This term, in RE Year two have been learning about life as a Muslim. They have focused on the ceremony for welcoming a new baby (called Aquiqah) and the wedding ceremony.
First, Brother Khadim, from the Newcastle Central Mosque visited the children. He shared different artefacts and information about how Muslims live their daily lives. He explained that Muslims pray five times a day and showed the children a range of prayer mats. The boys and girls also learned that Muslims wash their hands, feet and face before praying, including in their nose and mouth. Did you know that some Muslims use a special stick called a miswak to brush their teeth? The sap inside the stick is antibacterial so it cleans their mouth. Year Two were also shown the Qu’ran (the Muslim holy book) and discovered that because it is written in Arabic, it is read from right to left.
Next, the children learnt about Aquiqah, a special ceremony to welcome a new baby. They found out that the first thing a new Muslim baby hears is the call to prayer, which is usually whispered into the ear by the baby’s father. The new baby is also given something sweet such as honey soon after it is born. After seven days, the baby’s head is shaved and the hair is weighed to decide how much money should be given to charity. The family also have a feast to thank Allah for the precious gift of a new baby.
After that, Year Two learned about the Muslim wedding ceremony. The children sequenced some of the key events, including the Wallemah or party that takes place after the wedding. The children discovered that the groom gives his bride a gift of gold jewellery before the wedding. After the wedding ceremony, the bride says goodbye to her family (Rukhsat) because she will then go to live with her husband’s family. The boys and girls then thought carefully about which part of the wedding ceremony they thought was the most important and gave reasons for their answers.
Article 14: We all have the right to follow our own religion
