Fasting and zakat: Winning through sacrifice

Through introspection and comparative analysis, students will realize that rituals of sacrifice speak to what is deified or deemed sacred in a society. By the end of this lesson, students will recognize that sacrifice in Islam is a vehicle to show love and gratitude to God, leading to benefits in this life and in the hereafter.

In this lesson, students will focus on the ritual of fasting as an expression of love and devotion toward God. Students will acknowledge that while Islamic rituals such as fasting are done for God, it is ultimately we, as individuals and communities, who benefit.

This lesson gives students the conceptual framework to understand and appreciate the Islamic ritual of zakat. Students will participate in the act of giving zakat to recognize its utility in producing a collective community. The experiential learning in this lesson will conclude the unit with the understanding that the Islamic worldview of sacrifice is a mindset that results in inner purity and a fruitful life.