Islam

Qur'an

"recite" or "recitation"

Islam

"surrender" or "submission" (one who surrenders or submits to the will of God)

Why is the city of Jerusalem significant to Muslims?

Jerusalem is the city Muhammad had his "Night Journey"-- the night Muhammad was taken on a winged horse to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is this event that God called Muhammad to institute the practice of praying five times a day. It is also the place where the Dome of the Rock is located.

How does the Nation of Islam as a movement differ from Islam as a world religion?

1. NOI promotes racism, whereas Islam doesn't. 2. NOI believes in Elijah and not in Muhammad, whereas Islam follows the teachings of the latter. 3. NOI is a newer religious group based in America (rather than spread out across the world) founded in 1930, compared to the older Islamic religion.

What was the catalyst for Islam to split into two major factions so early in its history?

After Muhammad's death there was a question as to who should lead the faith. Some believed that the head should be related to Muhammad and some believed it did not matter as long as they were strong in faith.

Compare and contrast the Judeo-Christian and the Islamic story of Abraham and his sons Isaac and Ishmael?

Both are sacrificed for a ram in the end, but in the Muslim story, Abraham almost sacrifices Ishmael, not Isaac.

What is the difference between an imam and a caliph?

Caliphs are Islamic leaders regarded as successors of Muhammad for Sunni Muslims. An Imam is the leader for prayer at a mosque who is chosen for his knowledge of Islam and his personal holiness.

In engaging in interreligious dialogue with muslims, what must be considered?

First, the image of Muslims is usually connected to terrorism by the Western media, which is a skewed view because most of the Muslims love peace. Second, Muslims have attempted to purify their religion by isolating themselves from dialog with other religions. Secular government

What are some of the struggles some Muslims have with contemporary Western society?

In countries where they are a minority, it is more difficult for them to stop and pray. Also, there is a skewed view of them due to terrorist stereotypes.

What are the prominent features of a mosque?

It is a building of public worship, for communal or private prayer, built from square stones or bricks, has a minaret which is a tower where the muezzin proclaims adda (the call to prayer), and is used for social occasions like weddings, meetings, Qur'an recitations, and funerals.

Explain why Mecca is the most sacred city for Muslims.

It is the birthplace of Muhammad, where he received his first revelations, where he returned after years of persecution that made him emigrate, the site of the Ka'bah (the geographic center of Islam and the symbolic place of the Divine Presence), the place of pilgrimage for all able Muslims, and a symbol of Muslim faith in the One God and God's faithfulness to the covenant with the prophets and through them mankind.

Compare and contrast the approach to salvation found in the Koran reading to that found in the 4th stanza of the Sufi poem. Quote both to support your points. What is the role of the imagination in each? What is the relationship to Love? Desire? Which has to do with Kant's Duty Ethics and which has to do with Aristotle's Virtue Ethics? How do love and desire relate to each approach to ethics and why? [five paragraphs]

Koran: direct word of God/literal, duty (detached from desires), outlines rules Sufi Poem: not for reward or punishment, love for its own sake, metaphors (see beyond the surface), virtue, separation from laws and thinking, understand through experience, mystery/more than meets the eye **"So what?"/Importance**

Name 5 biblical prophets recognized by Muslims as prophets?

Moses, Abraham, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Adam

Briefly outline the life of Muhammad.

Muhammad was born in 570 CE in Mecca. Both of his parents died at a young age, and he was raised by his uncle and grandfather. As Muhammad was old enough to travel around, he then met Khadija who employed him. Later Muhammad and Khadija married and had children. In the year 610, Muhammad had his first revelation from Allah. It became too difficult for Muslims to live in Mecca so they all migrated to Medina in 622. In 632 he had his final revelation.

Name three major categories of topics in which Catholics and Muslims find common ground for dialogue.

Social Justice, the nature of one God, the heritage of people formed from Abraham

What is the major difference between Sunni and Shi'ah Muslims?

Sunni - Muhammad's successors/caliphs; Shia - descendants

Name the Five Pillars of Islam and the duties associated with each.

