An Overview of Islam Flashcards
What happened after the death of Muhammad in 632, and what conflict ensued?
some of his followers turned away from Islam which led to the war of apostasy.
It resulted in the entire Arabian Peninsula once again becoming Muslim.
What were the three concepts that developed after the war of apostasy?
- the term ‘Muslim’ means those who have submitted
- collective reference ‘Islam’ for the Muslim group.
- the term ‘iman’ and an individual with a true, deep, inner belief is a mumin.
What does the term ‘Muslim’ actually mean, and how is it related to the concept of ‘Islam’
The term ‘Muslim’ means those who have submitted, and ‘Islam’ is the collective reference for Muslims together as a group. Submission is sealed by reciting the opening verse of the Quran and adhering publicly to the Sharia or rules of behavior.
What does the term ‘Muslim’ actually mean, and how is it related to the concept of ‘Islam’?
‘Muslim’ means those who have submitted, and ‘islam’ is the collective reference for Muslims together as a group. Submission is sealed by reciting the opening verse of the Quran and adhering publicly to the Sharia or rules of behavior.
Q: What is the concept of iman, and how does it relate to submission?
Iman is the concept of true, deep, inner belief, and an individual with this belief is called a mumin. While submission is expressed through public adherence to the Sharia, iman goes beyond outward actions and represents inner belief.
When did Muhammad begin receiving messages from Allah, and what became of these messages?
Muhammad began receiving messages from Allah in the year 610 when he was 40 years old. Family and close friends, informed by Muhammad, wrote down these experiences, which came to form the Quran, considered the mind of God himself.
What is the Umma, and what was the ideal for this community?
The Umma is the community of followers that Muhammad began. The idea was that all who submitted should form a united political community, but this ideal did not last in reality and has remained an ideal.
What characterized the second period of Islam, and what was its only period of violent expansion?
The second period was marked by the victory in the war of apostasy, where Arabian Muslims spread outside Arabia through a culture with a ‘raiding’ ideal. It was the only period of violent expansion in Islam.
What persisted even after the conquest of people during this early period of Islam?
the recognition of the difference between the concepts of islam (submission) and iman (deep inner belief) remained
How did the spread of Islam occur in later Muslim history, and what methods were used?
missionaries from the Sufi order converted local communities to Islam in various regions
What was the community founded by Muhammad called, and who were its four leaders?
The community was called the Umma. Its four leaders after Muhammad’s death were the Rashidun or Caliphs which means “rightly guided”
What major division occurred in the Umma, and when did it happen?
Occurred over who was the proper leader after Muhammad, resulting in the Sunni/Shia split. This division happened after the Rashidun period.
What is the Umma?
Union of Muslims all around the world
How does the Quran emphasize the distinction between external submission and internal belief?
The Quran highlights that one may outwardly surrender (islam) without internal belief (iman), emphasizing the internal nature of true faith.
Who are the ‘ulama, and what is their role in Islam?
A group of scholars in Islam whose purpose is to study the Quran and the words of the Prophet
