This unit discusses the arrival of the Muslims in Egypt and their first city, al-Fustat. The unit is primarily designed to introduce Islam and the Islamic beliefs, which can be emphasized by the activities included here.

There are many teaching guides and materials available that will assist you in learning and teaching the fundamentals of Islam to your classroom, which can be daunting if you are not familiar with them. Please see the resources section for recommendations.

1. Discuss the origins of Islam. Where did Islam come from? Find Mecca and Medina on a map. Then trace the expansion of Islam out of Arabia into other places. Where did Islam spread quickly? Where did Islam spread slowly? Where do most Muslims live today? Plot your findings on a map.



2. Talk about the central beliefs of Islam. What does Islam teach? How do the views of Islam compare to the views of Christianity and Judaism? How are they different? How are they the same? Have Muslim students share their faith with the rest of the class, and have them talk about how the major holidays and what they do to celebrate them. (Note: it would be inappropriate to ask Muslim students to demonstrate how they pray.)



3. Divide the classroom into 5 groups, and have each group present on one of the five pillars of Islam (profession of faith, prayer, fasting, alms, pilgrimage). Have them talk about what each pillar represents, why it is important, and have them draw a comparison between that pillar and a practice of their own faith. Don't let students claim there are no comparisons or similar practices - each pillar has one! (For example: the Profession of faith (shahada) is the rough equivalent of the Apostles Creed or the Lord's prayer. Muslims pray five times a day, while observant Catholics are supposed to pray when they wake up, when they sleep, before and after each meal, which equals eight daily prayers. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, while Catholics and Orthodox Christians have restrictions on what they can eat during Lent, and Orthodox Christians must fast on Good Friday. Muslims pay am alms tax to the mosque once a year, while early every Christian church has a collection plate that is sent around at least once during services every Sunday. Muslims are supposed to make a pilgrimage once during their lives to Mecca, and, while not necessarily a requirement, pilgrimage is also an important ritual for Christians and Jews.)



4. Compare the story of Jesus as it is told in the Bible with the story as it is told in the Qur'an. Note how the style of the two texts differ. Talk about why this is so. (The Bible is a collection of stories that were written down after the events they describe had happened. The Qur'an is direct dictation from God to the prophet Muhammad.) What differences are there in the two versions of the story?



5. You may wish to combine this unit with a study of Islam or with a field trip to a local mosque, or have a speaker come from the local mosque or university to talk to your class. (Many mosques are happy to provide speakers to classrooms, since it gives an excellent chance to counter many negative stereotypes.)