Natural science studies in the elementary (k-5) curriculum offer a unique opportunity to promote students to think deeply about the universe around them and the ayaat that Allah has provided as proof of his power, control, and provision of sustenance.
"Verily in the heavens and the earth are signs for those who believe. And in the creation of yourselves, and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth), are signs for those of assured faith. And in the alternation of night and day, and that fact that Allah sends down sustenance from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the change of the winds, are signs for those who are wise" (45:3-5).
The descriptions of creation in the Qur'an are not intended as dry historical accounts, but rather to engage the reader in contemplating the lessons to be learned from it. The act of creation, therefore, is frequently spoken of as a way of drawing the reader into thinking about the order in all things, and the All-Knowing Creator Who is behind it all.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Stages of Creation
"Allah created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six days" (7:54).
The verses that mention "six days" use the Arabic word "youm" (day). This word appears several other times in the Qur'an, each denoting a different measurement of time. In one case, the measure of a day is equated with 50,000 years (70:4), whereas another verse states that "a day in the sight of your Lord is like 1,000 years of your reckoning" (22:47). The word "youm" is thus understood, within the Qur'an, to be a long period of time -- an era or eon. Therefore, Muslims interpret the description of a "six day" creation as six distinct periods or eons. The length of these periods is not precisely defined, nor are the specific developments that took place during each period.
"It is He Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course" (21:33).
Allah created the sun, the moon, and the planets, each with their own individual courses or orbits.
"We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days; nor did any sense of weariness touch Us" (50:38).
Allah is never "done" with His work, because the process of creation is ongoing. Each new child who is born, every seed that sprouts into a sapling, every new species that appears on earth, is part of the ongoing process of Allah's creation. "He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself on the Throne. He knows what enters within the heart of the earth, and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from heaven, and what mounts up to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah sees well all that you do" (57:4).
After completing the Creation, the Qur'an describes that Allah "settled Himself upon the Throne" (57:4) to oversee His work.
"What is the matter with you, that you are not conscious of Allah's majesty, seeing that it is He Who has created you in diverse stages? See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (glorious) lamp? And Allah has produced you from the earth, growing (gradually)" (71:13-17).
Humankind
While Islam recognizes the general idea of the development of life in stages, over a period of time, human beings are considered as a special act of creation. Islam teaches that human beings are a unique life form that was created by Allah in a special way, with unique gifts and abilities unlike any other: a soul and conscience, knowledge, and free will. In short, Muslims do not believe that human beings randomly evolved from apes. The life of human beings began with the creation of two people, a male and a female named Adam and Hawwa (Eve).
The Qur'an describes how Allah created Adam: "We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape..." (15:26). And, "He began the creation of man from clay, and made his progeny from a quintessence of fluid" (32:7-8). Thus, human beings have a fundamental attachment to the earth.
While the creation of Eve is not described in detail, the Qur'an does make it clear that a "mate" was created with Adam, from the same nature and soul. "It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love" (7:189). She is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an, but in Islamic tradition she is known as "Hawwa" (Eve).
The verses that mention "six days" use the Arabic word "youm" (day). This word appears several other times in the Qur'an, each denoting a different measurement of time. In one case, the measure of a day is equated with 50,000 years (70:4), whereas another verse states that "a day in the sight of your Lord is like 1,000 years of your reckoning" (22:47). The word "youm" is thus understood, within the Qur'an, to be a long period of time -- an era or eon. Therefore, Muslims interpret the description of a "six day" creation as six distinct periods or eons. The length of these periods is not precisely defined, nor are the specific developments that took place during each period.
"It is He Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course" (21:33).
Allah created the sun, the moon, and the planets, each with their own individual courses or orbits.
"We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days; nor did any sense of weariness touch Us" (50:38).
Allah is never "done" with His work, because the process of creation is ongoing. Each new child who is born, every seed that sprouts into a sapling, every new species that appears on earth, is part of the ongoing process of Allah's creation. "He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself on the Throne. He knows what enters within the heart of the earth, and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from heaven, and what mounts up to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah sees well all that you do" (57:4).
After completing the Creation, the Qur'an describes that Allah "settled Himself upon the Throne" (57:4) to oversee His work.
"What is the matter with you, that you are not conscious of Allah's majesty, seeing that it is He Who has created you in diverse stages? See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (glorious) lamp? And Allah has produced you from the earth, growing (gradually)" (71:13-17).
Humankind
While Islam recognizes the general idea of the development of life in stages, over a period of time, human beings are considered as a special act of creation. Islam teaches that human beings are a unique life form that was created by Allah in a special way, with unique gifts and abilities unlike any other: a soul and conscience, knowledge, and free will. In short, Muslims do not believe that human beings randomly evolved from apes. The life of human beings began with the creation of two people, a male and a female named Adam and Hawwa (Eve).
The Qur'an describes how Allah created Adam: "We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape..." (15:26). And, "He began the creation of man from clay, and made his progeny from a quintessence of fluid" (32:7-8). Thus, human beings have a fundamental attachment to the earth.
While the creation of Eve is not described in detail, the Qur'an does make it clear that a "mate" was created with Adam, from the same nature and soul. "It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love" (7:189). She is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an, but in Islamic tradition she is known as "Hawwa" (Eve).
Water
(Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?) (21:30)
Modern science affirms clearly that water is the basic component of life, with which the cell is built. Chemists have proven that water is a necessary and active substance used in changes and reactions which occur inside the body. For this reason it is the only fluid which every living thing needs, no matter how large or small it may be, starting with micro-organisms to the largest living animals on earth.
