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
3
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
1. The Arab armies were united in their beliefs
2. Weakness of Byzantine and Sassanid Empires
3. Many people welcomed the Arabs as liberators
4. Imposition of the jizya, or non-believer tax
Question 10
Jihad = inner struggle to fulfill one’s duty to
God
AND
of
outward physical struggle in the defense
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, Eid ul-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
Eid ul-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