subject	Relationships
topic	Community
grade	Five
time	30 minutes
objective	To enable students to understand the relationships within a Muslim community.
instructional material	Info Sheet 5a – Community Question Sheet 5a - Community

INTRODUCTION

The social life of a true Muslim is based on principles designed to secure happiness and success for the individual as well as for the society. Class welfare, social castes and domination of the individual over society or viceversa are not part of an Islamic social life. Nowhere in the Quran or in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can one find any mention of the superiority of anyone, based on class or origin or wealth. On the contrary, there are many verses of the Quran and sayings of Muhammad (PBUH) to remind mankind of our equality as humans.

"Anyone who has no mercy on the juniors and respect for the seniors is not one of us Muslims"

"None of you is a true believer of Islam until and unless he loves for his fellow man what he loves for his own self."

"Whoever invites others to good is like the doer of good and will be rewarded accordingly, and whoever instigates evil is like the doer of evil and will be punished accordingly."

DEVELOPMENT

Read Info Sheet with the students.

REINFORCING ACTIVITIES

Let students do the Question Sheet.

INFO SHEET 5a – Community

According to Islam, the final goal of humanity is God. From Him we come, for Him we live and to Him we shall all return. In fact, the sole purpose of creation as described by the Quran is to worship God and to serve His cause, the cause of truth and justice, of love and mercy, of brotherhood and morality (Surah 51:56-58).

The individual is responsible for the common welfare and for the prosperity of his society. This responsibility is not only to the society but also to God. In this way the individual works with a sound social mindedness and a genuine feeling of inescapable responsibility. It is his rule to do the utmost for his society and to contribute to its common welfare. On the other hand, the society is also responsible to God for the welfare of the individual. When the individual is able he is the contributor and society is the beneficiary. In return he is entitled to security and care, should he become disabled. In this case he is the beneficiary and society is the contributor. So duties and rights correspond harmoniously. Responsibility and concern are mutual. There is no state to dominate the individual and abrogate his personal entity. Likewise, there is no individual or class of individuals to exploit the society and corrupt the state. There is harmony with peace and mutual security. There is a constructive interaction between the individual and the society.

The structure of social life in Islam is very lofty, sound and comprehensive. Among the substantial elements of the structure are the sincere love for one's fellow human beings, mercy for the young, respect for the elders, comfort and consolation for the distressed, visiting the sick, relieving the grieved, genuine feelings of brotherhood and social solidarity; respect for the rights of other people to life, property, and honour; mutual responsibility between the individual and society, it is a common thing to come across prophetic statements like these: "Whoever relieves a human being from a grief of this world, God will relieve him from a grief on the Day of Judgement."

"Anyone who has no mercy on the juniors and respect for the seniors is not one of us Muslims"

"None of you is a true believer of Islam until and unless he loves for his fellow man what he loves for his own self."

"Whoever invites others to good is like the doer of good and will be rewarded accordingly, and whoever instigates evil is like the doer of evil and will be punished accordingly."

In the Quran, on the other hand, one finds numerous divine instructions like these:

"Oh you who believe! Mind God as He should minded, and die not except in a state of Islam. And hold fast, all together, by the Rope of God, and be not divided among yourselves. And remember with gratitude God's favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His grace you have become bretheren; and you were on the brink of the Pit of Fire and He saved you from it. Thus does God make His signs clear to you that you may be guided. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. They are the ones to attain felicity." (Surah Al-Imran 3:102-104)

"Oh you who believe! Fulfil all obligations. . . and help you one another in righteousness and piety, but help you not one another in sin and rancour. Mind God; for God is strict in punishment." (Surah Al-Maidah 5:123)

QUESTION SHEET 5a – Community

(a) What is the dictionary definition of “community”?

(b) In an Islamic community, can one person be “superior” to another? Why, or why not?

(d) What are the substantial elements of social structure in Islam?

(e) Write down three Prophetic statements regarding society.

Write down your own personal definition of “community”