Islamic Empire and Religion Review Sheet and Study Guide
1. Define the following words:
a. Islam: Monotheistic religion developed in Arabia during the 7th century
b. Muslim: Follower of Islam
c. Allah: The word for God in the Arabic language
d. Arabic: The language of the Arab people
e. Qur’an: Holy book of Islam
f. Five Pillars: The framework of Muslim life; 5 bases of Islamic faith
2. Explain the Five Pillars so that each could be easily understood in full sentences.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
1st Pillar: Declare faith
2nd Pillar: Daily prayer
3rd Pillar: Give alms (give to others as an act of virtue)
4th Pillar: Fast during Ramadan
5th Pillar: Hajj
to Mecca) 3rd
1st (pilgrimage
2nd
4th
Declare
Faith
Daily
Prayer
Give
Alms
5th
Fast for
Ramadan
Hajj
(Charit
y)
3. What are the two holiest cities of the Islamic religion, where can they be found and why?
Mecca – the city where Muhammed was born and where the Kaaba is located; Medina – the city where
Muhammad started (popularized) Islam
The Kaaba in Mecca
4. What is a Bedouin and what type of lifestyle did they lead? Why were they important to the Islamic
Empire?
Bedouins were nomads (travelers) who lived in the desert. Bedouins valued courage, loyalty to family,
and warrior skills, all of which would lead to the Islamic way of life.
5. What happened in 632? What differences did the Sunni and Shia have when they split?
As a result of Muhammad’s death in 632, leadership passed to Abu Bakr, one of Muhammed’s closest
companions. Disagreements over leadership the Islamic community soon emerged. Some believed that
Abu Bakr should be his successor, while others believed that Ali – Muhammad’s cousin/son in law – was
the rightful successor as he was a relative of Muhammad. This conflict eventually led the Muslims to
split into two groups: The Sunnis, followers of Abu Bakr, and the Shiites, supporters of Ali.
Muslims
Split
6. Who were the Sufi and what did they devote their lives to?
The Sufi disapproved of the rich, lavish lifestyle of the Umayyad’s and, instead, they lead a life of poverty
and devotion to the spiritual life of Islam through meditation, chanting, and focusing on the Qur’an
7. Name 3 similarities and 2 differences between Islam compared to the religions of Christianity and
Judaism.
Similarities
Differences
1. Monotheistic
Fasting
2. Holy Books
3. Mary is considered the most blessed woman in Hajj
creation by many Christians
8. How were people separated socially in Islamic Society?
Upper Class:
Muslims at birth
Second Class:
Converts to Islam
Third Class:
Lowest Class:
Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians
(ancient, pre-Islamic religion of Persia)
Slaves
9. What is calligraphy and why was it used?
Calligraphy is the art handwriting. Drawing living beings was discouraged in the Islam faith, so
decorative handwriting through calligraphy was used as a creative outlet.
“9th century Qur’an, an
early kufic example from
the Abbasid period”
10. What was the trip taken by Muhammad called? Where does he go and why?
Muhammad makes a trip – Hijrah - from Mecca to Medina in order to escape persecution.
11. Who were the 4 “rightly guided” caliphs that follow Muhammad, what did they contribute to
Islam and what happened to them?
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali were the “rightly guided” caliphs following Muhammad. Each of
them helped to spread Islam.
12. The groups that ruled the Islamic empire following the fall of the caliphs are below. How did they
contribute to the Muslim empire and where did they move the Capital of the empire and why?
Umayyad – moved the capital to Damascus
Abbasids – moved the capital to Baghdad
13. What is the significance of the Dome of the Rock? Its location? What other religions are
important to this city.
The Dome of the Rock is a shrine completed in 691 CE and located on the Temple Mount in the Old
City of Jerusalem. The site’s significance stems from religious traditions regarding the rock, which
holds great significance for both Jews and Muslims. The city of Jerusalem remains significant to Jews,
Muslims and Christians.
14. What things could you find in the Islamic House of Wisdom? Where was it built? What did it
preserve for the world?
The Islamic House of Wisdom, built in Baghdad, was a major intellectual center during the Islamic
Golden Age. Within the House of Wisdom were many books on a variety of topics as the purpose of the
House of Wisdom was to preserve knowledge for the world.
Scholars at an Abbasid library.
Maqamat of al-Hariri
Illustration by Yahyá alWasiti, Baghdad 1237
15. Name the three continents that the Islamic empire stretched to. What is significant about the
battle of tours?
The Islamic Empire stretched from Asia to Africa and Europe. At the Battle of Tours (732 CE) in
France, Christian leader, Charles Martel (“The Hammer”), defeats the army of Spanish Moors, stopping
the spread of Islam in France.
The Spread of Islam