Lessons that make a difference! Chloe (KS3)

Which RS lesson has had the greatest impact on me?

At the beginning of the year in the first RS lesson, my class was asked what we knew about Islam. I was confident at first, I thought: I’ve heard about Islam, I must be able to write down a lot! Surprisingly not a thought came to my head. I discovered I knew a lot less about Islam than I anticipated, and I felt un-intelligent and embarrassed. Luckily the rest of the class shared their views and I realized how much I recognized and how much there was to learn. I learnt the beliefs of Islam, how Muslims worship one, all-knowing God, how the Mosque is their place of worship and how once in their life, a Muslim is expected to take a Pilgrimage to Meccah which is called Hajj. I had heard these facts when I was younger but had not been told them since. I believe this is why RS is so important, it educates us on beliefs all round the world and helps us recall what we already know. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history and meaning of Islam and left the lesson feeling satisfied and enlightened.

Recently, I went on holiday to Istanbul, the capital city of Turkey. Over 90 percent of its population is Islamic which meant there were Mosques at every corner. I visited the Hagia Sophia, an amazingly designed mosque built in 537 AD. I covered my hair and took off my shoes and entered through the Imperial Gate. I was speechless. This building was unlike any I’d seen before. It was huge and lined with hundreds of lights, its dome 180 feet. I could understand why people might feel awed and inspired in such a beautiful and vast building. I was able to recognize features of the mosque which I had learned about in RS, e.g., the minarets and the separate areas for men and women to pray. I also went to the Topkapi Palace where some of the holiest relics of Islam are displayed, I saw Mohammed’s swords, an impression of his footprint and some hairs from his beard. These are contained in the Pavilion of the Holy Mantel, which is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims. As I walked around it the muezzin recited the call to prayer. It was very atmospheric, and I was glad I had learned about it in my RS lesson, as I could understand what I was seeing and the significance it had for Muslims.

Overall, my RS lesson opened my eyes to the faith and culture of Islam, and this in turn enriched my trip abroad at half term. I now realize that what I learn in a classroom in West London can be relevant to the world at large. One thing I will never forget is walking around the Grand Bazaar, an enormous covered market with over 4000 stalls. As I was looking at the jewels and rugs, I heard the distant call to prayer and all the shopkeepers came and laid their prayer mats down and took a few minutes to kneel and say their prayers. It made me think of when we do the ‘pause’ at St James and the importance of a few minutes of mindfulness throughout the day.