Islam

Question 1

What does Allah mean?

Answer 1

It’s the Arabic word for God

Question 2

What is monotheism?

Answer 2

Belief in one God

Question 3

What is a mosque?

Answer 3

The place of worship for Muslims; it literally means ‘place of prostration’.

Question 4

Who is Muhammad?

Answer 4

The final prophet sent by God, to whom Geod revealed messages (revelations) about what people should believe and how they should live their lives.

Question 5

What is a prophet?

Answer 5

A messenger of God

Question 6

What is the Qur’an?

Answer 6

The holy book of Islam, which Muslims believe contains the word of God; it literally means ‘recitation’.

Question 7

What is a revelation?

Answer 7

A message revealed by God to humans.

Question 8

When was Muhammad born?

Answer 8

570 CE

Question 9

What is Mecca?

Answer 9

A city in present-day Saudi Arabia; Muhammad was born here in 570 CE.

Question 10

What is Medina?

Answer 10

One of the main cities in Arabia in the time of Muhammad (originally called Yathrib).

Question 11

What is polytheism?

Answer 11

Belief in many gods.

Question 12

What is Ramadan?

Answer 12

The ninth month of the Islamic year (which is based on the moon).

Question 13

What is a surah?

Answer 13

A chapter of the Qur’an; there are 114 surahs in total.

Question 14

What happened on the Night of Power?

Answer 14

On this night, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared ot Muhammad and revealed a message from God. Jibril told Muhammad to recite words that were later recorded in the Qur’an.

Question 15

What is the Night Journey?

Answer 15

One night in approximately 620 EC, Muhammad was in Mecca praying when Jibril suddenly appeared and flew him to Jerusalem on a winged horse. Muhammad prayed and
spoke with al the prophets that have ever lived. He then ascended to the heavens and spent time with God, who told him that Muslims should pray five times a day. Muhammad then returned to Jerusalem and flew back to Mecca.

Question 16

What is the Constitution of Medina?

Answer 16

The laws passed by Muhammad in Yathrib when he and his followers first settles there.

Question 17

What was Hijrah?

Answer 17

The emigration of Muhammad and his followers to Yathrib (Medina) in 622 CE.

Question 18

What is an idol?

Answer 18

A picture or object that people worship as part of their religion.

Question 19

What is an idol?

Answer 19

A picture or object that people worship as part of their religion.

Question 20

What is the Ka’aba (or Ka’ba)?

Answer 20

A holy site in Mecca which Muhammad dedicated to God after destroying its 360 idols. It is considered the most holy spot on earth for Muslims.

Question 21

When did Muhammad die?

Answer 21

632 CE

Question 22

What is Ashura?

Answer 22

A festival in which Shi’a Muslims mourn the death of Ali’s son Hussein at the Battle of Karbala.

Question 23

What is Hadith?

Answer 23

The reported sayings of Muhammad, heard by people during his life and written down in the centuries after his death.

Question 24

What does halal mean?

Answer 24

Permitted

Question 25

What does haram mean?

Answer 25

Forbidden

Question 26

What does imam mean?

Answer 26

A word used by Shi’a Muslims to refer to Ali and his 11 descendants. It also means the leader of prayers in a Sunni mosque.

Question 27

What is Shari’a law?

Answer 27

Guidance on all apsects of life for Muslims, from the three main sources of authority - the Qur’an, Sunnah and Hadith.

Question 28

What is the percentage of the two groups of Muslims in the world?

Answer 28

Sunni Muslims (85%)
Shi’a Muslims (15%)