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| Teacher's Guide on Islam: Suggested Academic Projects |
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The
following exercises and discussion questions are
designed to help students understand the history
of Islam and Islamic civilization, as well as
the nature of Al-Qaeda. Teachers should use these
suggested materials as starting points for students
to explore Islam and current events. By conducting
research projects and thinking critically, students
can enhance their perspective on Islam and the
significance of September 11.
The Birth, Growth, and History of Islamic Civilization
For many American students, Islamic concepts
and the Muslim world seem distant. Words, names,
and countries are hard to pronounce. To make Islamic
concepts and history more familiar, try the following:
- Find
Mecca and Medina on a map of the world. Then
plot reaches of the Muslim empire at its height:
in southern France, Vienna, North Africa, China,
India, and Indonesia.
- Research
the five main "pillars" of Islam.
Then find out if there are similar components
in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism,
and other religions.
- Research
the holy month of Ramadan. Compare and contrast
Ramadan to Lent and Yom Kippur.
- Define
the following words: shari'a, ulama, imam,
madrasa, dhimma.
- Research
and compare the following Muslim dynasties:
the Abbasids, the Umayyads, the Mamluks, the
Safavids, and the Ottomans. Mark on a map the
lands each empire controlled at its height.
- What
was the role of the Caliphs? Were they like
kings and emperors?
- Research
the life of Ibn Khaldun, a 14th century Muslim
intellectual generally considered the father
of modern sociology. What observations did he
make about Islamic civilization?
- Compare
the Ottoman Empire to the British Empire. How
did these two powers rule the lands they conquered?
How did they unify their empires? What are their
legacies today?
The Muslim Community Today
Lessons on contemporary Islam should emphasize
its diversity. The world's 1.2 billion Muslims
are by no means a monolithic community. Get students
to understand that you cannot really say "Muslims
are…" or "Muslims believe…"
- Make
a pie chart of the ethnic background of Muslims.
What percent are Arabs, Asians, Africans, Europeans,
Americans?
- Make
a list of the five countries with the largest
Muslim populations.
- What
is the origin of the difference between Sunnis
and Shi'ites? How is their religious practice
different? Most Muslims are Sunni. Which countries
are primarily Shi'ite?
- What
is Sufism? Compare mystical and legalistic religious
practice.
- Where
is Islam the majority religion and where is
it a minority religion?
- There
are many conflicts within the Muslim world itself.
Why did Iran and Iraq fight a long war? Why
did Iran mobilize against the neighboring Taliban
regime in Afghanistan? Why are there tensions
between Berbers and Arabs in North Africa?
Al-Qaeda Questions
Students can analyze groups like Al-Qaeda through
comparisons to familiar examples of intolerance.
There are no simple answers to these questions,
which provide a mere starting point for critical
discussion. You may be surprised by the insights
of your students.
- Is
Al-Qaeda like the Ku Klux Klan? What do they
have in common? How are they different?
- How
can people believe hateful things so strongly?
Compare and contrast with the attitudes of Southern
slave-owners, who were ready to die in defense
of their political, cultural, and social system.
What do you think motivates people to join Al-Qaeda?
- Look
at the civil liberties described in the Bill
of Rights. Which of these rights does Al-Qaeda
support?
- Are
there standards of basic human rights that should
apply to everyone in every culture? What do
you think these rights are? Can Americans demand
that people in other countries behave in certain
ways? If so, how is that different from Al-Qaeda's
vision of an Islamic world order? If not, how
should America respond to Al-Qaeda?
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