Grade 7 & 8:

We completed our study of Hazrat Imam Ali: his Caliphate, his teachings, and his legacy.  We looked at how Imam Ali handled all of the issues he faced as Caliph, with the Qur’anic ethic of forgiveness, tolerance, patience, empathy and kindness.  After reading two letters Imam Ali wrote: one to his newly appointed Governor, Malik al-Ashtar, and the other to his son Hazrat Hasan, the students reflected on what they found most moving. We looked at how Imam Ali’s teachings remain a core feature of both the Shi’a and Sufi communities within Islam. Students read Hazrat Imam Ali’s sayings and discussed how they can apply to everyday life.

Grade 9 & 10:

Students continued their exploration with Unit 3 this week. We explored how Muawiya got into power, resulting in the rise of the Umayyad caliphate. We looked at the power struggles between Mu’awiya, Hazrat Ali, and later his two sons Hassan and Hussayn, culminating in the tragic event of Karbala. Finally, students begin their year-end assessment which will continue next two weeks to culminate in their final project. Students will work on Unit 1, 2, and 3 to unfold the story of first few centuries of Islam and how this formative period of Islam has shaped the narrative of Muslim community in the later period.

Al-Azhar:

Al-Azhar students debriefed the leadership experiences and mentorship they received at Luminate 2018, and we talked about strategies to continue the momentum from the weekend. Al-Azhar students also continued to work on their documentaries in their groups. These will Inshallah be ready to share with parents at the end of the term.