Following an extensive engagement process spanning over a year, and in response to
repeated requests from parents, Ulama, the activist community, and educational
stakeholders for the inclusion of structured instruction on Palestine within the curriculum,
the Palestine Advocacy Committee of the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) is
pleased to announce its endorsement of a comprehensive curriculum on Palestine for middle
and high school learners, now ready for rollout.
The curriculum has been meticulously developed and overseen by Hafiz Advocate
Muhammed Vahed, founder of the Young Leaders Academy and a specialist in leadership
training. Development was undertaken under the auspices of the Islamic Curriculum
Initiative (ICI), an initiative of the Global Association of Islamic Schools (GAIS), and Heart of
the Ummah. The material has been peer-reviewed by Muslim educationalists from around
the world, who form part of the curriculum development team. Moulana Ebrahim Moosa of
the Palestine Information Network (PIN) has also provided constructive input throughout the
process.
UUCSA’s endorsement follows extensive stakeholder consultation, a thorough review of
existing material, assessment of the curriculum’s scope and quality, and multiple direct
meetings with the developer.
Unique Features:
· Free, ready-to-use content suitable for Islamic schools and educational institutions.
· Detailed lesson plans with cross-curricular links, interactive activity ideas, vocabulary,
and references to Qur’an and Ahadith.
· Slide decks and multimedia resources.
· Lesson and assessment handouts.
· Maps and visual aids.
Why This Curriculum is Vital
This curriculum seeks to nurture an understanding of the collective duty of the Ummah to
protect sacred sites such as Al-Aqsa and to stand firmly against injustice, oppression, and
occupation. Learners are guided to recognize that current events have deep historical roots
and to develop a personal sense of ownership and responsibility towards the preservation
and liberation of Masjid al-Aqsa.
Crucially, the curriculum inspires learners to connect Islamic teachings and the history of
Al-Aqsa to practical action—encouraging them to promote virtue, resist wrongdoing, and
contribute meaningfully to justice within their communities and the broader world.
Implementation and Training
Recognising the vital role of sound education grounded in authentic Islamic values in
producing a generation capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the Ummah, this
rollout represents a proactive, solution-driven intervention. It requires collective support and
implementation from Muslim educational institutions across South Africa. UUCSA urges all
institutions to take this initiative seriously and to allocate dedicated time within their
educational programmes for its teaching.
While the material is free to use, it will be made available to institutions following basic
orientation and training, to be conducted on-site in various regions in early 2026. These
sessions will familiarise educators with the concepts, methodology, and objectives of the
curriculum.
We call upon Islamic schools, interested makatib, and other educational organisations across
the country to take up this trust with seriousness and urgency—to sign up, train their
teachers, and integrate this curriculum into their learning programmes as a reflection of their
commitment to the Ummah and its sacred causes.
Institutions wishing to participate are requested to register their interest via the link below:
https://forms.gle/ym4dgo5G9Hdj7K5PA
Detailed content breakdown:
Module 1: Identifying Palestine — Understanding the meaning of Al-Ard Al-Muqaddasah and
appreciating why Palestine holds historical and spiritual significance for all of humanity.
Module 2: Ancient History and Spiritual Significance — Exploring the early history of
Palestine, the sanctity of Masjid al-Aqsa and Al-Quds, and the connection of various Ambiya
(AS), Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم, and the Sahabah (RA) to this blessed land.
Module 3: Islamic Presence Through the Ages — Tracing Palestine’s rich history from Roman
rule to the Ottoman Khilafah, highlighting key figures, events, and the centrality of Masjid
al-Aqsa throughout.
Module 4: Masjid al-Aqsa — A detailed study of its Islamic importance, historical legacy,
architectural beauty, and role as a spiritual centre across centuries.
Module 5: Colonialism and Dispossession — The Balfour Declaration, Britain’s duplicity
during and after World War I, Zionist inroads into Palestine, and how these injustices led to
the Nakba, Naksa, and the ongoing refugee crisis.
Module 6: Life Under Occupation — Examining apartheid policies, military occupation, and
cultural erasure; the siege on Gaza; and the concept of Sumud (steadfast resilience) rooted in
Palestinian faith and identity.
Module 7: The Islamic Imperative of Solidarity — Understanding global responses to
Palestine and exploring practical steps for learners to become active ambassadors for
justice and change.