The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundational principles and practices of Islam that were set forth by Muhammad and are practiced by all Muslims. They include: 1. Shahadah (witnessing), Muslims declare this belief in the absolute oneness of God several times a day. There is only one God and Muhammad is the prophet. 2. Salah (prayer), the Qur'an commands Muslims to pray at fixed times during the day. They ritually pray five times per day called salah. 3. Zakah (almsgiving), Muslims give alms to the needy as an act of worship, it is an obligation. Muslims believe that almsgiving is one way a person can be freed from those things that are obstacles to Allah. 4. Sawn (fasting), all Muslims who are capable are required to keep a month-long fast each year during the ninth Islamic lunar month called Ramadan. 5. Hajj (pilgrimage), a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca. It is required only once in the lifetime of Muslims who are physically and financially capable. The city of Mecca is where Abraham submitted to the will of Allah.

What was the Golden Age of Islam?

The Golden Age of Islam dates from the mid-7th century to the mid-13th century (middle ages). During this period, artists, scholars, philosophers, geographers and traders in the Islamic world contributed to the arts, economics, industry, law, literature, navigation, philosophy, and technology, both by preserving earlier traditions and by adding inventions and innovations of their own. The Muslim world became a center for science.

When did the Islamic calendar begin? Why do Islamic festivals fall on different dates each year?

The Muslim calendar begins with the year of Muhammad's Hijrah- Muhammad's escape from enemies in 622 and the establishment of Islam. Because the Muslim calendar is based on the lunar calendar, their year is eleven days shorter; Islam does not adjust for these missed days so the annual celebrations cycle through the seasons of the solar year over the course of two decades.

What are the two major sources for shariah?

The Qur'an and the Sunnah

What is the importance of the Qur'an to the Muslims?

The Qur'an is the Holy Book of Islam and is interpreted as the direct Word of God. The Qur'an is still used in Muslim worship today.

What is the significance of the Sunnah?

The Sunnah is what Muhammad approved and prohibited, as well as his words and deeds. Muslims need both the Sunnah and the Qur'an so that they can become fully Muslim. The Sunnah is how to perform the rules in the Qur'an.

Name the starting date and center for each of the following Islamic empires: Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman.

The Umayyad dynasty began in 661 at Damascus, Abbasid dynasty began in 750 at Baghdad, the Fatimid dynasty began in 909 in Egypt, the Safavid dynasty began in 1502 in Iran, the Mughal empire began in 1526 in Agra, and the Ottoman empire began in 1517 in Söğüt.

Who are the Rightly-Guided caliphs?

The four caliphs after Muhammad are the rightly guided ones. Those being Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and 'Ali. Conceptually: "Were they Sunni or Shi'ah? - at the time they were Sunni.

What is the difference between Muhammad's Night Journey and Night of Power?

The night journey occurred when the angel Gabriel took Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem. Night Power is the night when the Quran was revealed to Muhammad.

What commonalities did Ryan Harris find between Islam and Catholicism while at Notre Dame?

The team prays before a football game, everyone practices their own religion, they share common beliefs like the nature of one God, and they all share peaceful human values.

What types of writings can be found in the Qur'an?

The type of writings found in the Qur'an are the surahs. The surahs are chapters of the Qur'an that were revelations that occurred to Muhammad in Mecca or Medina. The themes of the surahs tend to be in the areas of what makes a good society, relations with non-Muslims, as well as financial and legal matters.

What are characteristics of the universal ummah? What are the rights and responsibilities of the individual muslim?

The ummah is the community of Muslims. The characteristics of the ummah are worshiping the one God Allah, in times of festivals, in the mosque, and daily at certain times of worship.

Explain how the Qur'an is organized.

There are 114 chapters in the Qur'an, while 87 of these are classified as Meccan and the other 27 are Medinan. The chapters are unequal, so they vary in length.

What, to Muslims, is God's most important attribute?

To Muslims, God's most important attribute is divine providence, meaning that God knows what happened in the past, what is presently happening, and what will happen in the future. He knows what choices people are going to make before they make them. However, it is important to note that God does not predetermine what is going to happen.

Why is Muhammad called the "seal of the prophet"? How was he chosen as a prophet?

when you seal something that suggests it is closed, so he is the last prophet; received messages from God to tell humanity