Islam Flashcards
Who do Muslims believe that the very first Muslim was?
Adam and Eve
Approximately when was the Prophet Muhammed born?
570 CE
When the Prophet Muhammed ascended up into paradise, he did so from the spot where what once stood? What covers that spot today?
The temple mount, The Dome of the Rock
What is the phrase Muslims recite anytime they mention the name of the Prophet Muhammad?
“Peace be upon him”
What event in the life of Muhammed is considered the “first year of the Muslim era”?
The night journey and ascension
Who took care of the Prophet from the time he was 4 months old until he was nearly five years old?
His wet nurse, Halima
Who initially took care of the Prophet when his mother died?
Grandfather?
What miracles took place in the life of the prophet when he was a child?
Christian army invading Mecca, birds dropped rocks on them, goats gave more milk, lame animals were healed, droughts disappeared
What was unique about the prophet’s marriage to his first wife?
She was 15 years older
How many wives is a man allowed to have?
Four wives
When did Gabriel first appear to the Prophet Muhammed?
27th night of Ramadan
What does Ramadan commemorate?
Muhammad’s divine call
What are events surrounding the “Night Journey and Ascension”?
622 CE, Gabriel and Muhammad flied to Allah, Jerusalem, and the other messengers
What is the literal meaning of the Arabic word “Islam”?
“submission”
In Islam, what is the first thing whispered into the ears of a newborn?
“I witness that there is no god but Allah, and I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”
What is the most holy site upon the face of the earth? What is the second? Third?
Mecca, Medina, Al Aqsa Mosque
Is Islam polytheistic, monotheistic, monolatrist, monistic?…
Heavily monotheistic
How many names do Muslims typically say that God has?
99 names of Allah
What is the literal meaning of the name “Allah”?
“One and only God”
What does Islam teach about the Trinity?
No godhead
Is Allah our father or just our creator?
Only creator, he has no children
What do Muslims believe about the nature of God’s body?
No anthropomorphic characteristics
What is the purpose of life in Islamic thought?
Submit or surrender to God
Which Muslims see Paradise as akin to the Hindu Nirvana?
Jannah
What is a common metaphor for the kind of punishment the wicked can expect in hell?
Boiling or scalding water, forced to eat bad fruit, wash down with boiling water
What is “tawheed”?
“Oneness, unity, and uniqueness” of God
What are Christians and Jews called in the Quran?
People of the book
What does the Arabic word “Quran” mean?
“Recitation”, was passed down orally
Who is the author of the Quran?
Allah
What Muslim texts have been compared to the Jewish “Oral Torah”?
The Quran
Who revealed the Quran?
Muhammad, Gabriel delivered it to Muhammad
Which of the 5 pillars of Islam can be done for one’s deceased parents?
Shahada
Each Muslim has three duties toward the Quran? What are those three duties?
Recitation (Tilawah), understanding (Tafsir), implementation (Tatbiq)
What is the meaning of the word “Hadith”?
“Traditions”
What is the meaning of the word “Sunnah”?
“Path”
What are the 5 Pillars of Islam?
- The witness of faith (Shahada)
- Prayer (Salat)
- Almsgiving (Zakat)
- Fasting (Sawm)
- Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
What percentage of a Muslim’s net worth is he expected to give to charity each year?
2.5%
What is the highest act of devotion a Muslim can engage in?
Pilgrimage to Mecca
What is the meaning of the Arabic word “Mosque”?
“Place of prostration”
On what days is the Islamic Sabbath?
Friday
What is the most important Islamic holiday?
Ramadan
What is the most common visual symbol of Islam?
Must be in a state of purity to perform rites
Why do Muslims touch their foreheads to the ground when saying their prayers?
Shows submission
What dietary restrictions do Muslims have?
No pork
What is the Islamic view on what we, in Christianity, call the “great apostasy”?
Jesus was the last messenger before the great apostasy
According to our classroom discussion, “messengers” of Allah always bring a what?
A book
What specifically do Muslims believe about Jesus?
He is not divine, he is a savior in the sense that he does beneficial stuff for Muslims
Who is the Mahdi/Messiah in Shia Islam?
Muhammad Al Mahdi
Who is the Mahdi/Messiah in Sunni tradition?
Jesus
Who was the last authorized messenger before Muhammed?
Musa
Does Islam believe in an atonement?
Allah’s grace
In islamic thought, what are “jinn”?
Bad/fallen angels
What does the term “caliph” mean?
“successor”- religious leader who is considered to be the successor to Muhammad
Which denomination traces their succession through Ali, the prophet’s son in law?
Shia
Which denomination traces their succession through Abu Bakr, the prophet’s father in law?
Sunnis
Which denomination of Islam tends to see their Imams ans infallible?
Shia
Who are the Sufis in Islam?
Denomination within a denomination. They hide
What two things do Sufis do that would be forbidden in other denominations?
Asceticism and celibacy
Where, according to Sufis, does God dwell?
In the heart
What are the 5 common misconceptions about islam?
- Islam = Arab
- Early Islam sought to eradicate all non muslim faiths via violence
- Jihad means that you can kill people who are different than you
- Islam degrades and oppresses women
- Suicide bombers get 72 virgins
