Islam

Question 1

What were Bedouins?

Answer 1

Desert dwellers who herded sheep and camels. Nomads. Were organized into tribes, of which the tribal leaders were called Sheikh.

Question 2

What is the Hijrah?

Answer 2

The journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Yithrab. Means “flight” or “migration”. From Mecca to Medina (Yithrab). The beginning of the Muslim Calendar.

Question 3

What is Jihad?

Answer 3

The struggle to defent the faith. If you die in this struglgle, you will be rewarded in heaven.

Question 4

What are Mosques?

Answer 4

A Muslim worship place. No furnishing, only rugs and mats to pray.

Question 5

Who was Muhammad?

Answer 5

Born into a poor class in Meccas ruling tribe in AD 570. Made a living as a caravan trader. At 40, it was said he was visited by Jibreel (Gabriel) and was told to be a prophet. Went to Yathrib, or Medina, in AD 622. This is known as the Hijrah. Rededicated the Kaaba to Allah. Converted many of the Bedouin tribes. Spread his religion through wise policies, tolerance, and force. Died in AD 632.

Question 6

What is Islam?

Answer 6

A religion founded by Muhammad. 1 God - Allah. After Muhammads death, spread across Arabia, Middle East, and North Africa. Kaaba is the Holy Place. Each believer mush obey Gods will. Means “Submission to the will of God” Followers are Muslims.

Question 7

Who are Muslims?

Answer 7

Followers of the Islamic religion. Millions of them around the world. Memorize and recite the Qur’an in Arabic.

Question 8

What is the Qur’an?

Answer 8

The Holy Book of Islam. The word fo Allah revealed to Muhammad. A sacred guide. Has rules and instructions for right living. Memorized and recited by Muslims in Arabic.

Question 9

What is a Caliph?

Answer 9

Sucessor to the Prophet (Muhammad). 1st: Abū Bakr. 2nd: ‘Umar. Led the religion. Splits and wars based on who this was/should be.

Question 10

Who were the Imams?

Answer 10

Descendants of the Caliph Ali. Should serve as religious and worldy/government decision makers.

Question 11

What was a Sultan?

Answer 11

Ruled the Turks ands claimed to serve the Caliph. Played an important symbolic role.

Question 12

Who was Abū Bakr?

Answer 12

Chosen as Muhammads first sucessor in AD 632. One of the earliest converts. Given the title of Caliph, or sucessor to the Prophet. Tried to bring together the Arabic tribes. Began to expand Islam northwards.

Question 13

Who was ‘Umar?

Answer 13

Succeeded Abū Bakr as Caliph in AD 634. Very strong leader and well ran government. Continued under his rule, the expansion of Islam.

Question 14

Who are the Sunni?

Answer 14

Those who accepted Mu’āwīyah as Caliph. Majority of Muslims.

Question 15

Who are the Shi’ah?

Answer 15

Ali’s believers and descendants. Believed that all caliphs should come from Ali’s bloodline, or the Imams.

Question 16

Who were the Sufi?

Answer 16

Muslim mystics. Tried to live simple lives centered on God. Turned away from worldy posessions. Believed faith in God was the only mark of a person’s worth.

Question 17

Who was Rābi’ah al-‘Adawīyah?

Answer 17

A Sufi. She lived a simple life centered on God. She turned away from worldy posessions. She believed faith in God was the only mark of her worth.

Question 18

Who was Tāriq?

Answer 18

A Berber general. Muslim. A North African. Led an army to Spain. Conquered Spain and spread the Islamic culture to Spain.

Question 19

Who were the Moors?

Answer 19

Members of Tāriq’s army. Muslims who lived in Spain. Attacked France and were defeated. Ruled a part of Spain for over 700 years.

Question 20

What is an astrolabe?

Answer 20

A Greek Invention. Allowed observers to charter the position of the stars, and thus calculate their own position on Earth.

Question 21

What is a Minaret?

Answer 21

A tower, attached to the outside of the Mosque. 5 times a day a crier in the minaret woudl call Muslims to worship.

Question 22

Who was al-Rāzī?

Answer 22

One of the greatest doctors of the Islamic world. He was a physician in a Baghdad hospital. He wrote a well-known paper on smallpox and measles. Compiled a huge medical encyclopedia.

Question 23

Who was Ibn Sīnā?

Answer 23

Wrote “Canon of Medicine”, and this medical book was used in Europe until at least 1650.

Question 24

Who was al-Idrīsī?

Answer 24

A Muslim geographer. Sent other people to other countries and asked them to draw the geographic features. Then combined what they found with existing maps to make new, more accurate maps.

Question 25

What are The Thousand and One Nights?

Answer 25

A fine work of Muslim literature. A collection of folktales. Some of the more famous ones are: Sinbad the Sailor, Aladdin, and Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.