As Americans gear up for 4th of July, Muslims are getting ready to celebrate what for them is a bigger holiday--Eid al Fitr. Also called Lesser Eid, this holiday ends the season of Ramadan. Here are social studies lessons on the Islamic holy season of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month-long religious fast celebrated by Muslims, during the month of Shawwal (sometime around June to August in the western calendar). In 2016, Ramadan began June 5 and ends on July 5. It begins with the first moon sighting which came a little early this year. Like the Christian season of Lent, Ramadan is a penitential season. Ramadan focuses on the Five Pillars of Islam. It ends with the celebration of Eid al Fitr.
Use these social studies lessons to help children understand the Islamic faith by helping them understand their own faith and creed, whatever that may be, in relation to the larger fabric of religion. Use these social studies lessons to explain Islamic beliefs to Christian children by drawing parallels between Judeo-Christian faiths. These social studies lessons will help children understand how Muslims believe and why Ramadan and Eid al Fitr are so important. The five pillars, or tenets of the Islamic faith include:
* Sha'hadah (Declaration of faith). This is a creed of faith that is repeated at worship. Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant Christians repeat the Apostles Creed or the Nicene Creed. The gist of Sha'hadah is "la ilaha illa Llah," meaning "There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger." The word "ilaha" is similar to the Christian saying "god with a little g." It refers to anything people might worship or put faith in: money, possessions, technology or other gods. "Llah" is God with a capital G, the deity.
Islamic Sha'hadah is similar to the first of the Biblical 10 commandments which many Christian faiths recite at services, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Shema Yisrael, which is the cornerstone of Jewish prayer says, "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." Jesus expanded on that in the gospel of St. Mark, calling this the greatest commandment. He added, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength."
* Salah (prayer). These are the five prayers recited daily by Muslims. Worship frames a Muslim's day and these prayers guide the worship. Muslims pray at dawn, noon, midafternoon, sunset and nightfall. All activities are covered in prayer. Muslims pray wherever they find themselves at the appointed time. These daily prayers are similar to Christian devotions. Catholics pray a similar Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office, including Matins, Lauds, Prime, Vespers and Compline. Many Christians pray in the morning, before meals and at bedtime.
* Zakat (charity). In Christian faiths, almsgiving, tithing and works of charity are part of worship. Almsgiving is one of the three-pronged devotions of Lent. Muslims believe that all things belong to God and that helping others is part of spiritual growth. These acts are especially important during Ramadan.
* Saum (fasting). Islamic tradition calls for abstinence from food, alcohol and sexual relations in marriage during Ramadan. It is part of the purifying process for Muslims. The Bible exhorts Christians to practice similar abstinence especially during penitential seasons.
* Hajj (pilgrimage). Muslims are encouraged to travel to Makkah (Mecca) the holy city. Jewish people make spiritual journeys to the holy city of Jerusalem. In the early Christian church pilgrims would travel to shrines and places where miracles were said to occur. Places like Bethlehem, San Juan Compostela, Canterbury, Lourdes and Fatima were common pilgrimage sites.
Ramadan is a season of prayer, almsgiving and fasting like Advent and Lent. Like these two Christian seasons, Ramadan is followed with celebration. Christmas follows Advent. Easter follows Lent. Eid al Fitr is the celebratory feast that concludes Ramadan. Eid al Fitr begins on July 5 in the eastern world and a day later in North America. Explain in social studies lessons that, like other religious holidays, special foods are prepared and new clothes are purchased for Eid al Fitr. People exchange gifts and sppecial games, like Mheibes mark the holiday. Eid al Fitr is a festive time. To wish someone a happy holiday, say "Ramadan Mubarek."
