Islam

Question 1

Where was Muhammad Born?

Answer 1

Into a Bedouin tribe in Mecca.

Question 2

How did Bedouins live?

Answer 2

Off of oasis and camels, in clans, who were families. (This caused fueds)

Question 3

What were some similarities between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism?

Answer 3

• Fasting
• Prayer
• Prophets
• Single Diety
• Middle-Eastern origins
• Belief in angels and days of judgments.

Question 4

What is the Quran?

Answer 4

Recitation of Muhammad’s revelations. 114 chapters. (Surah). The guidelines of behavior for the Muslims.

Question 5

Define Surah.

Answer 5

The chapters in the Quran.

Question 6

What is the Hadith?

Answer 6

A book about Muhammad. Was oral for 300 years.

Question 7

Define Ulama.

Answer 7

Religious scholars who devote their lives to Islam.

Question 8

Who were the 4 Caliphs? (Rashidan)

Answer 8

The 4 successors to Muhammad before the Umayyads.

Last was Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law.

Question 9

What key events happened when the Umayyads rose to power?

Answer 9

Ali was assassinated allowing them to come to power. The capital was moved to Damascus, the Quran becomes the basis for law, Arab Muslims ruled the government.

Question 10

What are the 5 pillars of Islam?

Answer 10

Faith-Believe in Allah
Prayer-Pray 5 times a day towards Mecca
Alms-Donate to charity
Fasting-Don’t eat during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj-If you are able to make a journey to Mecca.

Question 11

Define Umma.

Answer 11

The Muslim community.

Question 12

What is Jihad?

Answer 12

A struggle with the goal of helping Islam.

Question 13

What is the difference between greater jihad and lesser jihad?

Answer 13

The greater jihad is a struggle with yourself and your temptations, lesser jihad is a fight to help save Islam from invaders. God hates attackers.

Question 14

How did the Umayyads change the Middle East?

Answer 14

They built the temple of the rock of the site of the temple of Soloman. Rather tolerant, not focused on conversion. They don’t promote diversity and women maintain their high standards?

Question 15

How did the Umayyads affect the economy?

Answer 15

Massively expanded the trade networks. The leaders grew accustomed to lavish lifestyles and were overthrown.

Question 16

Define Jizya.

Answer 16

The taxes a non-muslim has to pay to practice their religion.

Question 17

How did the Abbasids come to power?

Answer 17

They allied with the Shias and overthrew the Umayyads. One Umayyad escaped and formed a sultanate in Spain.

Question 18

How did the Abbasids affect the Middle East?

Answer 18

They moved the capital to Baghdad. Used Persian style administration to keep the empire intact. They largely focused on trade and conversion to Islam rather than expansion.

Question 19

What happened at the Battle of the Talos river?

Answer 19

The Abbasids beat the Chinese and gained control of silk road trade.

Question 20

How did the Abbasids affect the economy?

Answer 20

They expanded silk road and Indian Ocean trade. They took paper from China and began banking. They began using checks. They began using the Arab Dinar as a universal coin. Slave trade increased dramatically.

Question 21

What was Abbasid society like?

Answer 21

It was highly diverse, the Umma expanded, there was rapid urbanization and social mobility. Mosques had schools and many people became educated. They used the Sharia as their law codes.

Question 22

Define Sufi.

Answer 22

They were an Islamic group that promoted Allah above all and were very good missionaries. They were basically less indoctrinated Muslims.

Question 23

What rights do women have according to the Quran?

Answer 23

Women are equal in the eyes of God. They are not property, although the society was still patriarchal. They could own businesses and divorce their husbands. Muhammad said they need respect. Women were not more oppressed until Abbasid rule.

Question 24

What rights do women have according to the Sharia?

Answer 24

They lose their rights to own property, they must wear veils or hijabs, which means barrier.

Question 25

What was science in Islam like?

Answer 25

They learned how to make paper from the Chinese. They adopted a new version of Arabic. They improved navigation and built a large library in Cairo.

Question 26

What caused the Sunni Shia split?

Answer 26

They argued over the succession of Muhammad. The Shias argued for a bloodline succession while Sunnis argued to pick a valid candidate from the Umma.