Lesson 9: Hajj & Islam in NL

• Religious education
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Lesson 9: Hajj and Islam in NL

Program:

1. Welcome and Happy New Year!

2. Hajj and rituals

3. Islam in NL

Lesson goals:

1. You can explain what the hajj and the rituals involved are

2. You can explain what a ritual is and apply the characteristics to the Hajj

20 januari Test Islam

Rituals

A ritual can be described as a series of symbolic behaviors/actions that are considered necessary and meaningful in certain situations. The various steps of a ritual follow a fixed sequence. Religious rituals often refer to divine beings or ancestors whom the participant honors.

A ritual has multiple characteristics:

• It involves repetition (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).
• It has a fixed form and structure.
• It follows a specific sequence.
• It refers to a special/holy/unusual event. Distinguish between the usual en special events. 
• It possesses a powerful, supernatural, or divine element.

categories

1. Rite of passage: A ritual that symbolizes the transition from one life phase to another.
2. Rite of intensification: A ritual aimed at strengthening group cohesion.
3. Rite of divination: A ritual to obtain information or make predictions by invoking the gods.
4. Rite of preparation: A ritual performed to prepare for an important event.
5. Rite of protection: A ritual intended to offer protection.

Assignment 2

Read the article The various steps of the pilgrimage ritual to Mecca written by Marjo Buitelaar (see the next page). Then answer the following questions:

A. Below, you see the 5 characteristics of a ritual. For each characteristic, explain how it applies to the Hajj, using a specific example from the article.

1. It involves repetition (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).

2. It has a fixed form and structure.

3. It follows a specific sequence.

4. It pertains to or references a special/holy/unusual event.

5. It embodies something powerful, supernatural, or divine.

B. The Hajj itself consists of various “mini-rituals.” Re-read the article and underline the different rituals that make up the Hajj (you can identify at least 10 rituals). One ritual has already been provided as an example.

C. On the pages following Marjo Buitelaar’s article, you will find 4 photos taken during the Hajj. Which mini-ritual (see Assignment 2B) do these photos depict? Write a description under each photo explaining what is shown and which mini-ritual it represents.

Rituals of the Hajj

Ihram: Entering a state of spiritual purity by wearing specific garments and making the intention to perform Hajj.

Tawaf: Circling the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise in prayer and devotion.

Sa'i: Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, symbolizing Hagar’s search for water.

Arafat: Spending the afternoon in prayer and reflection at the Plain of Arafat, seeking forgiveness.

Muzdalifah: Collecting pebbles and performing evening prayers under the open sky.

Rami al-Jamarat: Throwing pebbles at the pillars representing the rejection of evil.

Qurbani: Sacrificing an animal to honor Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.

Tawaf al-Ifadah: Performing another circumambulation of the Kaaba to affirm devotion.

Halq or Taqsir: Shaving or trimming hair as a sign of humility and renewal.

Tawaf al-Wada: Completing a farewell circumambulation of the Kaaba before leaving Mecca.

Assignments Hajj

- Get out your assignment about the Hajj

- Continue with assignment 2 and 3

- Discuss answers

Arafat

Halq or Taqsir

Rami al-Jamarat

Zamzam well

Islam in The Netherlands

Discuss:

- Islam has been present in the Netherlands for centuries.

- Islam in the Netherlands is a single, unified movement.

- Most Muslims in the Netherlands are first-generation migrants.

Islam has been present in the Netherlands for centuries.

Partly true. While Islam was historically present through trade and diplomacy, significant Muslim communities only formed in the 20th century with labor migration.

Islam in the Netherlands is a single, unified movement.

False. Islam in the Netherlands is diverse, encompassing various sects (e.g., Sunni, Shia) and ethnic backgrounds (e.g., Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese).

Most Muslims in the Netherlands are first-generation migrants.

False. While early Muslim communities were largely first-generation migrants, many Muslims in the Netherlands today are second- or third-generation citizens.

Mapping Islam in the Netherlands: A Historical and Geographic Exploration

Go to: 

https://rug.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=e291e063037245db82b6f437c80a4bab

Start with the map: "Christendom en Islam in Nederland"

Examine migration patterns and numbers (e.g., Turkish and Moroccan guest workers in the 1960s and 1970s). Use: CBS.nl, https://50jaarmigratie.nl/

Theme 1: Historical Context

1. Which regions in the Netherlands saw the earliest Muslim presence, and why?

2. How did colonial history (e.g., Indonesia) influence Islam’s presence in the Netherlands?

3. What challenges did early Muslims face?

4. What stands out about the growth of mosques in the Netherlands since 1970?

5. What could be the reasons for this growth?

Theme 2: Distribution of Mosques and Communities

6. What do you notice about the geographic distribution of mosques?

7. How does this distribution relate to urban versus rural areas?

8. Look at the origins of Muslims in the Netherlands. Which countries are mentioned?

9. How is this diversity reflected in the mosques (names, architecture)?

Ethical Reflection:

10. Why is it important to provide space for religious diversity in a country like the Netherlands?

11. What can you do to promote understanding and respect for other religions?

Homework

6. How did the historical disagreement over leadership after the death of the Prophet Muhammad shape the distinct religious practices and beliefs of Sunni and Shia Muslims today?

7. In what ways have political and cultural factors influenced Sunni-Shia relations over time, and how do these factors continue to play a role in contemporary conflicts?

6. The historical disagreement over leadership after the Prophet Muhammad's death led to the Sunni belief in a community-chosen caliph, emphasizing unity, while Shia Muslims believed leadership should remain within the Prophet's family, specifically Ali and his descendants. This division influenced religious practices, such as Shia commemorations of Karbala, and theological emphases, like the Sunni focus on communal consensus versus Shia reverence for their Imams' spiritual authority.

7. Colonial divisions, and modern nation-state rivalries, have deepened Sunni-Shia divides. These influences persist in contemporary conflicts, where sectarianism is often exacerbated by geopolitical struggles, such as in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, where competing powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran mobilize religious identities for political gain.

Islam has been present in the Netherlands for centuries.

Partly true. While Islam was historically present through trade and diplomacy, significant Muslim communities only formed in the 20th century with labor migration.

Islam in the Netherlands is a single, unified movement.

False. Islam in the Netherlands is diverse, encompassing various sects (e.g., Sunni, Shia) and ethnic backgrounds (e.g., Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese).

Most Muslims in the Netherlands are first-generation migrants.

False. While early Muslim communities were largely first-generation migrants, many Muslims in the Netherlands today are second- or third-generation citizens.

npo.nl

Hajj

Pilgrimage =  journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life

Hajj = Pilgrimage to Mecca to be made once in a lifetime (if possible)

Pillar of Islam