Class: Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS 2 / JS2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 8
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Islamic Religious Studies
Curriculum Theme: Islamic Religious Studies
Previous Lesson: Child’s Right in Islam: Protection, Participation, Education, Guidance and Good Name.
Topic: MUHAMMAD’S PROPHETHOOD
Subject Matter: Early public preaching by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), reaction and large scale of persecution of the Muslims by the Makkans, Explanation, pictures of important places of Makka e.g, Cave of Hira.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Explain the beginning of Prophet Muhammad’s public preaching.
Identify the reactions of the Makkans to Prophet Muhammad’s message.
Describe the types of persecution faced by early Muslims.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the steadfastness of Prophet Muhammad and early Muslims.
Develop a sense of empathy for those who face persecution for their beliefs.
Understand the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges.

Psychomotor Domain:

Discuss the historical events related to early Islamic preaching.
Draw or sketch important places in Makkah like the Cave of Hira.
Relate the lessons from Prophet Muhammad’s early life to contemporary challenges.

Promote understanding and tolerance among different religious groups.
Share information about the early history of Islam respectfully.
Recognize the value of peaceful coexistence despite differences.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
National Values Education for Junior Secondary Schools 2

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Pictures of important places in Makkah (e.g., Cave of Hira, Ka’aba)
A chart illustrating the timeline of early Islamic history
Textbooks and reference materials on Islamic studies.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the challenges faced by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and early Muslims in spreading the message of Islam. It enables pupils to appreciate the virtues of patience, perseverance, and steadfastness in upholding one’s beliefs, which are important values for national development.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have basic knowledge about the life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and the origins of Islam from previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Muhammad’s Prophethood: Early Preaching and Persecution

Early Public Preaching by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)

After receiving the first revelations in the Cave of Hira and preaching secretly for about three years, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was commanded by Allah to begin public preaching. This marked a new phase in the spread of Islam, moving from private invitation to open declaration. He called people to worship one God (Allah) and abandon idol worship, emphasizing monotheism and moral uprightness.

Reaction and Persecution by the Makkans

The Makkans, especially the leaders of the Quraysh tribe, reacted negatively to Prophet Muhammad’s public preaching. They felt threatened by his message because it challenged their traditional beliefs, their economic interests (linked to idol worship at the Ka’aba), and their social status. They feared losing their power and influence.

The following are reasons for the Makkans’ opposition:

Their ancestors’ religion was being denounced.
Their economic interests from idol worship were threatened.
They feared losing social and political power.
They disliked the message of equality, which challenged their hierarchical society.

The Makkans began a large scale of persecution against the Muslims. This persecution took various forms:

Verbal Abuse: Prophet Muhammad and his followers were mocked, insulted, and called names.
Social Boycott: Muslims were socially ostracized, making it difficult for them to trade or interact with others.
Physical Torture: Many early Muslims, especially those without tribal protection, were subjected to severe physical torture. Examples include Bilal ibn Rabah, who was tortured under the hot sun, and Sumayyah, the first martyr of Islam.
Economic Pressure: Muslims faced economic hardship due to boycotts and restrictions.
Assassination Attempts: Attempts were made on the life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

Important Places in Makkah

Makkah holds significant importance in the early history of Islam, with several key locations:

Cave of Hira: Located on Jabal an-Nour (Mountain of Light), this is where Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) received his first revelation from Allah through Angel Jibril (Gabriel).
Ka’aba: The sacred house in the center of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, which was initially filled with idols but was purified by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
Mount Safa and Marwa: Two small hills near the Ka’aba, significant for the ritual of Sa’i during Hajj and Umrah.
House of Arqam: An early secret meeting place for Muslims where Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) taught them.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall basic facts about the life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) before his prophethood, relating it to their previous knowledge.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and share what they remember about Prophet Muhammad’s early life.
Learning Point: Pupils connect new information with prior knowledge.

Step 2: Early Public Preaching

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Narration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) began his public preaching after a period of secret invitation, emphasizing the message of monotheism and the abandonment of idol worship.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and take notes on the beginning of public preaching.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the shift from secret to public propagation of Islam.

Step 3: Makkans’ Reaction

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the Makkans’ initial reaction to Prophet Muhammad’s public message, highlighting why they opposed it (e.g., threat to their traditions, economy, and power).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion, identifying reasons for the Makkans’ opposition.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the factors that led to the Makkans’ negative reaction.

Step 4: Persecution of Muslims

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher describes the various forms of persecution faced by early Muslims, providing examples of verbal abuse, social boycott, and physical torture.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask questions for clarification, understanding the severity of the persecution.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the extent and types of persecution suffered by early Muslims.

Step 5: Important Places in Makkah

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Aids/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays pictures of important places in Makkah, such as the Cave of Hira and the Ka’aba, explaining their significance in the early history of Islam.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictures and identify the places, relating them to the lesson content.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and understand the significance of key historical sites in Makkah.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

When did Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) begin his public preaching?
State two reasons why the Makkans opposed Prophet Muhammad’s message.
Mention three forms of persecution faced by early Muslims.
What is the significance of the Cave of Hira in Islamic history?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of steadfastness and patience during challenges, and assigns homework.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further study.

Lesson Keywords

Prophethood – The state of being a prophet or having a divine mission.
Makkah – The holy city in Saudi Arabia where Islam originated.
Persecution – Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.
Cave of Hira – The cave where Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) received his first revelation.
Revelation – A surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way; divine communication.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research and present more detailed accounts of specific instances of persecution. For those who need more support, the teacher can provide simpler explanations, use more visual aids, and pair them with stronger pupils for group activities.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure a sensitive approach when discussing religious topics. Encourage pupils to respect all faiths and understand the historical context of the events. Use visual aids effectively to engage pupils and make the historical places more tangible. Emphasize the lessons of patience, perseverance, and tolerance that can be drawn from the early history of Islam.