisters do the Arbaeen Walk

Written in rhyme and detailing every step of the journey, this book is filled with all the sights, sounds and smells experienced on the unique Arbaeen walk from Najaf to Karbala. Available for order through email: A14publications@gmail.com

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Saying Salaam

Learning objective: 

- To know that Muslims greet each other by saying Asalam Alaikum 
- To know the importance of rushing to say Salaam first
- To understand how saying salaam should reflect in our behaviour as being peaceful with others.

Quran Verse: Fa aslihu, make peace 

Key Learning Point:
A true Muslim follows Allah’s rules and has the best of manners with all those around him. His behaviour is always peaceful and he doesn't do anything to hurt or upset others.

Different people greet each other in different ways. The Qur’an teaches us that when we meet, we must say "As-Salam Alaikum" or "Peace be upon you".  We are asking Allah to bring them peace.

When we greet each other in this way, we are not just saying hi, how are you. We are saying ‘I am a Muslim. My behaviour and manners are always peaceful. I try my best not to hurt or upset others. What a beautiful and special way to greet people, showing them that they are safe with you.

Activity: Asalam Alaikum Song

Game: Be the first to say salaam
Prophet Muhammad (saw) has told us to always rush to be the first to say Asalam Alaykum to others. Set a timer out of view, and race to see who can be the first to say salaam when it sets off!

Activity: Handprint Heart Handshake
It is good to shake hands when you say Asalam Alaikum. Keep in mind how your manners should be good and peaceful to each other.

Fold a piece of paper in half and draw round your hand with the index finger and thumb right up against the fold. Cut the hand out and open up to reveal the linked hands.

Activity: What Do Peaceful Manners Look Like?
Brainstorm what peace means and what peaceful behaviour looks like. E.g. Kind/helpful, Work together as a team, share with others, find a way to solve arguments calmly, be able to agree on a solution. Use picture cards or scenarios to role play different conflict scenarios and solutions to resolve them.

Activity: Peace Table

Activity: PEACE Pledge
Young ones can learn to mime the simple actions behind the pledge to help them remember what peaceful behaviour as a Muslim looks like.
"I promise everyday to act in the way of the Qur'an, copy the manners of the Ahlulbayt and be good!"

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Peace Table

Learning Objective:
- To give children a tool to solve problems in a focused, structured way, in order to achieve peace.
- To understand the need to listen to others
- To understand how to reach a peaceful solution
- To know that we can achieve peace by following the Qur'an and copying the manners of the Ahlulbayt. 

Quran Verse:
Fa aslihu, Make Peace 49:10

Key Learning Point:
A true Muslim always acts in the way the Qur'an teaches and follows the manners of the Ahlulbayt. His behaviour is always peaceful and he doesn't do anything to hurt or upset others.

Activity: 
The Peace Table is a conflict resolution tool adapted from the Montessori classroom. It can be implemented at home to help work through disputes to a mutually agreeable resolution. 
Symbols such as a Globe, Qur'an stand, Karbala flag etc can be set up on the table as visuals to remind children that to be at peace with one another, we must act in the way the Qur'an teaches us and follow the manners of the Ahlulbayt. 

Brainstorm what peace means and what peaceful behaviour looks like. E.g. Kind/helpful, Work together as a team, get along with others, find a way to solve arguments calmly, be able to agree on a solution. Use picture cards or scenarios to role play different conflict scenarios and solutions to resolve them.

Can you imagine how the world would be if everyone made peace with each other? How would it be if everyone was kind, helped each other or didn’t upset you? We must do our best to follow Allah’s rules and live in a peaceful way.

Activity: PEACE Pledge

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Peace Treaty of Imam Hassan (as)

Lesson Objectives:

- To understand how Imam Hassan (as) tried to make peace
- To know that although starting a fight is not allowed, it is necessary to protect and defend people who are being harmed, to bring true peace. 

Quran Verse: Fa aslihu
Make peace 49:10

The Peace Treaty of Imam Hassan (as)

After coming back from burying his father Imam Ali (as), Imam Hassan (as) spoke to the people and explained how he was now the next leader as Allah has chosen the Imams from the family of the Holy Prophet. He would guide them how to live according to the teachings of the Qur’an.

However, Muawiyah was not happy. He wanted to be the most powerful ruler over the people of Iraq and started to cause trouble to try and get rid of Imam Hassan (as). 

Allah emphasizes in the Qur’an how we should work hard to try and come to an agreement that will bring peace. We should try our best not to start a fight or arguments.

All our Imams always made every effort to bring peace. Imam Hassan (as) tried to come to an agreement by accepting a peace treaty.

In the treaty, Imam wrote a list of rules, which explained that Muawiyah as a leader should

• Rule the country accordingly to the Qur’an and the example of the Holy Prophet (saw)
• Not harm the people or the Ahlulbayt
• Not choose a leader after him, but that the role should go back to the Imams

Even through Muawiyah had signed the paper, showing he had agreed to what Imam had said, Muawiyah never kept the promises he had made in the treaty. He made it clear he wanted power more than wanting to keep the teachings of Islam and said anyone who disagreed with him would be killed!

