Islam

Question 1

What does Islam mean?

Answer 1

“Submission to God”
- Creed: Shahadah (There is no god but God, and Muhammad, peace be upon, is the messenger of God)

Question 2

Origins?

Answer 2

• Last prophet, Muhammed
• In his time, Arabia was in polytheism and idolatry (placed in Ka’bah, originally made by Abraham to honour God)
• Old Arabia= ruling tribes, merchants, salesmen (rivalry, bloodshed, invading clans, breaking alliance, women= social ladder
• Muhammad was a hardworking merchant, distaste for idolatry
• While Muhammad was in a cave, Allah (God) sent revelations through archangel Gabriel
• Revelations proclaim HIs oneness and need for all beings to submit to their faith, worship and live righteously
• Travels to Makkah, and preach

Question 3

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Answer 3

Shahadah, salat, zakah, sawm, hajj

Question 4

Explain shahadah

Answer 4

Profession of faith

Question 5

Explain salat

Answer 5

Aspect of observing prayer every day, prayer 5 times daily

Question 6

Explain zakah

Answer 6

The charity within each Muslim

Question 7

Explain sawm

Answer 7

Conceptualization of fasting during Ramadan

Question 8

Explain hajj

Answer 8

Holy pilgrimage to Makah

Question 9

Holy place of worship?

Answer 9

Mosque
- Holiest place of worship for Muslims (aside from Kaabah)
- Exemplary of good deeds, perform prayers and observe/reflect faith
- Imam lectures before and after prayers
- Wudu is done before prayer, required to clean themselves before each of the five prayers
- Fridays
- Take off shoes
- No seats
- Men and women separate

Question 10

What is an Imam?

Answer 10

Spiritual teacher, lectures before and after prayers

Question 11

What is wudu?

Answer 11

Cleansing before a prayer

Question 12

When do Muslims pray?

Answer 12

At dawn, noon, mid afternoon, sunset, evening

Question 13

Holy book?

Answer 13

Qur’an
- Revered, word of God passed from Angel Gabriel to prophet Muhammad
- One of the only books not changed upon its revelation due to strict oral reverence
- Idyllic faith and practice for Muslims, 114+ surahs (chapters)
- Orally

Question 14

What is the Kaabah?

Answer 14

Holiest place of worship
- Building located in Makah, Saudi Arabia
- Adam’s original place of worship, built by Abraham
- Largest sight of pilgrimage, pillar of Islam
- Formally known as Hajj
- All Muslims must complete pilgrimage once in their lifetime

Question 15

Jihad meaning?

Answer 15

Effort to strive, survive and struggle

Question 16

Hadith meaning?

Answer 16

Tradition based on teachings sayings of Prophet, second source law

Question 17

Hijrah meaning?

Answer 17

Migration of Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah

Question 18

Mi’raj meaning?

Answer 18

Muhammad ascension into Heaven

Question 19

Beliefs?

Answer 19

• Not called on to compel anyone to believe in what they believe
• Align oneself with the will of God is part of one’s inner struggles
• Shahada (central to Islam)
• Muslims owe their faith to Muhammad
• Allah is the creator and master of all, rules over Heaven and Earth (nothing moves without his permission), every present and compassionate to lead us to knowledge and fulfillment, surrendering to God is the only answer
• Every person has a soul, and will be sent to Paradise or Hell (evil deeds= Hell)
• Judgement day

Question 20

Hell?

Answer 20

Abode of great torments and anguish, avoided by submitting to Allah and obeying His commands (based on intentions and motives)

Question 21

Symbols?

Answer 21

• No symbols, Muhammad denied the use of pictures/sculptures of animals or humans
• Some symbols represent Muslim nations

Question 22

Ramadan?

Answer 22

Draw Muslims closer to Allah, develop piety, patience and preservice (dawn to sunset)

Question 23

Eid Al-fitr?

Answer 23

1st day of the 10th month of the Islamic year
- End of fasting month (Ramadan) and marks spiritual and moral renewal for Muslims

Question 24

Eid-al-Adha?

Answer 24

• Festival of Sacrafice
• Tenth day of 12th month of Islamic calendar
• Abraham’s submission to the will of Allah, and willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael

Question 25

Milas ul-Nabi?

Answer 25

• Mohammad’s birth, 12th day of the third month of Islamic calendar

Question 26

Mi’raj?

Answer 26

• Night Journey/ascension where Muhammad was taken by Gabriel from Makkah to Jerusalem, then to Heaven
• 27th month of Rajab (7th month)

Question 27

New Year?

Answer 27

First day of Muarram, first month of Islamic calendar

Question 28

Shi’ah Observance of Muharram?

Answer 28

• First ten days of Muslim New Year, celebrated by Shi’ahs
• Commemorates son of Ali (grandson of Muhammad), killed battle of Karbala

Question 29

Milestones?

Answer 29

Aqiqahl, marriage, divorce, death

Question 30

Aqiqahl?

Answer 30

Name giving ceremony
- Seven days after birth
- Abdullah (servant of God)
- Abdur- Rahman (servant of Merciful One)
- Either family name, or Muhammad’s names
- Hair cut
- Sacrifice goat/sheep

Question 31

Marriage? (milestone)

Answer 31

• Union between man and women
• Contractual
• Voluntary
• Meant to have a strong, compassionate, polite family (live will of Allah)
• Some are polygamous

Question 32

Divorce?

Answer 32

• Last resort, discouraged

Question 33

Death (milestone)

Answer 33

• Burial on day of death
• Recitation of chapters from Qu’ran
• Mourning period- 3 days
• Deceased visited by two angels

Question 34

Duties?

Answer 34

Fasting, charity, prayer, abstaining from evil

Internal duties: faith, gratitude to God, sincerity, freedom from egotism (sufism)

Question 35

Divisions in Islam?

Answer 35

Sunni and shi’ah

Question 36

Explain Sunni

Answer 36

• 85% of Muslims
• “Well-trodden path”
• Muhammad= the last Prophet
• Follows traditions of Muhammad and his example, and 4 schools of Sunni law: Hanafi, Shafi’l, Hanabali, Maliki

Question 37

Explain Shi’ah

Answer 37

• “party of Ali”
• Believes prior to death of Muhammad, he chose his son in law (Ali) to be his successor
• After Muhammad’s death, series of infallible leaders (Imams) take charge of Islam
• Small group

Question 38

Sheikh role?

Answer 38

Recite Qu’ran, blesses at mosque

Question 39

Women’s role?

Answer 39

Men are providers for women
- Supporters, obedient and serve husbands
- Allowed to choose own husband
- Loyalty and dedication to husband (only Muslim husbands)