Understanding Islam Questions Review

Understanding Islam Questions Review

Question 1

Question 1: Identifications • Muslim: person who follows Islam • Ka’aba: Islam’s holiest shrine – located in Mecca – Arabic for cube • Qu’ran: secret text, holy book of Islam • Mecca: birth place of Islam, holiest city, Saudi Arabia • Mosque: Muslim house of worship

Question 1: Identifications • Allah: Arabic for God same as J and C • Medina: first Islamic community, 2nd Holy city, Muhammad gains political and religious power • Hejira: 622 – Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina; marks first expansion of Islam • Jerusalem: 3rd Holiest city to Islam – Dome of the Rock

Question 2 What does Islam mean? Islam literally means “to submit,” in this case, to God’s will

Question 3 Identify and Explain the Five Pillars of Islam 1. Declaration of Faith (Shahada) “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.” 2. Prayers (Salah) 5 X/day: face Mecca 3. Charity (Sawm): give to the old & poor 4. Fasting (Zakat): during Ramadan 5 .Pilgrimage (Hajj): must complete a pilgrimage to Mecca

Question 4 Describe Muhammad’s Early Life • Muhammad was born in 570 A.D., orphaned at a young age, and was raised by his uncle, who was a bedouin tribesman. • Became a merchant • Married the wealthy widow, Khadijah • Was always very uncomfortable with polytheism. • The Angel Gabriel first appears to Muhammad when he is 40 years old. He begins to recite Quran

Question 5 Why is Muhammad important to Islam? Muhammad is the founder of the religion of Islam. Muhammad was also the last Prophet of God

Question 6 What do Muslims believe about the Old and New Testaments? Identify People of the Book. Muslims refer to Jews and Christians as People of the Book, because they viewed the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) as sacred texts. Believed that Jews and Christians, over time, had corrupted and misinterpreted the teachings of the Bible.

Question 7 What two books form the basis of Islamic Law? Identify Shariah. The Quran and the Hadith form the basis of Islamic Law. The Arabic term for this is Shariah. Hadith = sayings and teachings of Muhammad which did not come directly from God.

Question 8 Identify and explain two basic beliefs of Islam. The two basic beliefs of Islam are expressed in the First Pillar, or Declaration of Faith. “There is no God but Allah.” “Muhammad is His Prophet.”

Question 9 What three rites of passage are celebrated as part of life itself and God’s will at work in the world? Birth Marriage Death

Question 10 Identify three reasons for the spread of Islam. Identify: Jihad • The Arab armies were united in their beliefs • Weakness of Byzantine and Sassanid Empires • Many people welcomed the Arabs as liberators • Imposition of the jizya, or non-believer tax

Question 10 Jihad = inner struggle to fulfill one’s duty to God AND outward physical struggle in the defense of Islam

Question 11 During which Islamic Dynasty did Islam divide into its two main branches? What issue divided Islam? Identify: caliph Islam split into two branches during the Umayyad Dynasty. Islam was divided over the issue of who should succeed Muhammad as caliph. Caliph = religious and secular leader in Islam

Question 12 What are the two main branches of Islam: Where can they be found? Two main branches of Islam: Sunni: caliph can be anyone qualified Shi’ite = caliph must be a direct descendant of Muhammad

Question 12

Question 13 What are the basic Muslim beliefs about food and drink? Identify: Halal Halal refers to food that is considered “permissible.” Any meat which is slaughtered for consumption must be done so in the correct way, invoking the name of God. The eating of pork is strictly forbidden by Muslims. The Quran also outlaws alcohol.

Question 14 What takes place during the month of Ramadan? Identify: Night of Power, Eidul-Fitr Ramadan = ninth month of Muslim calendar Celebrates when the Angel Gabriel first appeared to Muhammad in the cave outside of Mecca. Is a time of fasting and prayer for Muslims, lasting 30 days: no food or drink from sun-up to sundown. Night of Power = holiest night of the year in Islam Eidul-Fitr = celebratory feast that marks the end of Ramadan

Question 15 Why were the first 100 years of the Abbassid Dynasty considered a first Golden Age of Muslim Rule? • Was much more inclusive of other peoples: Persians, Indians, Turks • This led to greater political stability • Controlled trade routes between China and India with Europe and the Middle East • This led to great wealth

Question 16 Explain the Muslim view of education. • Muslims valued education. • They preserved Classical (ancient Greek and Roman) knowledge of science, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and medicine. • Built schools and libraries to keep and expand this knowledge.

Question 17 What advances in learning have come from Muslims and the Arab world? • Muslim scholars preserved much Classical Knowledge • Made advances in medicine, mathematics, and architecture • Improvements in navigation • Beautiful poetry

Question 18 What commercial practices have the Arabs developed? How did those practices improve trade? • Controlled trade routes between China and India with Europe and the Middle East • Commerce thrived: letters of credit, receipts for payment, bills of lading, built inns for travelers along trade routes • These practices made conducting business over long distances safer and more reliable

Understanding Islam Questions Review