This document provides an overview of a lesson comparing the Muslim and Christian creation stories and the purpose of humans according to religious beliefs. The learning intentions are to describe the Muslim creation story, compare it to the Christian version, and understand the purpose of humans for religious believers. Students will complete a Venn diagram and work as a team to teach others about the purpose of humans. The document includes passages from the Quran, a cloze activity, discussion questions, and plans for group work comparing the different creation accounts and what they teach about the role of humanity.

1. What does this
picture
represent?

2. Learning intentions:
• To describe the Muslims
creation story.
• To compare to the Christian
creation story.
• To understand the purpose
of humans for religious
believers.
Success criteria:
• Completing a venn diagram.
• To work as a team to teach
others about the purpose of
humans.

3. • Muslims believe that Allah created everything out of nothing
according to his plan.
• The universe and our world are not the result of random
chance.
• Muslims say this is borne out by scientific observation, which
shows that everything in the universe obeys certain rules.
• Planets have certain orbits, day follows night and plants follow
seasons.
• These laws of nature, a Muslim believes, are the laws of Allah.
• The scriptures teach that after Allah created the earth, he
created all plant and animal life and then he created humans
separately.

4. • Complete the cloze activity.

5. Extension: What does the Muslim creation story tell us about how Muslims should
treat the world? Give examples of what their actions should be like.
A made heaven and earth, and all the a ,
birds and fish; the sun, moon and stars; the plants and the r ;
the angels. The a were sent to bring seven handfuls of
e an
– each of a different colour. From these the first
m Adam, was made; and from his side, Eve – the first w .
They lived in P – a beautiful garden; where they could eat
anything, except the fruit of one t . On disobeying Allah,
after being tempted by Iblis, they were placed outside the garden
as a p .
Human beings were given the role of khalifah or g /steward
to look after the earth and treat it with r .
This responsibility is binding on the ummah (community of
Muslims), and all believers on the Day of J will be
called to account for their part in looking after Allah's c .
Rain Paradise Allah Judgement earth animals tree woman
punishment respect creation angels guardian man

6. A llah made heaven and earth, and all the a nimals
,
birds and fish; the sun, moon and stars; the plants and the r ain
;
the angels. The a ngels
were sent to bring seven handfuls of
e arth
– each of a different colour. From these the first
m an Adam, was made; and from his side, Eve – the first w oman
.
They lived in P aradise
– a beautiful garden; where they could eat
anything, except the fruit of one t ree
. On disobeying Allah,
after being tempted by Iblis, they were placed outside the garden
as a p unishment
.
Human beings were given the role of khalifah or g uardians
/steward
to look after the earth and treat it with r espect
.
This responsibility is binding on the ummah (community of
Muslims), and all believers on the Day of J udgement
will be
called to account for their part in looking after Allah's c reation
.

7. Read through the
quotations from
the Qur’an and
complete the
sheet.
Extension: ‘Scriptures teach
people a great deal about the
creation of the world.” Give two
reasons why a religious believer
might agree or disagree. (4
marks)

8. Muslim
creation
account
Christian
creation
account
Extension: Why do you think there
are similarities between the two
stories?

9. • You have one page in your books! Using only 20
words and as many numbers, pictures and symbols
as you like to create a poster on your area of
humanity and it’s creation.
15
minutes
Group 1 – the two Christian versions of humans creation.
Group 2 – what do Christians believe the stories teach
them?
Group 3 – sanctity of life/what are humans here for?
Group 4 – How do Muslims believe life arrived on earth?
Group 5 – Do Muslims believe in evolution/what is the
purpose of life.
Group 6 – what does the creation story mean for
Muslims?
P106-
108

10. 1. Nominate an ‘expert’ to stay with your
poster.
2. Go around the room, visiting the other
groups, answering the questions in your
table.
3. Return to your table, and help the expert
that stayed behind.
End
5
mins

11. “Creation stories make
humans out to be
robots.”
Give two reasons why a religious believer might
agree or disagree with this statement.
Point 1: A Christian would
agree/disagree, because...
Point 2: A Muslim would
agree/disagree, because...
Evidence 1: This is shown in
the teaching/belief...
Evidence 2: This is shown in
the teaching/belief...
Explanation 1: This means
that Christians...
Explanation 2: This means
that Muslims...

12. Plan a 30 second summary of
what you have learnt and how
from this lesson.
Be prepared – you might be
picked!