Suggestion for a secondary school assembly

Talk to pupils about the task of memorizing passages from a book. Perhaps refer to actors having to learn their part for a play. Or perhaps talk about pupils being set the task of learning a poem by heart, or a passage from the Bible or other special book.

Then tell pupils about how the Qur'aan (Koran)was memorized by the prophet as God, or Allah, revealed it to him.

Explain that, although the Qur'aan is now available in print, Muslims believe it is important to commit sections to memory. You can find advice on the Internet on how to set about memorizing it.

Suggest one or two passages from the Bible that people like to know by heart, for example the section from chapter thirteen of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity..."

Return to National Book Week index page