Vocabulary Quiz

Question 1

qur’an

Answer 1

Holy book of Islam, revealed to Mohammed by the Archangel Gabriel. Literally and unerringly the word of Allah.

Question 2

hadith

Answer 2

Collected sayings of the Prophet Mohammed and select others. Used for studying and forms part of the basis of Islamic law

Question 3

sunnah

Answer 3

recorded episodes from the life of Mohammed, so that others may emulate his actions

Question 4

Five Pillars

Answer 4

zakat (alms for the poor), hajj (once a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca), shahada (creed: there is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet), fasting during Ramadan, salat (prayer five times a day)

Question 5

umma

Answer 5

Muslim community of all believers. Originally referred to the whole community of Muslims in the early years of the religion. Now, with Muslims dispersed, some extremists wish to reunite the umma under one caliphate, as they claim existed after the Prophet’s time.

Question 6

Jihad (near and far)

Answer 6

near: internal struggle against impurity.

Question 7

Shia

Answer 7

15% of Muslims. Believe that only those related to Prophet can truly be caliphs. Iraq, Iran gov’s,

Question 8

Sunni

Answer 8

85% of Mohammedans. Believe that a council is a legitimate body to decide a successor to the caliphate.

Question 9

Salafi

Answer 9

Very conservative reform movement in Sunni Islam. Takes a fundamentalist, back-to-basics approach. Divided into groups who either believe in a strict interpretation of the

Question 10

wahabi

Answer 10

A tradition of Islam originating from Muhammed Ibn Abdul Wahab in the mid 1700s. Seeks a return to traditional, strict Islamic practice of the Prophet’s time. Focus on oneness of God, so things like visiting graves etc. are close to idolatry.

Question 11

Fatwa

Answer 11

a legal opinion issued by a competent authority

Question 12

Imam

Answer 12

Prayer leader. In Sunni Islam, someone who is selected by the local community to lead prayer in a Mosque. This person then has a leadership position within the local Muslim community.

Question 13

Madrassa

Answer 13

Arabic word for an educational institution. Used to refer to a school or college that studies the Islamic religion, teaching primarily this subject.

Question 14

Four rightly guided companions

Answer 14

Last 4 khalifs

Question 15

The battle of Karbala

Answer 15

Took place in Karbala, modern-day Iraq. Took place between Muhammed’s grandson Ali was killed by an Umayyad army for not supporting their rule. Commemorated by Muslims, especially the Shi’a, who believe that Muhammed’s successors should be members of his family.

Question 16

Shari’a

Answer 16

The corpus of the Islamic legal system, developed over the centuries. Based on medieval interpretations of the qur’an, hadith, and sunna. In Sunni Islam, there are four main schools of thought.

Question 17

Madhab

Answer 17

A school of thought within fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence. Over the years, there have been many schools of thought. Today, 4 remain in Sunni Islam, with more in Shia Islam.

Question 18

Mahdi

Answer 18

The redeemer of Islam. Appears a certain amount of time before the Day of Resurrection. Found in the Hadith. Muhammed’s last successor. Fights the false Messiah with Jesus.

Question 19

fiqh

Answer 19

Islamic jurisprudence- the human interpretations of the Sharia. Deals with observance of rituals, morals, and social issues in Islam. Built on and expanded by Itjihad of the ulema over the years.

Question 20

Dawa

Answer 20

proselytizing in Islam. Seen as a religious work or volunteer, community effort. Someone who goes out and spreads Islam by inviting others in a dialogue about the faith. Find other thing about this. Notably lacking political aspirations

Question 21

itjihad

Answer 21

the exercise of independent judgement and interpretation guarding religious matters. danger of bid’a: unfounded, “capricious, whimsical” interpretation. Not for anyone need some level of expertise.

Question 22

taqlid

Answer 22

meaning mindless copying, memorization. An approach to studying Qur’an where you follow the exact meaning of the words of the text.

Question 23

takfir

Answer 23

apostate. Someone who was a Muslim and has renounced God. Considered in Islam to be the worst kind of non-believer. Being a takfir often results in the death sentence.

Question 24

khuffir

Answer 24

non-believer. Anyone who is not a Muslim. Talk about Dhimmis

Question 25

ulaama

Answer 25

scholars, body of scholars. The body of legitimate Islamic scholars, the group

Question 26

hakamiyya

Answer 26

Sovereignty. In Islam, only God has sovereignty. This concept takes on new importance in political Islam. In Democracy, the people are sovereign, which is illegal under Islam.

Question 27

jahaliyya

Answer 27

"ignorance." word used in Islamic scholarship to describe the period before Gabriel revealed Islam to Mumhammed. Now also an Islamic political term referring to contemporary rulers of Muslim countries, who are seen as not really Muslim. Forms basis for calling for Islamism.

Question 28

Orientalism

Answer 28

a scholarly view in which non-european cultures are seen as "others", a matter of West vs Rest. Huntington, Pipes, Bernard Lewis all called orientalist.

Question 29

caliphate- myth of the golden age

Answer 29

Myth that Muslims can return to the glorious victorious caliphate of Muhammed's day. A caliphate is a Islamist state ruled by a caliph, khalifa, successor. Ruled as a religious state

Question 30

din w'dalah

Answer 30

mosque to state, a slogan of the muslim brotherhood