subject	Social Justice
topic	Fairness
grade	Four
time	30 minutes
objective	To enable students to understand what Islam says about fairness, and its role in social justice.
instructional material	Info Sheet 4f Worksheet 4f - What about in your new planet?

 

INTRODUCTION

 

(this lesson to be used in conjunction with, or after lesson 4C:  Beginnings & Endings – Creation of the Universe)

 

Islam has been from its inception very concerned with issues of human rights. Privacy, freedom, dignity and equality are guaranteed in Islam. The holy Qur'an states clearly:

 

"There is no compulsion in religion.  Truth stands out clearly from falsehood; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks.  And God is All-Hearing and All-Knowing."  (2:256)

 

The lives, property and privacy of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether or not the person is Muslim.  Non-Muslims have freedom of worship and the practice of their religions, including their own family law and religious courts. They are obliged to pay a different tax (Jizyah) instead of the Zakah (purification tax for Muslims), and the state is obligated to provide both protection and government services.

 

In no other religion did women receive such a degree of legal and moral equality and personal respect. Moreover, racism and tribalism are incompatible with Islam, for the Qur'an speaks of human equality in the following terms:

 

"Mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety.  God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”  (49:13)

 

DEVELOPMENT

 

Read the Info sheet with the students.

 

INFO SHEET 4f - Fairness

Islam has been from its inception very concerned with issues of human rights. Privacy, freedom, dignity and equality are guaranteed in Islam. The holy Qur'an states clearly:

"There is no compulsion in religion.  Truth stands out clearly from falsehood; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks.  And God is All-Hearing and All-Knowing."  (2:256)

The lives, property and privacy of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether or not the person is Muslim.  Non-Muslims have freedom of worship and the practice of their religions, including their own family law and religious courts. They are obliged to pay a different tax (Jizyah) instead of the Zakah (purification tax for Muslims), and the state is obligated to provide both protection and government services.

In no other religion did women receive such a degree of legal and moral equality and personal respect. Moreover, racism and tribalism are incompatible with Islam, for the Qur'an speaks of human equality in the following terms:

"Mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety.  God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”  (49:13)

WORKSHEET 4f - Fairness?

Is your new planet a fair planet (the one you created in “Creation of the Universe”)?  How did you arrange to meet the needs of all people of different races, cultures, and religions?  Make a plan as to how you would arrange people’s differences; whose laws would you follow?  Or would you make borders between peoples and let each community govern themselves?