Scripture in Islam Flashcards
What is the Quran’s organizational structure?
The Quran is organized with the longest chapters at the beginning and the shortest at the end. The first surah, “The Opening” (Fatiha), is an exception.
Who played a key role in standardizing the Quranic text?
The third successor (Caliph) of Muhammad, ‘Uthman played a key role in gathering one standard text of the Quran and destroying variants.
How is the Quran viewed by devout Muslims?
the Quran is not considered composed of words written by Muhammad but as the direct words of God, making it more than Holy Scripture; it is God speaking directly.
What are Hadith, and how do they relate to the Quran?
Hadith are explanations and commentaries on the Quran produced by the Prophet Muhammad and written down by followers–considered second after the Quran and divided into categories like sound, strong, weak
In what language is the Quran written, and why is it significant?
written in classical Arabic, the language of Muhammad’s time. According to a pure view, the Quran is not considered the Quran unless it is in this form of Arabic
What role does the Quran attribute to individuals chosen by God throughout history?
At particular points in human history, God chose specific individuals to receive messages and convey them to humanity. These individuals were fully human
What 2 collections of hadith are considered the best?
that of al-Bukhari
that of Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
What does the term ‘Quran’ mean?
Recitation
What is the narrative structure of the Quran?
The Quran does not have a narrative structure because Allah was not narrating a story to Muhammad.
What does Allah’s utter ‘otherness’ signify in the context of the Quran?
Signifies the belief that Allah is completely separate from His creation
How did Allah choose to communicate fundamental truth to humanity?
Through the prophets – starting with Adam and ending with Muhammad
Where did Muhammad receive his messages from Allah?
while in a trance-like state, meditating in a cave on Mt. Hira outside Mecca.
What is the collection of anecdotes and traditions about Prophet Muhammad called?
Hadith
Despite the many divisions in Islam, how does the Quran aid in maintaining a sense of community?
- All Muslims understand the Quran as the actual words of God
- The fundamental forms of Islamic worship are shared in common, bringing Muslims a sense of basic unity and bringing Muslims physically together in one of the main rituals, the Hajj.
