Facts and Statistics Flashcards
Most of the people of Arabia were
polytheists
Pilgrims made many journeys to the pagan shrine in Mecca and visited
Kaabah, a stone edifice said to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael. They would kiss a black stone, thought to be a meterorite.
The Arabs believed in
jinns, demon spirits that were said to inhabit trees, stones, rivers and hills.
The prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca at about year
570
Mecca’s chief religion
was polytheism, but not deeply held. The Hanifs rejected polytheism for one true God.
Easter Christendom had controversies over . .
the term theotokos - referring to Mary as the “bearer of God.”
Monophysite Christians
raised their devotion to Mary to that of a cult.
The earliest biography of Muhammad was written . . .
120 years after his death.
In Medina Muhammad started as a . . .
negotiator between two fighting tribes by getting them to unite around his new religion.
By the end of his life Muhammad had married
12 different women.
When in Medina Muhammad married Abu Bakr when she was only . . .
nine years old.
Muhammad’s first major victory was at the . . .
Battle of Badr where he attacked a caravan headed to Mecca and defeated about 1000 men with 300 men.
One of the most famous stories of Muhammad is that of his . . .
night journey where he reportedly traveled through the air on the winged horse al-Burag. , and then ascended to seven heavens with the angel Gabriel, then returned home to ARabia all within one night.
The last ten years of the prophet’s life were filled with . . .
military conquest and formative for the Muslim religion where he composed much of the Qur’an.
The first 4 successors of Muhammad each took the title of -
caliph, which means “successor” or “substitute. There were known as “Rightly Guided Caliphs.”
This dynasty ruled from 661-750 after the first 4 successors
The Umayyad dynasty
The followers of Ali’s family became known as the
Shiites (meaning party.)
The majority of Muslims are the
Sunnis who live in Iran and southern Iraq.
The Ummayad rulers were known for
luxury, indulgence, more interested in politics than piety.
The Abbasids took over from
750-1258. This was the golden age of Muslim civilization.
The three empires that followed the Abbasids were known as the
“Gunpowder Empires” because they used that weapon.
The Ottoman Turkish Empire ruled from
1281-1924. It was the longest lasting.
30 years before Luther was born
Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks.
From late 1600’s the Turks suffered
several military setbacks and two centuries of decline.
When Turkey sided with Germany in WWI
it brought an end to the sultan and the caliphate.
From 1800 to 1950 Muslim lands were
dominated by European colonial powers.
With the discovery and drilling of oil in the MIddle East,
Islamic hope revived.
Important factors that hold together Sunni Islam are . . .
- Quran
- Hadith i.e. traditions (something new)
- Reasoning (qiyas)
- Juristic opinion (rayi)
The four sources of Islam - Quran, Hadith, Qiyas and Rayi combine to determine -
Shariah Law.
The Ulama (groups of scholars trained in religious law)
interpret shariah for the rest of the people.
Shiites make up about ____ percent of Muslims.
12
Shiite comes from the Arabic word _________ which means party. It refers to those who are of the party of _____.
shi’a
Ali
Ali’s son was named _______, who died at Karbala, supposedly for the . . .
Husain
sins of the people.
The imam is said to be infallible, also known as the
Living Qur’an. not a law follower but a law creator.
Shiites look to the authority of the
imam.
Sunni Islam isa religion of Ijma, that of
consensus.
Shia Islam is a religion of
authority.
Most Shiites believe in ____ imams.
The last disappeared in 873 and they await the reappearance of this
12.
hidden imam.
Shiism is the official religion of ______. It is also that of the majority of people in ____.
Iran.
Iraq.
The nation of Islam is . . .
They teach the white race was brought into existence . . .
polytheistic and there are many gods, including the black man.
6,000 years ago by a black scientist in rebellion against Allah.
Baha’is is a major Muslim offshoot. Ali has 12 descendants who were legitimate heads of Islam. in 872 the 12th disappeared, and the Shiites have been waiting . .
for him to return and lead them to world conquest.
Unlike Islam, Baha’is attempt to . . .
unite all religions. They are ecumenical.
Indonesia has the largest number of Muslims, _____ percent and ________ million people are Sunni Muslim
87, 184
The Muslim work in England is,
If we can take London for Islam, we can take the world. (Shorrosh 185)
