How and why Muslims complete sawm
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how and why Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan.
Key learning points
- Obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan is known as 'sawm'.
- The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
- Fasting involves abstaining from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.
- The Night of Power is when the first revelations of the Qur'an came to Muhammad in the cave of Hira.
- Sawm can have a great impact on the life of a Muslim as an act of discipline.
Keywords
Fasting - not doing certain actions such as eating or drinking
Iftar - a meal in the evenings, which is the breaking of the fast for that day during the month of Ramadan
Night of Power - the night that the first revelation of the Qur'an came to the Prophet Muhammad
Ramadan - the month when Muslims take part in an obligatory fast
Common misconception
All Muslims must fast without exceptions or exemptions.
Those who are ill, elderly, younger than puberty, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating, and travelling do not have to fast. Missed fasting days can be made up after the month of Ramadan and/or donations made to charity in their place if needed.
Teacher tip
Students can research how different Muslim sports personalities manage their fasting obligations. Some may choose to break their fasts during competitions and on games days and make up that fast later, or make a charitable donation, while others may not.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Zakah is used to support people in such as the poor, the indebted, and travellers.
Q2.Paying zakah is a sign of a Muslim’s obedience and submission to .
Q3.Why do Muslims pay zakah?
Q4.Which of the following is an additional charitable tax paid only by Shi’a Muslims?
Q5.What is the nisab in relation to zakah?
Q6.Which of these is a voluntary act of giving, which is not required like zakah?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Muslims fast during the month of , when the first revelation of the Qur’an was received.
Q2.The Night of is believed to be when the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Q3.What is sawm?
Q4.What meal is eaten to break the fast at the end of the day during Ramadan?
Q5.Why does the month of Ramadan move each year in the Gregorian calendar?
Q6.Which of these people would be exempt from fasting during Ramadan?
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: How and why Muslims complete sawm, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: How and why Muslims complete sawm, 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.