Reviews

Website review:

http://www.crescentlife.com/family%20matters/teaching_children_about_islam.htm

Interface -

• This website has a simple and easy to use interface.
• The text is black on a white background esuring that it is easy to read for most people.
• The headings are clear and typed in a larger font and also in bold.
• Each new topic is started with a new heading and a new paragraph.
• All links are clearly marked.
• The paragraphs are too long, and must be skim read as reading all the content would be time consuming.
• The site does look a little plain and there are not many images available and no alternative images for those with visual impairment.
• The site is easy to navigate through.

Content -

• The site is excellent for information on the Islamic way of life. It discusses how Muslims should live.
• It does not however concentrate on what Islam is about, such as 'The Five Pillars' or 'The Qu'ran.'
• The content does not really concentrate on Islam as a religion and it seems that the reason why many of the articles are on there is because they are written by a muslim author.
• The content which has been written is of a high standard and is written mainly by Islamic Scholars.
• This site did not really help us on the research of our site.

Website review 2:

www.al-islam.org

This is a well-designed and thoughtful site, which is clear and easy to navigate. Al-Islam is organised by the Ahlul Bayt Islamic Library Project, which was established in 1998. Navigation is simple and the site downloads quickly. Adobe acrobat reader is needed for some content. The key categories are highlighted and linked throughout the site on the top bar.
There is a beginner’s introduction which gives a brief description of the origins of Islam. Along with this there is Common Misconceptions, which includes a short article on Islam and violence along with an Islamic FAQ explores key issues of faith.
Other features include quick links which offers a drop down menu where the surfer can delve deeper into Al-Islam’s content. Along with this there is a Beliefs and Practices link which discusses philosophy and spirituality between the different sects in Islam. All in all this is an interesting and very easy to use site which I would recommend to all people wishing to find out more about Islam.

Website review 3:

www.islamonline.net

This site is easy to navigate and very informative. The front page has links to all the key areas of the site such as News, Family, Health and Science and Society. There is also a section on the specific aspects of Islam which, again, is easy to access. These can be accessed via the side bar or by scrolling down the front page. There is a search facility at the top of the screen, which allows you to search for anything on the site.

One of the special features of this site is the discover Islam which is an introductory guide to the faith. It is broken down into key areas which makes it easily accessible, even for those who are not Muslims. There is a audio version of the Qur’an. It plays via RealPlayer and has English translations and commentaries on each chapter. Again it is very simple to use and easily accessible.

There is a section where religious questions can be put forward to experts. This is done by e-mailing your question or in dialogue when the discussion is live. The ‘Fatwa bank’ can be searched to any particular subject you are interested in. the topics that have been discussed are saved along with the experts interpretation.

Overall this site is an excellent resource for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It is informative and easy to use as well as being visually pleasing. The information is updated regularly there is the option to view the site in English of Arabic.

Article Review 1:

http://islamonline.net/English/family/2006/01/article06.shtml

Jeremy Henzell-Thomas (2006) suggests that cross-cultural and inter-faith studies are very important to a child’s development. He says that without this the ever increasing racial and cultural intolerance is inevitable.
The main point that Henzell-Thomas is trying to get across is that ‘We must take every opportunity to enhance cross-cultural and inter-faith understanding and respect for diversity.’ He suggests that to do this we must have a very broad curriculum, which ensures a child learns about every aspect of a different culture or religion. There must therefore be aids available for this to occur, hence websites like the one we have produced.

Henzell-Thomas suggests,
‘The best cross-cultural and inter-faith education therefore goes far beyond a bland and diffuse medley or recipe of selected traditions and beliefs of different cultures, traditions, and faith communities, even though this in itself can help to cultivate the attitude of tolerance which can be a useful starting point. We need to teach our young people more than mere facts about the festivals held by different religious communities, or their religious artefacts, or their rituals and practices, as if they are items of anthropological interest.’

It is important that children have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and religion if they so wish. It is therefore important that teachers can provide correct and up-to-date information to aid the child’s learning.

Article review 2:

http://islamonline.net/English/artculture/2004/11/article07.shtml

Tarek. A Ghanem discusses the use of the internet for Muslims. Only 3 percent of the Arab population use the Internet. Arabs seem to have a vivid interest in religion as "amongst the top 150 most popular Arab Web sites, there are 50 religious ones." He discusses why he believes the Arab world, and the muslim world in general, do not use the internet as much as they should. this is a highly engaging and enjoyable read. Ghanem believes that despite the unlimited access the web offers the coverage of Islam is limited and fragmented.

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