Palestine Map Collage

Learning Objective:

- To learn about Palestine and understand why it's important

- To create a visual reminder to keep the Ummah in our prayers

Qur'an Verse: u’diluw , Be Just And Act Fairly (5:8)

Oppression is when someone uses their power or authority to treat others in a way that is unfair. This could be denying them their rights, freedoms, and dignity. Islam teaches us to stand up against injustice when you see it.

The Holy Prophet (S) has said "Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart."

Activity: Palestine Map Collage

1. Use the images to introduce and talk about Palestinian culture and the history of the land
2. Cut, stick and collage the images over the card printed map of Palestine 

3. Cut out the map following the outline on reverse.
3. Paste the map onto coloured card or painted canvas. 

4. Display prominently and use as a visual reminder to always keep the Palestinian people in our prayers and to do whatever we can to always stand up for injustice.

Download Palestine Outline Map

Download Palestine collage images. These can be printed individually or as a single sheet of A4.

Resources: 

How to talk to kids about Israel Gaza war by Noor Kids

Injustice Illustrated by Friends of Al-Aqsa

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Build a Strong Community

Learning Objective:

- To know that each individual is part of a larger community 

- To know that you are responsible for your actions towards God and His creation

- To understand how correctly fulfilling our responsibilities will bring peace to those around us 

- To understand how our wrong actions contribute to bringing destruction to those around us.

- To understand that you can not blame others for your actions.

Qur'an Verse:

You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong 3:110

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People Of The World

Learning Objective:- Help children to build a feeling of unity and become aware of the responsibly to pray for people all over the world.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us "The Muslim world is like one body. If the eye is in pain then the whole body is in pain and if the head is in pain then the whole body is in pain.” If we hear that any part of the world is suffering, then we too should feel this pain.

Activity: People of the World 
Learn about a country that may have been mentioned in the news. Identify it's flag and pray for its safety. Mark it on a map or make a display of the flags of countries prayed for. You could also use a scratch map to pray for and scratch off a different country every day. A complete list of 30 countries can be found below.

Activity: Praying For Peace use the table to choose what to pray for.

Ours is from Poundland!

Activity: 30 Countries To Pray For
Afghanistan
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Brazil
China
Congo
Egypt
Libya
Iraq
Iran
India
Lebanon
Mali
Mexico
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palestine
Russia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United states
United kingdom
Yemen

Print List: 30 Countries To Pray For

Activity: Heal the World
Help children become aware that there are people all over the world who do not live as comfortably as we do. It is important to remember them in our prayers. 

See also: Prayer Wall

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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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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.

Download PEACE Pledge

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Praying for Peace

Lesson Objective:
- to understand how children are affected in countries at war
- To become aware of the need to pray for the situation to bring peace
- to have an idea of what to pray

Have the children choose a different dua to pray everyday.

Download Dua Sheet: Praying For Peace

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