Muawiyah tried to kill Imam Hassan (as) many times and eventually he managed to convince Jo’dah, the wife of Imam Hassan (as), to poison him. He then made his son Yazid, the leader after him.

The Qur’an makes it clear that we must not start a fight or war and must always try our best to make peace. However, Allah explains how important it is to treat people well, always behaving fairly. He teaches us how we must protect the people who are weak or being treated wrongly. If there is no other way, that we must fight to defend and help the people to bring true peace.

Activities:
Peace Pledge

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Make The Truth Clear

Quran Verse: 'Koonu ma'as sadiqeen', Be with the truthful 9:119

Materials Needed:
White crayon or candle
Watercolour paint

After the event of Karbala, Yazid thought he had won. He thought he had hidden the truth. 

Write the word TRUTH on a piece of white paper, using a white crayon or candle. 

Lady Zainab (as) and Imam Sajjad (as) were put through so many difficulties, but they made sure that they told everyone the truth about who they were, and what had happened to the family of the Holy Prophet (SAW) in Karbala. 

Have the children paint over the paper with liquid watercolour paint to reveal the hidden words.

With the help of Allah, the truth was made clear.
Over 1000 years later, millions of people all over the world still remember Imam Husayn (as) and his family. Yazid was not able to hide the truth. It was clear for everyone to see that it is only Allah’s rules which must be followed and that what Yazid had done was wrong.

Key Learning Point:

Whatever happens, however hard it is to tell the truth, remember Karbala and never let anyone make you hide the truth. It can sometimes be scary and difficult, but we must always 'be with the saadiqeen’ and make the truth clear by doing and saying what is right, even if no-one else will.

Discussion
Talk about how you often have to make a choice of covering up the truth or being honest. Make it clear that although people involved may be upset by what has happened that you are trying to hide, they will always be grateful and proud that you told the truth. There may still be consequences for your actions but telling the truth is more important and loved by Allah.

Discuss the importance and need to help make the truth clear for others by speaking up for someone who may be wronged.

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The Truth Can Not Be Hidden

Quran Verse: 'Koonu ma'as saadiqeen', Be with the truthful 9:119

Materials Needed:

Black Card
White Chalk
Hairspray 

1. Imam Husayn (as) was of the 'saadiqeen', he was always truthful and did what Allah has said.

With a piece of white chalk, write the word TRUTH clearly across a black card.

2. Yazid tried to hide the truth about Allah by killing Imam Husayn (as) and his family. 
Cover the chalk with hairspray. The letters will start to fade and disappear.

3. After the event of Karbala, Yazid thought he had won. Do you think Yazid managed to hide the truth?
You can either have the group watch as the chalk letters slowly start to reappear or turn the card around as you question and discuss with the group, before revealing the words. It can take around 2-3 mins for the complete word to reappear clearly. 

4. Lady Zainab (as) and Imam Sajjad (as) made sure that they told everyone the truth about who they were, and what had happened to the family of the Holy Prophet (SAW) in Karbala. With the help of Allah, the truth became clear. 

Discussion
After the demonstration, each child can be given their own small piece of card and chalk to try out. Before using the hairspray, have them share possible situations where they might have been tempted to hide the truth. Talk about how you often have to make a choice of covering up the truth or being honest. Make it clear that although people involved may be upset by what has happened that you are trying to hide, they will always be grateful and proud that you told the truth. There may still be consequences for your actions but telling the truth is more important and loved by Allah.

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Stand For The Truth

Quran Verse: 'Koonu ma'as sadiqeen', Be with the truthful 9:119

Key Learning Point:

Allah chose the Imams for us to learn from and follow. Imam Husayn (as) stood for the truth. We learn from him that we too must ‘be with the saadiqeen’ and do/say what’s right even if no-one else will.

Illustrate the key point of the lesson literally by making a pop up card with a man rising to stand as it opened! When we follow Imam Husayn (as), we stand up against wrong and our actions help to bring peace around the world.

Activity: The Truth Can Not Be Hidden
Activity: Make The Truth Clear
Activity: Handprint Flag

Download lesson plan: Stand for the truth

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Imam Sajjad (as) Story Bag

Lesson Objective:

- To gain a brief overview of the life of our 4th Imam through visual aids.

Activity:

Place all the objects into a bag and have the children pick out an item in turn.

Use the prop to talk about how each object relates to the life of Imam Sajjad (as)

Repeat the activity a second time but have each child 'show and tell' to the class about what the object signifies.

Older children can use the props to write their own short biography/poem about the Imam.

Poster shared by Little Learners Preschool

Download complete lesson plan: Dua: Talking to Allah

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