Muslim attitudes to conflict
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand the nature of conflict and explore different perspectives on it, including those from a Muslim viewpoint.
Key learning points
- Conflict can be small or large and is often caused by politics, religion, inequality or power struggles.
- It leads to serious harm, including loss of life, displacement and damage to communities.
- Religion can create division but also encourages peace, forgiveness and moral action.
- Islam teaches that peace is the aim and force is only allowed in strict self-defence.
- Muslims reject outcome-based ethics, following clear guidance from Allah on conflict instead.
Keywords
Conflict - the opposition of individuals or groups that may result in aggression or fighting
Peace - a period of time in which there is no war
Violence - behaviour that aims to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy
Common misconception
Islam supports violence in response to conflict.
Islam teaches that violence is only allowed in self-defence and under strict conditions.
Teacher tip
Use case studies of examples of conflict around the world.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes peacemaking?
Q2.Peacemakers reject violence and the of using it.
Q3.What inspires Muslim peacemakers?
Q4.Why might a non-religious person support peace?
Q5.Peacemaking uses non-violent actions like reconciliation, negotiation, and addressing ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each key word to its meaning:
the opposition of individuals or groups, resulting in aggression
a period of time in which there is no war
behaviour that aims to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy
Q2.Conflict is often driven by politics, power, inequality and ...
Q3.What often happens to communities after conflict?
Q4.When is conflict permitted in Islam?
Q5.Muslims reject utilitarian and situation ethics in favour of following guidance.
Q6.Some Muslims promote pacifism, while others accept force under strict conditions.
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Muslim attitudes to conflict, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Muslim attitudes to conflict, 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 Peace and conflict unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.