Teaching students about Jahiliyyah is an essential task that every Islamic school must undertake. Jahiliyyah refers to the period of ignorance before the advent of Islam, where Arabs were steeped in idol worship, injustice, and inequality. Understanding Jahiliyyah is essential to understand the significance of Islamic teachings, practices, and ethics. It helps students to appreciate the transformation of Arabia through the Prophets’ mission and how it changed the course of the world.

Here are some effective ways of teaching students about Jahiliyyah:

1. Provide a historical background

Start by introducing the historical background of Jahiliyyah, including how Arabs lived during that time. Explain the social, economic, and political state of Arabia before the advent of Islam. Help students to understand the values and morals of the pre-Islamic Arab society and how they differ from those of Islam.

2. Highlight the problems of Jahiliyyah

Explain to students the major problems of Jahiliyyah, including idol worship, tribalism, injustice, and the oppression of women and the poor. Help them understand how these problems contributed to chaos and unrest in the society and how the advent of Islam helped address these problems.

3. Discuss the role of the Prophet

Teach students about the life and mission of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his contribution to changing the course of Arab history. Explain why his message was revolutionary and how it transformed the society.

4. Highlight the Islamic ethics and values

Teach students about the Islamic ethics and values that differ from the pre-Islamic era. Explain to them the importance of justice, equality, compassion, and empathy that Islam promotes and how it helped in the success of Arabs in transforming from a barbaric era.

5. Use multimedia

Engage students using multimedia such as images, videos, and interactive sessions. For instance, you can use pictures of pre-Islamic Arab society to show them how things were. You may also provide videos that illustrate how Islam changed the course of things.

6. Use role models

Highlight exemplary figures who played a significant role in transforming the society before and after Islam. They may include Khalid ibn al-Walid, Bilal ibn Rabah, and Abdullah bin Masood, among others. Explain the roles they played in advancing Islam and how they became role models to Muslims.

Conclusively, teaching students about Jahiliyyah is crucial in their understanding of Islamic teachings, practices, and ethics. With a solid background of Jahiliyyah, students can appreciate the role of Islam in shaping Arab and Islamic history. Teachers must employ different strategies to make the teaching interesting and effective.