Glencoe World History © 2010Chapter 6:
The World of IslamStudent Web Activity Lesson PlansThe Hajj Introduction The hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is not a single ritual, but a defined set of rituals that are observed at a set time each year in and around Makkah. Each able-bodied Muslim is expected to participate in the hajj at least once in his or her life. In this activity, students will explore the hajj in detail and gain a greater appreciation for how the hajj reinforces values and stories that are central to Islam. Lesson Description
Students will go through a virtual hajj, the rituals it comprises, and its symbolic value for Muslims. Students will answer four questions about what they have read. They will then compose a brief essay on the role of the hajj in Islam. Instructional Objectives - The learner will be able to summarize the symbols, stories, and rituals around the hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
- The learner will be able to apply their knowledge of the hajj rituals to a specific period of Islamic civilization.
Student Web Activity Answers - Muslims believe Abraham visited Mecca and Abraham and his son Ishmail built the Kaaba (Kabah) there.
- "The Stoning" is a ritual in which pilgrims toss pebbles at a series of three pillars which are meant to represent Satan.
- Tawaf is a counter-clockwise procession around the Kabah (Kaaba), performed as one of the hajj rituals. It is a form of prayer performed only in Mecca.
- The white clothing symbolizes a state of human equality and unity before God, in addition to the pilgrim’s purity.
- Students' answers should reflect an understanding of the hajj rituals and their meanings.
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