The Water which covers the earth in this day and age is approximately 71% and the remainder 29% of the earth is dry land.
The main source for the human and animal body is water, as well as the plants, as it is proven by scientific analysis's showing the body of a human adult from the age of 15 years and upwards contains approximately 71% of water as for the child his body contains 93% of water, which indicates 80% of water runs through the human body and the remainder is blood, and as much as 90% water is found in animals and plants.
"Allah has created every animal from water. Of them are some that creep on their bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills, for truly Allah has power over all things" (24:45).
Modern science affirms clearly that water is the basic component of life, with which the cell is built. Chemists have proven that water is a necessary and active substance used in changes and reactions which occur inside the body. For this reason it is the only fluid which every living thing needs, no matter how large or small it may be, starting with micro-organisms to the largest living animals on earth.
The Water which covers the earth in this day and age is approximately 71% and the remainder 29% of the earth is dry land.
The main source for the human and animal body is water, as well as the plants, as it is proven by scientific analysis's showing the body of a human adult from the age of 15 years and upwards contains approximately 71% of water as for the child his body contains 93% of water, which indicates 80% of water runs through the human body and the remainder is blood, and as much as 90% water is found in animals and plants.
"Allah has created every animal from water. Of them are some that creep on their bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills, for truly Allah has power over all things" (24:45).
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Islamic Nursery Rhyme: If You Want to Please Allah
(Tune of "If you're happy and you know it")
If You Want to Please Allah
If you want to please Allah, worship Him,
(repeat) : Worship Him!
If you want to please Allah, worship Him,
(repeat) : Worship Him!
If you want to please Allah and you really want to show it,
If you want to please Allah, worship Him,
(repeat) : Worship Him!
Additional verses:
If you want to please Allah,
...pray Salah
...give Zakah
...try to fast
...go to Hajj
UmmNRZ
If You Want to Please Allah
If you want to please Allah, worship Him,
(repeat) : Worship Him!
If you want to please Allah, worship Him,
(repeat) : Worship Him!
If you want to please Allah and you really want to show it,
If you want to please Allah, worship Him,
(repeat) : Worship Him!
Additional verses:
If you want to please Allah,
...pray Salah
...give Zakah
...try to fast
...go to Hajj
UmmNRZ
Islamic Nursery Rhyme: Word family -at
(use props, gestures, and student involvement to draw students into the actions mentioned in the rhyme.)
"Come to pray on my big prayer mat,
Cover your head with a hat."
My dear friend [_______] came and sat. [Use names of children in the class]
It's so nice that I'll bring my cat!
This nursery rhyme could be used at the beginning of a lesson to engage students and introduce the first commonly taught word family, "-at," using words that most children - including English language learners - already know.
"Come to pray on my big prayer mat,
Cover your head with a hat."
My dear friend [_______] came and sat. [Use names of children in the class]
It's so nice that I'll bring my cat!
This nursery rhyme could be used at the beginning of a lesson to engage students and introduce the first commonly taught word family, "-at," using words that most children - including English language learners - already know.
Islamic Nursery Rhyme: Word family -all, -ear
Hush little baby, pure and small
He created you, He created us all
Hush little baby, don't you fear
We're never alone when Allah's so near
Hush little, breathing so calm
He'll protect us all and keep us from harm
Hush little baby, still and serene
You are a Muslim, Islam's your deen (x2)
Zain Bhikha
He created you, He created us all
Hush little baby, don't you fear
We're never alone when Allah's so near
Hush little, breathing so calm
He'll protect us all and keep us from harm
Hush little baby, still and serene
You are a Muslim, Islam's your deen (x2)
Zain Bhikha
Islamic Nursery Rhyme: Word Family -ay, -ed, -ead
The Call of The Mu`athan
The mu`athan calls, "Let's go and pray,
It's time to leave our work and play.
And time to rise from cozy beds,
To bow in prayer our humble heads."
UmmNRZ
The mu`athan calls, "Let's go and pray,
It's time to leave our work and play.
And time to rise from cozy beds,
To bow in prayer our humble heads."
UmmNRZ
Islamic Nursery Rhyme: Word Family -ar, -y
Yellow, yellow, little star,
Allah created you up far.
Shining brightly in the sky,
I can't catch you if I try.
Yellow, yellow, little star,
Allah created you up far.
Allah created you up far.
Shining brightly in the sky,
I can't catch you if I try.
Yellow, yellow, little star,
Allah created you up far.
The link
I believe that every topic that we could possibly want to teach children can easily be linked to the Qur'aan and our submission to Allah in Islam - thus uniting our students' hearts to the Qur'aan and their Creator and demonstrating that "learning the deen" is not limited to one class per day.
Intentions
We know from our beloved Prophet (salAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) that our actions are judged according to the intentions by which we perform them. We must establish a pure and good intention before embarking on any venture, small or large.
So I proclaim my intention for this project by saying: Ya Allah, you are the Guide to all that is good and the One who grants success. There is no work in this world that I love or care for more than that which will lead myself and my family into the gardens of Paradise with no sorrow or suffering. Help the mothers of the Muslims raise our children upon your remembrance, so that the next generation will arise with sure knowledge of the guidance that you have sent down.
So I proclaim my intention for this project by saying: Ya Allah, you are the Guide to all that is good and the One who grants success. There is no work in this world that I love or care for more than that which will lead myself and my family into the gardens of Paradise with no sorrow or suffering. Help the mothers of the Muslims raise our children upon your remembrance, so that the next generation will arise with sure knowledge of the guidance that you have sent down.
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