Qur’anic attitudes to pre-Islamic society & customs According to the author, how far does the Qur'an reject pre-Islamic customs? What ultimately influenced Islam with monotheistic beliefs? Why is shirk given the harshest of punishments in the Qur’an? Which religious and non-religious aspects of society were rejected by the Qur’an? Explain the practice of zina which was rejected by the Qur’an. What practices were kept from the jahiliyyah? How was the Ummah (Islamic brotherhood) strengthened by the Qur’an? What characteristics and culture from Arabia continued on into Islam? How far do you agree with Muhammad Jinani that the Qur’an has recreated Arabia rather than replaced it since it originally was influenced by Abrahamic beliefs?

Christianity and Judaism To explore monotheistic religious inclinations in pre Islamic Arabia. Do Now: Compare your notes about Zoroastrianism with the people around you. Were the Zoroastrians integrated within Meccan community or separate from it?

Activation: Pair up with someone else in the room. One person can read about Christianity in Pre-Islamic Arabia. One person can read about Judaism in Pre Islamic Arabia. After you have read it, teach your ideas to your partner. Then both fill out your grid.

Demonstration: Explore the religious status of Pre-Islamic Arabia. Answer this question based upon what you have learned about the different beliefs and worship. You can include: Polytheism/Idol Worship Animism Christianity Judaism Zoroastrianism Hanifs Try and do as much as you can from what you have understood/remembered rather than writing from your sheet/notes. When a question is asking you to ‘Explore’, what is it asking you to do? Explore = Demonstrate understanding by giving a variety of reasons/ideas.

Consolidation: What values are the Meccans lacking which could be implemented through one singular belief?

Zoroastrianism and Islam: In the beginning, what kind of religious influence did Zoroastrianism have? What ultimately happened to Zoroastrianism in the end? Which religions did Zoroastrianism clearly influence and with which two beliefs? What are the two opposing views surrounding how Islam treated Zoroastrians? What does the author say about jihad and tolerance? What did Muslims call Zoroastrians who lived in Iran when Islam ruled? Why did many Arab invaders tolerate Zoroastrianism early on? During the Sassanid dynasty, what was Zoroastrianism transformed into? What four ways does the author suggest Islam was more attractive than Zoroastrianism and why? When the status of zimmi was removed from Zoroastrians, what did Muslims called them instead? Even though the Zoroastrians were ultimately eliminated, what does the author say still remained? Which branch of Islam did Zoroastrian dualism have an impact on? What did this help them explain? What happened to Zoroastrians under the Shah in the 1960s? What happened to Zoroastrians during the anti-Shah revolution under Imam Komeini after 1979?

Lesson Preparation: Read Mahmood Ibrahim. ‘Social and Economic Conditions in Pre- Islamic Mecca’.