Muslim teachings about good, evil and suffering
I can explain different views, including Muslim ones, on good, evil and suffering.
Muslim teachings about good, evil and suffering
I can explain different views, including Muslim ones, on good, evil and suffering.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Muslims believe people are born pure (fitrah) and are guided by Islam but judged by their choices and intentions.
- For an action to be good, the intention (niyyah) must be sincere, not done for attention or personal benefit.
- Suffering is sometimes seen as a test with spiritual value, though some suffering results from the misuse of free will.
- Many non-religious perspectives see suffering as a problem to solve, not something that serves a higher purpose.
- Opinions differ on whether suffering leads to good, with some seeing benefits, while others focus on the harm it causes.
Keywords
Evil - that which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong
Good - that which is considered right according to moral standards
Suffering - an effect of evil; undergoing pain and hardship
Common misconception
Islam teaches that people are born sinful or evil.
Islam teaches that all people are born pure (in a state of fitrah), and have the ability to choose between right and wrong.
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Muslim teachings about good, evil and suffering, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Muslim teachings about good, evil and suffering, 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.
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Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Crime and punishment unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended