Islam & Arabian Concepts and Teachings

Question 1

Nature of God

Answer 1

Pure monotheism

Question 2

Eschatology

Answer 2

The branch of theology that is concerned with the end of the world or of humankind.

Question 3

The Five Pillars

Answer 3

(1) Repetition of the creed
(2) Daily prayer (5 times daily)
(3) Giving to the poor
(4) Fasting
(5) Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once)

Question 4

Islam and Women

Answer 4

• Had no rights; no inheritance, no divorce
• No limit to the number of wives
• Primary function was to bear children
• Female babies were often killed or “exposed”

Question 5

Progressive Revelation and Abrogation

Answer 5

The muslim recognizes God’s activity in Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus – but then asserts the fullness of God’ revelation is given through Muhammed. But there is another element of Islam’s progressive revelation which today’s world needs to understand.
- To abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority.

Question 6

Reasons For Rapid Spread of Islam

Answer 6

Truthfulness
logic beliefs
Quran authenticity 
Good morals
Quran scientific miracles.

Question 7

Jihad (inner & outer)

Answer 7

The idea of jihad as the struggle to be a better Muslim is considered by many to be the “greater jihad.” This jihad is an inner fight, not an outer one.

Question 8

Arab-Israeli Conflict

Answer 8

refers to the political tension and military conflicts between the Arab League and Israel and between Arabs and Israelis. The roots of the modern Arab–Israeli conflict lie in the rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism towards the end of the 19th century. Territory regarded by the Jewish people as their historical homeland is also regarded by the Pan-Arab movement as historically and presently belonging to the Palestinian Arabs,[4] and in the Pan-Islamic context, as Muslim lands[disambiguation needed]. The conflict between Palestinian Jews and Arabs emerged in the early 20th century during the 1920 Nebi Musa riots, exploding into a full scale civil war in 1947 and expanding to all Arab League countries with the creation of the modern State of Israel in May 1948.

Question 9

Modern State of Israel

Answer 9

1. Ancient Israel was established and given the Law of Moses. But the Law of Moses is no longer in force today (Gal. 3:19-29; 4:21-31; Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:14-15; Rom. 7:4). However, when the remnant of Israel returned from captivity about 5 centuries before Christ, the Law of Moses was still in force (Ezra 7:10), and that was their law. It is that reestablishment of Israel that fulfilled the prophecies, not the modern state.
2. Ancient Israel had a central place of worship. First, it was the tabernacle, and then the temple built in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 8:1-10). That temple was destroyed in the captivity, but then rebuilt in the return of the remnant about five centuries before Christ and worship was restored. Modern Israel has no such temple, and therefore cannot be the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies of restoration.
3. Ancient Israel had a priesthood taken out of the descendants of Levi. When the remnant returned from captivity about five centuries before Christ, the priesthood was restored, thus fulfilling the prophecies. Modern Israel fulfills no such prophecies.
4. When ancient Israel worshipped, they offered animal sacrifices. When the remnant returned from captivity, this practice was restored, thus fulfilling the prophecies about five centuries before Christ. No such sacrifices are being offered today, therefore the modern state of Israel is not the fulfillment of these prophecies.
5. In ancient Israel, there was tribal identity. It continued after the return of the remnant about five centuries before Christ. But there is no tribal identity today with the modern state of Israel. It is not the fulfillment of these prophecies.

Question 10

Palestinian Refugees

Answer 10

Palestine refugees are people whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948, who lost both their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.

Question 11

Palestinian Liberation Organization

Answer 11

is an organization created in 1964 with the purpose of creating an independent State of Palestine. It is recognized as the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people” by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations,[4] and has enjoyed observer status at the United Nations since 1974.[5] The PLO was considered by the United States and Israel to be a terrorist organization until the Madrid Conference in 1991. In 1993, PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace, accepted UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and rejected “violence and terrorism”; in response, Israel officially recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.[6]

Question 12

Sunni Sources of Religious Authority

Answer 12

Quran
Muhammad
Umma

Question 13

Differences Between the Sunnis and Shi’ites

Answer 13

The major difference is historical. The Shiites did not agree on the elected Caliphs (who followed Prophet Muhammad after his death). They believed that the Caliphs should only be within Prophet Muhammad descendants and family. Accordingly, they were supporting Ali Ibn Abu Taleb (Prophet cousin and the husband of his daughter Fatima) to be the first Caliph. However, they didn’t protest against the elected Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Omar, and Othman) and even Ali, himself, was good supporter and adviser to the three Caliphs until he was elected as the fourth Caliph.

Question 14

Differences between the Radical Islamists and the Moderates

Answer 14

No difference