Islamophobia
Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet tells the story of a man who changed the world 1,400 years ago and now lives in the United States through the lives of the millions of Americans who regard him as God’s prophet. It travels in the footsteps of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad to the Arabian Desert and the holy city of Mecca where Muhammad’s story unfolded. But the film does not just stay in the past. Much of its story is told through the observations of contemporary American Muslims, including a fireman at the World Trade Center on September 11th, a second generation Arab-American family building a community based on Islamic principles, a Congressional Chief of Staff working for justice, and a refugee fleeing religious persecution, whose experiences in some way echo Muhammad’s life. Lesson plans can be found at two companion websites with different content: http://theIslamProject.org AND the PBS site at https://www.pbs.org/show/muhammad-legacy-prophet/.
lp_FM-D01_IslamicLaw Islamic Law lesson plan, “What is Shariah? Major Sources and Principles of Islamic Law” lesson plan. This lesson provides background reading on the nature of Islamic law, and the role of legal scholars in making judgments according to Islamic legal sources. Understanding this material will help students evaluate Muslim approaches to contemporary social and political issues in Muslim countries and communities. For use with: Video documentary FRONTLINE: MUSLIMS or as standalone lesson on the topic.
The term Islamophobia is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “intense dislike or fear of Islam, especially as a political force; hostility or prejudice towards Muslims” and is today widely used to denote anti-Muslim attitudes and actions. This set of answers to frequently asked questions about Islamophobia examines the history and impact of this phenomenon. Slide show.
Europe today confronts complicated and controversial issues surrounding its Muslim population including Sharia law, terrorism, the building of mosques, female dress, and the pressures of immigration and multiculturalism. Akbar Ahmed, the world renowned Muslim anthropologist, is now embarking on a new study of Islam in Europe which will take him and his international team across the continent. Journey into Europe is the fourth part of an unprecedented quartet of award-winning books exploring relations between the West and the world of Islam after 9/11.
Well-known scholar of world religions Karen Armstrong discusses the perception that violence is associated with Islam, and discusses its historical association with other traditions. It is a lengthy article that can be used to discuss the general topic of religions and violence. The Guardian Newspaper, Sept 25, 2014
Salah Farah was on a bus traveling through Mandera in Kenya when it was attacked by al-Shabab in December. The attackers told the Muslims and Christians to split up but he was among Muslim passengers who refused, as a result he was shot and died later as a result of his wounds. BBC article from January 19, 2016
A description of Islamic Networks Group resources and offerings for various educational and interfaith settings.
Critical Thinking on Terminology about Islam and Muslims Critical Thinking about Terminology Related to Islam and Muslims: This lesson helps students critically evaluate some of the phrases and concepts used to describe Islam and Muslims. Students learn about the distinctions between using terms such as “Islamic” and “Muslim” to describe different behaviors or cultural products, and gain awareness of journalistic categories such as “Muslim world.” For use with: Video documentary FRONTLINE: MUSLIMS or as standalone lesson.
Statement by a prominent Mauritanian Muslim jurist explaining to youth why extremism, suicide bombing, and ISIS are illegitimate according to Islamic beliefs and practices. Abdallah bin Mahfudh ibn Bayyah is a Mauritanian professor of Islamic studies at the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is a specialist in all four traditional Sunni schoolsof Islamic law. Currently he is the President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies.