Question

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ayesha is 13 years old. her brother, yazid, is 12. they are part of a muslim family that lives in the city of medina in arabia. it is the year 632. their parents have told them that the prophet muhammad is planning to make a journey, which he calls the hajj, to the holy city of mecca. their parents explain that the hajj will be a way for people who share muhammad’s religion to demonstrate their faith in god. their family will follow muhammad to mecca and participate in the hajj.
the day of the hajj has finally come. as ayesha and yazid set out on the family’s camels, they are amazed to see so many other people. their parents say that nearly 100,000 have gathered for the journey. others also join the caravan along the way. the journey to mecca is a difficult one. for nine days, the family faces many hardships in the grueling desert heat.
finally, they reach mecca. there, ayesha and yazid join the other pilgrims in prayers and rituals. after spending time in mecca, everyone travels to arafat. at arafat, the people listen to muhammad give a sermon from atop a mountain. that afternoon, ayesha and yazid stand with their parents for hours, praying in the blistering sun. but that memory soon fades when the sister and brother learn that they will spend the evening camping in the desert under the stars. after more prayers and rituals, everyone eventually returns to mecca.
many days after the journey began, the family is on the way back to medina. ayesha tells yazid that the trip has been very hard, but it was also satisfying. they agree with their parents that being near muhammad was especially meaningful. and they are deeply saddened when, just two months later, they hear that the prophet has died. they wonder what will happen to their religion now.
what do you think will happen to the muslim community after the death of muhammad?
reading & writing

1. reading: plot the plot is a sequence of events in the story. usually, each event is caused by an event that came before it. with a partner, identify the various events that make up the plot of this story.
2. writing: response to literature write a paragraph describing what muslims might do following the death of their leader, the prophet muhammad.

california standards writing 2.2
write responses to literature.

Explanation:

1. Reading: Plot

To identify the plot events, we analyze the story's sequence:

1. Introduction: Ayesha (13) and Yazid (12) are in a Muslim family in Medina (632), and their parents explain Muhammad’s upcoming hajj to Mecca.
2. Rising Action: The hajj day arrives; nearly 100,000 people gather, and the family faces hardships during the 9 - day desert journey to Mecca.
3. Climax: They reach Mecca, join prayers/rituals, travel to Arafat to hear Muhammad’s sermon, camp in the desert, and return to Mecca.
4. Falling Action: The family returns to Medina; Ayesha and Yazid find the trip hard but satisfying, and they are saddened by Muhammad’s death two months later.
5. Resolution (or New Conflict): They wonder about the future of their religion.

After Muhammad’s death, Muslims would likely preserve his teachings (the Quran and his example). They might seek leadership (like Abu Bakr’s succession historically) to maintain unity. The hajj ritual (shown in the story) would continue as a core religious practice. Communities would strengthen their faith through shared rituals, teachings, and supporting one another, ensuring the religion’s growth and preservation.

Answer:

• Introduction: Ayesha and Yazid’s family in Medina (632) learn of Muhammad’s hajj plan.
• Rising Action: Hajj day comes; ~100,000 gather, and the family endures a 9 - day desert journey to Mecca.
• Climax: They reach Mecca, participate in rituals, hear Muhammad’s sermon at Arafat, camp, and return to Mecca.
• Falling Action: The family returns to Medina; they find the trip meaningful but are saddened by Muhammad’s death.
• Resolution (New Conflict): They wonder about their religion’s future.

2. Writing: Response to Literature