Subject Knowledge for Teachers – Islam

January 2023

We are delighted to kick off 2023 with a new book by popular author, teacher and adviser Dr Chris Hewer. For years Chris has researched, written and taught around the idea of ‘Christian-Muslim relations’, and the theological interaction between Islam and Christianity. Chris has gained a rich expertise in understanding Islam which makes him a valuable source of subject knowledge for teachers.

Whatever the teacher’s own background and worldview, for the majority of the time in the Religion and Worldviews classroom, we will be teaching a tradition, belief or way of life that we do not follow ourselves. We need accurate and reliable subject knowledge to provide the basis for lessons.

Chris’s new book is of great benefit for teachers of Islam, especially at GCSE. The GCSE specification requires a knowledge of the differences between Sunni and Shi’a practices and subtle differences in belief, as well as an understanding of how these differences developed. However these distinctions are important for teachers of Islam of all age groups.
Main website: https://chrishewer.org/
GCSE guidance: https://chrishewer.org/g-c-s-e/

The book details the events leading up to a seismic moment in Islamic history; the martyrdom of Hussain. Find out about the influential figures and concerns at the time, as the Islamic community was expanding rapidly, and finding its feet as a powerful new arrival on the world stage. Encounter big themes such as justice, equality and sacrifice which will help you bring the story to life for your students.

The section on Chris’s website is called ‘Hussain and Justice’. Here you will find additional material for study, including a map, timeline and who’s who, as well as a PDF of the complete book.

Find everything you need here: https://chrishewer.org/hussain-and-justice-study/