Week 2

Question 1

7 Approaches to Studying Islam

Answer 1

1. History of Religion approach
2. Cultural anthropology approach
3. Islam as socio-political institution
4. Islam as education practice and institution
5. Insider Approach
6. Devotional and emotional emphasize
7. Civilizational Approach

Question 2

Principle Cities of Islam

Answer 2

Mecca

Medina (Used to be Yathrib)

Question 3

Two Types of Pre-Islamic Arabs

Answer 3

1. Yamani, who settled in the South. Developed sophisticated agriculture system and traded.
2. Mudari, settled in the north, were pastoral nomads.

Question 4

Bedouins

Answer 4

• Most Arabian nomads were called this
• No central authority
• A lot of warfare and

Question 5

Shyak

Answer 5

Chief of bedouin tribe

Question 6

Bedouin Social Status

Answer 6

It revolved around kinship

Question 7

Mecca (Pre-Islam)

Answer 7

• Trade hub and religious centre for Arabs
• Quraysh tribe organized trade
• Polytheistic

Question 8

Ka’ba (Cube)

Answer 8

The centre of Mecca. - Pre-Islam it was used to worship multiple gods and goddesses.

Question 9

Dahr

Answer 9

Pre-Islamic Arabs believed this force was your fate. There was no life after death, it took all your possessions.

Question 10

Kahin (Soothsayers)

Answer 10

People who claimed to be able to communicate with potentially troublesome beings.

Question 11

Quraysh

Answer 11

• The tribe of Muhammad

- Custodians of Mecca

Question 12

Banu Hashim

Answer 12

A clan within the Quraysh tribe to which Muhammad belonged.

Question 13

Muhammad’s Birth and Death

Answer 13

570 - 632

Question 14

Muhammad’s First Wife

Answer 14

Khadija

Question 15

Hanif

Answer 15

Spontaneous monotheist but not necessarily a follower of any organized religion

Question 16

Where Muhammad Secluded Himself

Answer 16

Mount Hira

Question 17

Shirk

Answer 17

Worshipping multiple deities. In Islam, it is a capital sin.

Question 18

Kufr

Answer 18

Rejecting the truth revealed by God to Muhammad.

Question 19

Quraysh’s Reaction to Islam

Answer 19

At first they rejected it, as it threatened their social status.

Question 20

Meccan Boycott of Hashemites

Answer 20

Quraysh boycotted Hashim clan so Muhammad would stop preaching. Khadijia and Uncle Abu Thalib died.

Question 21

Aws and Khazrai Conflict

Answer 21

They couldn’t settle it so they invited Muhammad to Yathrib to settle it.

Question 22

Hijra

Answer 22

When Muhammad migrated to Medina in 622. It was symbolic of the rupture of kinship ties that were central to tribal society. Now loyalty was the only thing that mattered.

Question 23

Umma

Answer 23

The new Muslim community in Medina that had ethical and social practices that contrasted Arab tribal society.

Question 24

Conflict with the Hijra

Answer 24

Some members of Aws and Khazraj and Jews didn’t accept him.

Question 25

Battles between Medina and Mecca

Answer 25

Battle of Badr Battle of Uhud Battle of the Ditch

Question 26

The Treaty of Hudaybiyya

Answer 26

Muhammad could return to Mecca every year.

Question 27

Mecca 630 C.E.

Answer 27

Quraysh broke treaty with Muhammad. Under threat, Meccans submitted to Muhammad. Ka'ba was cleaned of polytheism, and converted to monotheistic place.