Islam

Question 1

What is Islam?

Answer 1

A faith revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah. It is an Abrahamic Faith and means ‘surrender’. Their main article of faith is that “There is no god but god and Muhammad is his messenger.”

Question 2

What is calligraphy?

Answer 2

The art of decorative handwriting.

Question 3

What is a Muslim?

Answer 3

A follower of the Islamic faith. There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world.

Question 4

What is a prophet?

Answer 4

A person who is an inspired teacher of God. A founder of a religion.

Question 5

Who is Muhammad?

Answer 5

The last messenger of Allah. He was born in Mecca.

Question 6

What does ‘Allah’ mean?

Answer 6

The Arabic word for god, generally referring to the god in Islam.

Question 7

What is the Qur’an?

Answer 7

The holy text of Islam containing the teachings of the religion. It consists of the Hadiths - accounts of Mohammad’s life.

Question 8

What is a mosque?

Answer 8

A Muslim place of worship.

Question 9

What is Arabic?

Answer 9

The language of the Arabs. The Quran is written in Arabic.

Question 10

What is Mecca?

Answer 10

Located in modern Saudi Arabia, it is the birthplace of Muhammad and is regarded as the holiest city in Islam. Muslims will face Mecca while praying.

Question 11

What is Medina?

Answer 11

The burial place of Muhammad and the destination of his migration from Mecca.

Question 12

What is Pilgrimage?

Answer 12

A journey in search of moral or spiritual experience.

Question 13

What is Hijrah?

Answer 13

The pilgrimage of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.

Question 14

What is Hajj?

Answer 14

An annual pilgrimage to mecca, the holiest city for Muslims. It is a mandatory religious duty for all Muslims that must be carried out once in their life for those who are physically and financially capable of the journey.

Question 15

What is a Caliphate?

Answer 15

The reign of a Muslim ruler.

Question 16

What is the golden age?

Answer 16

A time of peace, prosperity, and achievement.

Question 17

What is the Jizya?

Answer 17

A yearly tax on all non-Muslim citizens living in Muslim lands. The Ottoman Empire was the last major power to apply this tax.

Question 18

What do the Sunni Muslims believe in?

Answer 18

They believe the successor of Muhhamad should be the most qualified individual. 85% of Muslims are Sunni. They live in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria. They pray five times a day. Sunni means ‘the way’.

Question 19

What do the Shiite Muslims believe in?

Answer 19

They believe the successor of Muhhamad should be a member of his family. 15% of Muslims are Shiite. They live in Iraq and Iran. They pray five times a day in three sessions. They venerate Ali and Hussein.

Question 20

What is a mosque?

Answer 20

A Muslim place of worship.

Question 21

What is the Mihrab?

Answer 21

A spot in the wall that points towards the direction of Mecca, where Muslims face when praying.

Question 22

What is Ramadan?

Answer 22

The 9th month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims do not war or drink anything during daylight hours for 29 to 30 days. This is the month the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad and Muslims believe they should have comapassion for his and other follower’s struggles during this time.

Question 23

What are the five pillars?

Answer 23

Faith, Prayer, Charity, Ramadan, and Hajj.

Question 24

What is the Kaaba?

Answer 24

Kaaba is a small shrine located near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca and considered by Muslims everywhere to be the most sacred spot on Earth.