A wise man once said ‘In reality, there are as many religions as there are individuals’. These are the words of Mahatma Gandhi, who stood for peace in a world of conflict. It is a lesson we can still learn from today, particularly when it comes to the dynamics of faith. Within all worldwide religions we can find different, standing up for their different beliefs about tradition and origin. In Islam, it can be generally split into two groups known as Shia and Sunni Islam. These differ in many ways. For a teacher in a classroom environment, it can be challenging to not only introduce these differences to students, but also to emphasise the deeply rooted history between the two sects. The tensions underlining these differences have unfortunately caused a lot of violence throughout history – but there are many who seek common ground, mutual respect and compassion between the two groups. The importance of tolerance for opinions different to our own is at the heart of peace. It is when we listen to each other, that we discover that we may have more in common than we might think. Not just in religion, but in all realms of life.
In our new film Shia // Sunni at TrueTube, we have attempted to capture the importance of these humanitarian principles within the newly formed relationship between our two dynamic characters. In a Romeo and Juliet style drama, Fatimah (a Shia Muslim) and Abubakr (a Sunni Muslim) discover a surprising connection they didn’t think would be possible. Fatimah goes to help Abubakr when she notices him suffering from an asthma attack. This kind gesture grows into polite conversation which then develops into a spirited argument covering the main differences and misconceptions surrounding the two groups. With both characters defending themselves, they slowly discover that their passion for their faith and equally matched human spirit, unites them much more than it divides them. This story demonstrates the power of kindness and strong communication when it comes to all forms of conflict. If you’re looking for a warm-hearted teaching resource to introduce the complicated dynamics between Shia and Sunni Islam, then this film is definitely worth a try. The accompanying teacher’s notes will also offer key questions and lesson activities to make this topic come to life in your classroom. Let us know how it goes.
In our new film Shia // Sunni at TrueTube, we have attempted to capture the importance of these humanitarian principles within the newly formed relationship between our two dynamic characters. In a Romeo and Juliet style drama, Fatimah (a Shia Muslim) and Abubakr (a Sunni Muslim) discover a surprising connection they didn’t think would be possible. Fatimah goes to help Abubakr when she notices him suffering from an asthma attack. This kind gesture grows into polite conversation which then develops into a spirited argument covering the main differences and misconceptions surrounding the two groups. With both characters defending themselves, they slowly discover that their passion for their faith and equally matched human spirit, unites them much more than it divides them. This story demonstrates the power of kindness and strong communication when it comes to all forms of conflict. If you’re looking for a warm-hearted teaching resource to introduce the complicated dynamics between Shia and Sunni Islam, then this film is definitely worth a try. The accompanying teacher’s notes will also offer key questions and lesson activities to make this topic come to life in your classroom. Let us know how it goes.
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