Ashura
I can explain what Ashura is and its importance to Muslim communities today.
Ashura
I can explain what Ashura is and its importance to Muslim communities today.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad was martyred at the Battle of Karbala.
- Shi'a Muslims commemorate this each year with Ashura.
- There is a diversity in practice for how Shi'a Muslims commemorate Ashura today.
- Some Sunni Muslims complete a non-obligatory fast on Ashura as the Prophet Muhammad did.
Keywords
Ashura - important festival in Shi’a Islam, to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain
Commemoration - a ceremony or occasion which honours someone's memory
Karbala - a city in modern day Iraq where Imam Hussein was martyred
Martyr - a person who suffers death rather than give up their religion, belief or other important cause
Common misconception
Ashura is an important day only for Shi'a Muslims.
All Muslims, including Sunni and Shi'a Muslims commemorate this day but for differing reasons.
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Ashura, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Ashura, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Islam: Practices unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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