Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 1
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Islamic Religious Studies
Curriculum Theme: Islamic Religious Studies
Previous Lesson: Hadith: Definition, Importance and Relationship With Shari’ah.
Topic: Revelation, recording and memorisation of the Glorious Qur’an during the life time of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W
Subject Matter: definition of key terms on revelation and memorisation, how the Glorious Qur’an was revealed during the Prophet’s lifetime, how the Glorious Qur’an was recorded during the Prophet’s lifetime, how the Glorious Qur’an was memorised during the Prophet’s lifetime, items on which the Qur’an was written, names of Sahabah who memorised the Glorious Qur’an

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define key terms such as Revelation, Qur’an, and Memorisation.
Describe the process of how the Glorious Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
Explain the methods used for recording the Glorious Qur’an during the Prophet’s lifetime.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the efforts made in preserving the Glorious Qur’an.
Show respect for the sanctity and importance of the Glorious Qur’an.

Psychomotor Domain:

Identify the various items on which the Qur’an was recorded.
List at least five Sahabah who were instrumental in memorising the Glorious Qur’an.

Discuss the collective responsibility of the early Muslim community in preserving the Qur’an.
Promote understanding of the historical preservation of the Qur’an among peers.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Islamic Religious Studies for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 1.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

copies of the Glorious Qur’an
pictures or samples of stones, bones, and leaves used for writing (if available)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the divine origin and meticulous preservation of the Glorious Qur’an. Knowing how it was revealed, recorded, and memorised during the Prophet’s lifetime strengthens their faith and appreciation for Islam’s holy book.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and the general concept of divine messages in Islam.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Revelation, Recording and Memorisation of the Glorious Qur’an

Definition of Key Terms

Revelation (Wahy): This refers to the divine communication from Allah (S.W.T) to His chosen Prophets, particularly to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), through the Angel Jibreel. The Qur’an is considered a revelation from Allah.

Glorious Qur’an: This is the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of Allah revealed verbatim to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) over a period of approximately 23 years. It is the primary source of Islamic law and guidance.

Memorisation (Hifz): This is the act of learning the Glorious Qur’an by heart. During the Prophet’s time, memorisation was a primary method of preserving the Qur’an.

Recording (Kitabah): This refers to the process of writing down the revealed verses of the Qur’an as they were received by the Prophet (S.A.W).

Revelation of the Glorious Qur’an

The Glorious Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) gradually, verse by verse or in short chapters, over a period of 23 years (610-632 CE). The revelations came through the Angel Jibreel, who would recite the verses to the Prophet. This gradual revelation allowed for easier memorisation, understanding, and implementation of its teachings by the early Muslim community.

Recording of the Glorious Qur’an

As soon as a revelation came, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) would instruct his scribes (writers) among the Sahabah to write down the verses. He would specify the exact position of each verse within a Surah (chapter) and its relation to other revelations. This ensured that the written text was arranged according to divine instruction.

Items on which the Qur’an was written

Due to the absence of paper at that time, the Qur’an was recorded on various readily available materials. The following are some of the items used:

Flat stones: Smooth, flat pieces of stone (Lihāf al-Hijārah) were used.
Animal bones: Shoulder blades of camels and ribs (Aktaf wal Adla) were common.
Date palm leaves/stalks: Strips from date palm trees (Asīb al-Nakhl) were frequently used.
Parchment/Leather: Treated animal skins (Riqa’ or Adīm) were also used for writing.
Wooden tablets: Flat pieces of wood.

Memorisation of the Glorious Qur’an

Memorisation was the primary method of preserving the Qur’an during the Prophet’s lifetime. The Prophet (S.A.W) himself would memorise the revelations and frequently recite them to his companions. The Sahabah, driven by faith and the importance of the divine message, eagerly memorised the verses directly from the Prophet. Many companions would recite the Qur’an to the Prophet to ensure accuracy, and he would correct any mistakes. This oral tradition was extremely strong and accurate.

Sahabah who memorised the Glorious Qur’an

Numerous companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) committed the entire Qur’an to memory. These individuals were known as “Huffaz” (memorizers). The following are some prominent Sahabah who memorised the Glorious Qur’an:

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Uthman ibn Affan
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Zayd ibn Thabit
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud
Ubayy ibn Ka’b
Abu Ad-Darda
Mu’adh ibn Jabal
Aisha bint Abi Bakr (wife of the Prophet)

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 what they know about the Glorious Qur’an and how they think it was preserved.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions, sharing their prior knowledge and ideas.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and their prior knowledge is activated.

Step 2: Definition of Key Terms

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines key terms such as Revelation, Glorious Qur’an, Memorisation, and Recording, writing them on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and copy the definitions into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the fundamental vocabulary related to the topic.

Step 3: Revelation of the Glorious Qur’an

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the process and duration of the Qur’an’s revelation to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) through Angel Jibreel.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the narration and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the divine origin and gradual revelation of the Qur’an.

Step 4: Recording of the Glorious Qur’an

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how the Prophet (S.A.W) instructed scribes to record the verses and mentions the challenges faced due to lack of modern writing materials.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and contribute ideas on how they would have recorded information in ancient times.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meticulous recording process during the Prophet’s era.

Step 5: Items on which the Qur’an was written

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Listing/Visualisation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents pictures or samples of materials like stones, bones, and leaves, explaining how they were used for recording the Qur’an.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the items and discuss their suitability for writing.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the specific materials used for recording the Qur’an.

Step 6: Memorisation of the Glorious Qur’an

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Narration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the importance of memorisation as a primary method of preservation and encourages pupils to appreciate the dedication of the Sahabah, mentioning some of their names.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss the role of memorisation and list some Sahabah who memorised the Qur’an.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the role of memorisation and recognise key memorisers.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Define the term ‘Revelation’.
List three items on which the Glorious Qur’an was recorded during the Prophet’s lifetime.
Name three Sahabah who memorised the Glorious Qur’an.
Briefly explain how the Glorious Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarisation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the main points of the lesson, reinforcing the importance of the Qur’an’s preservation.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask any final questions.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of the lesson.

Lesson Keywords

Revelation – Divine communication from Allah to His Prophets.
Qur’an – The holy book of Islam, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
Memorisation – Learning the Qur’an by heart.
Recording – Writing down the verses of the Qur’an.
Sahabah – Companions of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

Differentiation

The teacher will provide additional support to struggling pupils by simplifying explanations and offering more examples, while advanced pupils will be encouraged to research further into the history of Qur’anic preservation.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure they have visual aids or clear descriptions for the various recording materials to help pupils grasp the historical context. Emphasise the significance of the collective effort in preserving the Qur’an.